newbie with new plant and many questions!

VickiG

Hi. I am very new to Bonsai, after thinking about it for years and just deciding to jump in with both feet a few days ago. I bought a Bonsai that I discovered in a back corner of Costco looking neglected...it was still there the next day and I felt I just had to give it a home, but I need some education to properly care for it. I think it is a Juniper - has blue 'berries' on it. It is about 18" high, single trunk about 1" thick, slanted planting in a fairly deep glazed pot, with moss and rocks that appear to be 'glued' on top. My question is: when I went to check the moisture level of the soil, I couldn't find any soil! It appears to have solid styrofoam in the pot under the moss. I didn't want to disrupt the roots so I didn't probe too deeply around the actual plant. Do I need to repot it in soil or just leave as is for now? I tried to water it, but wasn't sure how much it actually absorbed. I also know, from reading here, that it needs to live outside. I am in SE Wash where we can get some very cold winters (like last year with tons of snow and freezing temp)...how do I best protect it from winter weather - or do I? Any help is appreciated - it is a lovely tree. Thanks! Vicki G

Advertisement

TreeBay

Do you have a picture? It sounds like what you have is an artificial bonsai.

Regards,

Matt

__________________

Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today!

bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!

VickiG

Yeah, that was my first thought when I saw the plant at Costco. But, yes, it is real - it feels and smells real and it had some pieces that had fallen off, which is why I thought it was neglected. Ahh....what have I gotten myself into?? I really think it is a lovely tree and want to care for it properly. I will go grab my camera and snap a couple pics...stand by. And thanks for you're reply/help!

VickiG

Here is a thumbnail of the plant in question... hope this is helpful!

Attached Images

Web Bonsai.jpg (6.3 KB, 111 views)

jloeschner

Vicki,

First, if it is a real tree, then it was probably already dead when you bought it. It looks like some sort of juniper, and they can remain green for a long time after expiring. (I had one remain green for almost a month after dying!) But, just in case, it would be safe to say that it would be better off in soil than foam. If it has no roots, then it is probably dead. You could still put it into some well-draining soil and hope for a successful rooting, but there is only a small chance of this happening, especially this late in the year. At this point, assuming that it is alive, putting it in soil is better than leaving it in the foam. It may die after repotting, but leaving it in the foam will certainly kill it.

As for overwintering, I will let someone from farther north than I answer your question.

Regards,
John

__________________
Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement.

QUI ME AMAT, AMAT ET CANEM MEAM

BillStruhar

Take it out of the pot, plant it in full sun in the ground. Don't take any bets regardless of odds offered.

Will_Heath

Bill's right on here.

I would only add that you should mulch it very well around the trunk and up to the first branch. Pack it out past the root ball thick with pine needles if you can get them, pine bark if you can not. Plant it in a area protected from the north and west winds but where it will recieve full sunlight. If no such place exists for you then plant it in full sunlight and make a tempory windblock for the winter.

Leave it alone, if it survives then maybe in the spring of 2006 if all goes well you can get it back into a pot with good soil.

Junipers are not indoor plants, this will be your best bet. Do not distrib the roots or do so as litle as possible.

Will

edit: mulch after thanksgiving, by then the little bark chewing rodents have already found their winter homes and most likely will not move into your fresh mulch condo.