Help with Juniper bonsai...

saaasquatch

I've done some research on other sites and I can't figure out if I should move my juniper bonsai inside for the winter. I got it as a gift in August and I've kept it outside and tried to water it regularly, and it seems to be doing well. But it's starting to get cold here in Kansas, and I'm wondering--should I leave it outside, or bring it in? I have a sun room that stays cooler than the rest of the house, and a garage with windows that get morning sun. What's best for this little guy? It was sent from California, so I'm sure it's never seen cold like what's coming.

Thanks in advance! This looks like a great site.

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Victrinia_Ensor

Most of our users in those kinds of areas will keep the trees in a cold shed, or room etc... If the garage is not heated that would be great. Just watch out with the windows that it doesn't get too warm in the window. Solar effects and all that...

Ideally something in the 40-50 degree range is ideal for overwintering most junipers. They can take freezes though. But if it's going to freeze it's best to insulate your pot. I commonly do that by getting a strofoam crate, cutting a drainhole in the bottom, then putting mulch bark in it, and setting the tree and pot in the mulch, and then filling in above the soil line with mulch. It's fine to let foliage freeze... just keep it out of drying winds. It's the roots you have to protect most, along with the pot.

Dormancy is achieved on a tree when it gets in the 50's, so if you can keep the tree in temps at or below 50 degrees, it will get enough rest to be all ready to hit the growing reason at a run come spring.

Welcome to the family...

Kindest regards,

Victrinia

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Dav4

I have several large junipers in my collection that were grown then shipped from warmer climates such as California and Florida. Some of them have spent the winter outside in the garden and been exposed to temps approaching 0F with no ill effects. As long as they are hardy varieties (most junipers are very hardy, to USDA zone 5 or lower), and you have allowed them to acclimate to the coming winter by leaving them outside all summer and fall, they should be fine outside or in an unheated outbuilding. You should provide protection from wind and protect the root zone from extreme temp swings with mulch. There is lots of info on this site about winterizing trees. Good luck,


Dave

saaasquatch

Thank you both!

bonsaikc

Welcome to the wonderful world of bonsai. I am very close to you, geographically, we live in Ottawa, KS. Your juniper would be better off with less protection than more. Here is a photo of my winter protection for last year, which was a bitter one, as you may remember:

All my trees were just placed on the ground under the benches. The only tree that didn't go there was a ficus.

PM me if you'd like to get together some time...we had a workshop a couple of weeks ago and it was great fun.

A Good Time Was Had By All

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saaasquatch

Thanks!