Juniper, Ficus Retusa beginner help

Ogma

I am very amateur to the art of Bonsai, and I am having trouble understanding how you keep them alive and well during the winter.

I have a Juniper recently purchased, and from what I have read, the idea is to keep them outside. Yet protected from freezing, extreme winds or snow. They must go through a dormant period or it will kill the tree. It did not say this on the pamphlet I received, just the basic summer/spring requirements. My friend thinks I should leave it inside, which I think is wrong. Since my last and first bonsai Juniper died this way...

I also have two ficus retusa, which are the trees with tiger-like markings on their bark. Large spade/oval shaped leaves. My favorite one has lived (survived rather) through the winters precariously over 4 years, but this winter it shows yellow leaves and overall droopiness... How do I get the correct amount of sunlight for them? Currently they are in front of a window getting a weak amount of sunlight exposure... There is nowhere else in my house that is a better place unfortunately.

My main question is how you deal with the winter times, where do you keep your plants, how often should I water them in a constant -70- degrees fahrenheit environment, and since I am watering my Ficus at least every two weeks why is it dying...=( Maybe I just live in the wrong place for this type of bonsai?

I suspect their is no answer for the ficus except to try and help it with general conditioning (does it have a winter phase..?), only for the juniper do I expect Im doing something wrong (keeping it inside all winter)

Also would it hurt to have the ficus' outside during noon-early afternoon so they could recieve some more sunlight exposure during winter? Even during 40-60 degree weather?

I live in Maryland by the way, and appreciate any help provided

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Adam_MA

Ogma,
Let me see if I can help a little. First the Juniper is an OUTSIDE tree. It needs to be outside all winter long. But, if the tree has been inside until now, putting it outside may be a bit of a shock to it. I don't know what the weather is there, but your zone is pretty much the same as mine here in MA (zone 6). I have all my Junipers outside. You don't have to protect your Juniper from freezing as much as protect it from a continues freeze/thaw cycle, and to shield it from winds. I'm not sure what your best option would be at this point with the Juniper seeing how we are already into winter and freezing temps. Maybe someone else has some hints about easing it into dormancy.

As for your Ficus trees, I think their problem may be a combination of too little light and too little water, now there is no formula for watering a tree other than when it needs it, for me this is by the weight of the pot. I am familiar with the weight of the tree in the pot when it has enough water and when it need some. The only sure way to tell is to poke your finger down about an inch into the soil and see if it's moist or dry. I will tell you though, I generally have to water my Ficus trees 2 times a week in the winter. Sometimes as many as 3 times, but that all depends on what they need. But they will need a good amount of light, so if you don't think there is enough you should look into ways to supplement it. Plant/grow lights are pretty cheep compared to the time and effort you have put into your trees.

Personally, once my tropicals are inside for the winter, inside is where they stay until spring, moving the tree from 40-70 degree temps suddenly over and over will probably make the tree unhappy, so I would avoid that.

Hope this helps
Adam

Ogma

the advice on the juniper is great, I will try to introduce it to the weather... as for the ficus I guess my only option is to try and find a stronger source of sunlight. I've been wanting to get a growlight for a couple of years, I think that its time for that purchase. It's breaking my heart seeing my ficus die! Anyway thanks somuch for the help ill let you know how the juniper goes (i bought it at a store in a mall 4 days ago, so im just gonna keep it outside and see how it goes...)

Adam_MA

Well good luck on both! Keep us updated


Adam

Travesty34

I would not keep a Ficus outside below 60 deg. f! It also sounds to me like not enough water. Mine get watered almost 3 times a week (small pots) and are strictly indoor with only moderate light and are thriving very well even during the winter.

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clrosner

I'd like to join this conversation... As far as the Juniper is concerned, I didn't read, where anyone might have suggested placing the tree in a garage, or in the ground, (mulched up to the first branch) This would eliminate the freeze/thaw problem. Or it could be put into a large cardboard box (without a top), with mulch up to the first branch. If no mulch is available you could use styrofoam peanuts. The problem, as I see it is that we are into winter, so it should be introduced slowly into the cold a few hours a day.
You didn't mention whether there were any glued on rocks, so if there are any, they should be removed pronto, and some soil add to replace the space. Junipers usually go into dormancy as there is less light as we approach winter. Before going on with this dissertation it would be nice to know a little more information.
I will say this one last fact: The first year I had three Junpers and they were kept indoors and all survived. They were kept in a cool place and did not have dormancy that year. But the next years they all were placed in a garage and mulched as mentioned above. I still have one, the otheer two I sold.

As far as the Ficus Retusa. I would use the Persiano pic method (also on the Juniper). Only water your tree(s) when the dirty end is almost dry. Most Ficus like to almost dry out between waterings. I supplement lighting by using fluorescents with a timer set for 18 hours per day.

I do hope this gives you some help.....

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