Juniper Bonsai

MISCLAIMS

I guess Im closer to the Ocean. Im in Little Egg
Harbor on the Ocean, Atlantic & Burlington borders
about 1/2 hr north of Atlantic City.

I currently have 3 healthy junipers (all quite small),
the one sick juniper residing in the bed now next to
the Azalea thanks to your good advice, and one little
native Cedar tree that I potted that Im attempting to
"bonsai" up myself.

All my trees were kept out of doors all summer and all
but the sick juniper did really well. Juniper #3 just
arrived from Florida last week so Im acclimating him
to our cooler temps.

The Junipers and the Cedar are on the back deck in my
greenhouse w/the zipper front undone for air
circulation and as to not roast the poor things. It's
been getting pretty cold back here, my back yard is
the state forest and temps have been getting down to
around 35 at night I believe due to the bogs. I put
the healthy trees in mulch buckets w/mulch at the
bottom and mulch surrounding the tops so the trees can
overnight w/little stress. The Florida tree gets
brought inside as I don't think it can handle an
overnight here just yet.

The sick Juniper actually looks a little better since
I took your advice. I mulched up around him as well.


I appreciate the time you have taken to help me. Im
learning that this bonsai thing is much more difficult
than I had anticipated. I have a ton of plants and
some of them are 20+ years old--so I hate to see a
plant die. If I kill another Juniper, I think this
will be it for me!

Thanks again
Looking forward to your advice
Melisa

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clrosner

Dear Melissa:

you wrote:
I appreciate the time you have taken to help me. Im
learning that this bonsai thing is much more difficult
than I had anticipated. I have a ton of plants and
some of them are 20+ years old--so I hate to see a
plant die. If I kill another Juniper, I think this
will be it for me!

I had to smile, since Junipers are probably the easiest tree to take care of all the trees availabletous Bonsaists.

I have never considered them hard work, but, that is probably because I love the time I spend with my trees.... Labor of love, so to speak. The learning curb can be a littlesteep, but once you start to understand the trees you are raising, the learning curve flattens out, and you start to enjoy your hobby. Most people who hate something is because they are not educated enough on that subject.

So hang in there and ask your questions.

As fas as the Florida tree.; anytime I recieve a tree from a southern zone, I just leave it alone for a good month. So after you have babied the tree for a month, leave it out doors on those cool nights... it needs that cold to help it survive.

Good luck,

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

CHECK OUT MY UPDATED WEBSITE AT[B]:
www.carlrosner.com

MISCLAIMS

How true! I used to struggle w/math in school and now work as a financial consultant dealing w/numbers all the time! I think I feel this need to conquer things that challenge me. That's another topic for another board!

Anyhoo--Ill keep you posted as to my progress. Ill hold tight w/keeping the trees outside until Thanksgiving. My garage doesn't get much light--is that OK?

Thanks again!

clrosner

Melissa:
That would be another subject for posting...
I have read posts that come down on both sides of needing light or not.

My personal experience, is that it really isn't necessary... although I do have several windows, in the grage door, but that little light is it!

When my trees are in the garage, they include, Gingo Biloba, several cultivars of Maples, Chinese Elms, Wisteria, Boxwoods, Crab apples, Kingsville, Cotoneaster, Nandina Domestica, Junipers, Shimpaku, and a few more that I can't think of at the moment.

Attached Images

garage - dormancy 112801bb.jpg (34.0 KB, 96 views)

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

CHECK OUT MY UPDATED WEBSITE AT[B]:
www.carlrosner.com

Bart Thomas(deceased)

Melissa:

I've been bothered by your statement to the effect that you have this plastic, zippered cold frame (Is it the one that is sold by Lee Valley Hardware?) on your deck .

One of the major purposes of a cold frame is to isolate the trees from temperature fluctuation by taking advantage of the insulation provided by the ground.

I have my portable cold frame on a brick terrace in a very sheltered (from both light and wind) portion of my house.

If I had to use it on a deck, I would want to provide some insulation under the trees. The trick would be to get something that would drain. My best guess would be to break up a bale of straw into slabs. Of course, if you live in a condo or apartment, the folks who run it will probably "have a cow" about that, so you might want to be somewhat discreet.

MISCLAIMS

Hi! It's not so much a cold frame but a place to put the trees and other outdoor plants--like a small greenhouse. Unsure of the maker. The plastic roof keeps them from getting totally saturated during the summer rains-and we had a ton of rain this year! The front unzips which I keep open most of the time but I've zipped it up a few nights that we have had frost advisories.

Im going to move the trees into our unheated garage around Thanksgiving. They are in mulch buckets right now in preparation for the colder temps. Although this week will be warm, I would imagine the colder temps will return soon.

No, I don't live in a condo or home association community (thank God!) Did the apartment thing once--would only do again unless I really had to. We are on 3 acres--State Forest is back yard so my neighbors are the deer, squirrels etc!

Would love to hear from others regarding the light issue--I've heard the junipers don't need much light during their winter slumber!

Jay

Melissa, thought I'd pop in and give you my 2 cents worth. I winter trees in my unheated garage and in the ground in a cold frame. The ones in the garage are near a small north facing window. They do extremely well even though they do not get much light. I too place them in their winter homes around Thanksgiving depending on the weather (I'm zone 5b/6a). For the trees in the ground, I build a frame of 2x4's. The front is 3 feet the back about 5 feet. I cover the top with plastic and the two sides and the front, the back (the 5 foot side) I only go up 3 feet, therefore allowing for air to enter and heat to leave, also I can access the trees and cover them with snow when necessary.
All the trees have been fine this past two winters.

Being you are next to a state forest, be careful not to have your trees used for food by the native wild life!

Jay

__________________
A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49...
Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing

MISCLAIMS

Thanks for the info--I think Ill move everyone in the garage around Thanksgiving. Based on the info recd, that seems to be the way to go. The sick tree seems to be recovering in the spot where I planted it--dare I say--I think I see some new growth!

The native wildlife and I have an understanding.. they do not mess w/any of my shrubs, veggie & herb gardens and I give them treats at the back part of the property. I think because they have so much to eat, they don't forage around too much in peoples yards--they basically pass thru--occassionally the raccoons can cause some trouble w/the garbage but the deer, coyotes, fox etc seem to be no problem!

sankastaff

Melisa

I havent been doing this for as long a some here but this is what I have found works for me. I build a makshift greenhouse out of bails of straw , 2x4's and plastic . It's placed on the south side of my house to take full advantage of the sun plus when I have to water all I have to do is lift the plastic and water away.I put my junipers,pines and cottoneasters in this and remember these plants need water in the winter to. Like is said this is what works for me hope you can get some good out of it.



Steve in Middle TN.

__________________
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12