Health of Bonsai

goxflee

First, I just have to say what a valuable resource this site is. I'm really grateful for it and can't believe how the hours slip away while reading! Thank you all for the contributions that make this site full of great information.

Now, after exclaiming to my family about how great I think bonsais are I wound up with what I believe is a Juniper for Christmas and just found out my mistake of not leaving it outside even during winter. Tell me you've never heard this story before. So I'm doing my best now to keep it healthy but I think it looks pretty pale and I'm worried it might be on its way out. I keep it outside where I give it direct sunlight, water when it's less than damp, mist it everyday, and pinch off the new growths. By looking at it, does anyone have recommendations of anything else I should be doing? I was going to fertilize it with Fish Emulsion but I'm worried it might be too weak to handle it. Thank you all for your guidance!

Attached Images

	Bonsai Juniper 2 _copy.jpg (60.9 KB, 29 views)
	Bonsai Juniper 1_copy.jpg (61.0 KB, 24 views)

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Aaron_K

Hi Goxflee,

The first thing you want to do is get those stones off the soil, as well as what looks to be a moss of some description. The stones, although they might look pretty, will interfere with the exchange of water and air to the soil, particularly if they are glued on as is often the case. The mosses/grasses can sap a lot of the nutrients from getting to your tree, so it would be best to get rid of them.

As you quite rightly said, Junipers are outdoor bonsai, with most species being hardy down to zone 3. If you suspect the tree is ailing, do not feed it, and let it recover on its own. Also, if the tree is in plain old potting compost, you might want to change the soil to a better draining mix that does not compact so easily.

The trouble with Junipers is that they can go on looking alive, for weeks after they are in fact dead. A simple test is to scratch a tiny bit of bark from the base of the trunk. If the cambium layer is green underneath, then your tree is alive. If it is not... then you have a dead bonsai.

All the best,

Aaron