Juniper Bonsai

MISCLAIMS

Hi! Well Im thinking Im turning into a Juniper Serial Killer! My first bonsai was a Juniper Mallsai my hubby got me a few years back. I killed it in 6 mos--I knew nothing about keeping the trees outdoors. I got a beautiful 4 year old Juniper from a bonsai dealer and again, repeated the same mistake. I had gotten sick last winter and unfortunately it dried out and lost most of its foliage. It's other 2 roomates, Juniper's 1 & 2, are doing just fine and I put everyone outside during the summer and they flourished. Now Jasper is looking really ill. The root system is retaining water while the foliage is browning. It's a light green color. Im wondering is it going dormant or is it just dead? Should I continue to mist and keep in the greenhouse during the NJ winter or should I call it a day? This upsets me because I have some houseplants that have lived for almost 30 years. I get very attached to my pets and my plants. I just got a new juniper in from Florida which Im acclimating to the colder NJ temps as we speak. Im thinking it seems commonplace for all bonsai people to lose a few along the way--how sad

Anyhoo--let me know what I should do--he doesn't look fully dead yet but is probably on the way out.

Can I plant it in the ground? Maybe a new root system will form off the trunk?

Thanks for the input!
Melisa M

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jeremy_norbury

A day. I called it. Fully dead, I suspect, not partially. Putting it in the ground would not make matters much worse, actually you could just dig a little deeper than normal and toss it in. :-)

I had a plum tree which was looking great and mysteriously "died" one day. So I planted it and, lo and behold, it threw new shoots from the root system and is now larger than the piece that died. The dead truck with branches was still attached and looked wacky so I took it away recently. So miracles can happen.

Why always Junipers, Melisa, when they clearly don't like you?

Are you keeping them indoors or something?

Jerry
Amsterdam

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Jayde

I would suspect overwatering is probably your trouble or at least partly. It may also help to know exactly the type of juniper... Juniperus Chinesis (etc.) because some junipers are naturally yellowish tinged at this time of year...

MISCLAIMS

Hi! Im not sure of the Juniper type--it's probably a Nana--they seem to be the most popular. It really was a beautiful tree at one point in time!

I had replaced some of the soil during the summer w/a soil that retained more moisture due to the extreme dryness of some of our days. The other trees did fine w/it but perhaps maybe wasn't a good idea for this one. I repotted everyone w/a regular bonsai conifer mix--again, the 2 smaller ones seem to be doing just fine.

I went out and did the scratch test on two sides of the trunk and it's coming up brown. It still looks like there are just a few new buds still trying to come up but the tree is in depressingly sad shape as compared to the others. I had replaced some soil recently as it seemed like its feet were dry. If I allow some dry time, might it spring back up?

Im off to home depot to buy some cedar mulch and bins to set up in the mini greenhouse to store them in for the winter. Should I hold onto this? May it spring up come spring next year? It's just so sad looking right now!

Thanks for the prompt reply!
Melisa

MISCLAIMS

also--Newsflash--did scratch test #3--we have green! Ok--can I save this guy?

Thomas_J.

Melisa,
If it was a mallsai then it probably is a procumbens juniper.
Your main problem that you need to resolve before you do anything else is your soil. You need to have a well draining soil for these guys. Of course all bonsai need well draining soil for that matter. Try to find some premixed bonsai soil if possible.
After that you already know that they're strictly outdoor plants.
With that in mind and the fact that they are evergreen means they will need light at all times during the day. In winter an unheated garage with a few windows for light will suffice. If this doesn't seem possible, you might want to try your hand with tropical trees for bonsai which can be kept indoors for the winter, but should be brought outside in the summer to enjoy real sunlight for a while. Bonsai and their care can be more trouble than pets at times.

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Thomas J.

MISCLAIMS

hi! No--the mallsai died years ago. This tree is a real bonsai from a real bonsai dealer.

I have a small deck sized greenhouse w/a zipper plastic front that Ill be keeping the trees in. The whole thing is encased in plastic. I was going to get shallow tubs and put the mulch in there to insulate the trees. They will get plenty of light while they are in this green house and I can unzip it on warmer days and unzip it to mist them. Southern NJ Coastal winters are usually pretty mild w/very few huge freeze snaps.

The reason I like Junipers is they are what I think of as a real bonsai. They are just so pretty. Juniper 1 & 2 are doing well. Jasper is the sick one and Travis the first one (mallsai) are the problem ones. It seems like as long as I don't name them, they seem ok. I just got a new one from Florida that looks relatively healthy.

Im thinking Ill plant Jasper in the garden as the upper part of the truck in still showing green. The lower part seems to be showing up brown on the scratch tests.

Thanks for all your help everyone--keep those suggestions coming!
Melisa

clrosner

Melisa:
Bart Thomas Emailed me that you are in NJ. Approximately where in NJ?

You mentioned something about putting the trees in a green house.... Do you have a garage If so, I'll explain further for your other trees..

Concerning the sick tree. This is not the time to be repotting or changing soil... right now, we want to get you through the coming winter.

If you did see green on the trunk, then there is life in the tree.

If you have an area that is protected (say between bushes and will get Southern exposure, you might dig a whole, place a ceramic tile at the base of the hole, sprinkle a little soilon the tile and slip the tree directly into the hole. Water the surrounding soil well.

Check the bottom of the pot, it may be wired into the pot. Try not to disturb the roots.

Do not fertilize.

Let me know how you make out.

You can eEmail me privately if you wish.

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Carl L. Rosner - near Atlantic City zone 6/7
arteacher3725@yahoo.com

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MISCLAIMS

Hi! I sent you an email for other instructions. I know this sounds dumb--should I remove the tree out of the pot before putting in the ground--Im thinking Yes but want to be sure. Also. Should I plant the tree all the way up to the top? It's got a 4 inch trunk on it. Should that be submerged?

Thanks again!
Melisa