I received a bonsai tree from my aunt on christmas. I believe it is a juniper because it has needles and no flowers or leaves. This is what happened...
I did alot of research on bonsai's cuz I love this thing. I live in Arizona so I water it once a day. It was doing very very well until I trimmed it about a month ago. it was the beginning of spring so I thought it was appropriate. Apparaently I trimmed it to much and ever since I have it has been struggling. The leaves have turned very dark and crunchy. very few parts are a healthy green. I thought hard water was killing it so I use filtered water from my fridge. I figured it might not get enough sun so I put reflective metal on my window sill so more sun would get into my room. I stoppeed spraying it everyday because it seemed to be getting white flakes on the leaves. I used superthrive on it for about a week of watering. Used some rain water. I keep the pond built into the pot filled as much as I can so the humidity stays high. I put a tiny bit of fertalizer in it because my mom warned me of burning the roots. I don't know what to do. I would greatly appreciate any help.
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When you 'researched' juniper you should have learned that juniper will not live (for very long) indoors. It is a hardy outdoor plant and it suffers - should I say limps along - in the house, but dies eventually.
I'm not sure it can be saved but let's try. Find a spot outside where your Arizona sun is not wicked hot, a semi-shady area with maybe some morning light but afternoon shade. Don't let it overdry OR stay wet all the time. Don't do any fertilizing unless it begins to show healthy new growth. First let's find out if it is actually alive.
Hardy (outdoor) plants need these things - the brightness of natural outdoor lighting (even if not in direct sunshine), PROPER watering, temperature variations that they get in a normal day/night cycle, air circulation (the movement they get from wind - not provided indoors), fresh morning dew, the coolness, or cold, that comes with winter - yes even in your location. All these things come in the annual cycles. One big key here is wintertime dormancy, something that it requires and won't get in an unnatural indoor environment.
I'm not sure it can be saved but let's try. Find a spot outside where your Arizona sun is not wicked hot, a semi-shady area with maybe some morning light but afternoon shade. Don't let it overdry OR stay wet all the time. Don't do any fertilizing unless it begins to show healthy new growth. First let's find out if it is actually alive.
Hardy (outdoor) plants need these things - the brightness of natural outdoor lighting (even if not in direct sunshine), PROPER watering, temperature variations that they get in a normal day/night cycle, air circulation (the movement they get from wind - not provided indoors), fresh morning dew, the coolness, or cold, that comes with winter - yes even in your location. All these things come in the annual cycles. One big key here is wintertime dormancy, something that it requires and won't get in an unnatural indoor environment.
I'm going to jump out on a limb and ask if you could provide a picture (if possible).
It is easier for our Bonsai Enthusiasts to properly identify the species and give you the proper instructions.
Do not overwater and do not under-water.
I grow two Junipers, I made a special shelter for them so they could get enough sun and shade.
Every 2 days, I rotate so all sides of the tree get sun.
When it rains, it goes on top of them, and the wind hits in an angle.
All important properties needed for Junipers like Tom said.
So if you can, provide a picture.
Here's the link just in case you need help
[url]https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3724[/url]
It is easier for our Bonsai Enthusiasts to properly identify the species and give you the proper instructions.
Do not overwater and do not under-water.
I grow two Junipers, I made a special shelter for them so they could get enough sun and shade.
Every 2 days, I rotate so all sides of the tree get sun.
When it rains, it goes on top of them, and the wind hits in an angle.
All important properties needed for Junipers like Tom said.
So if you can, provide a picture.
Here's the link just in case you need help
[url]https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3724[/url]
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- Joined: Sat Feb 06, 2010 7:28 am
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ees27 - in my earlier post I mentioned "unnatural indoor environment" and you are worried about whether a juniper can live in the heat outdoors. Look at it this way. Do junipers live outdoors where you are? Is your home air-conditioned? If the answer is yes to both questions then yes a juniper should be outdoors - in its natural environment. BUT since it is in a pot - not in the ground - it will need some special care, I.e. semi shade, proper watering, and good soil.
[img]https://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss73/evan_tha_allstar/IMG_20110401_152700.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss73/evan_tha_allstar/IMG_20110401_152648.jpg[/img]
Dry discolored crunchy
[img]https://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss73/evan_tha_allstar/IMG_20110401_152722-1.jpg[/img]
Discolored tips
[img]https://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss73/evan_tha_allstar/IMG_20110401_152816.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss73/evan_tha_allstar/IMG_20110401_152648.jpg[/img]
Dry discolored crunchy
[img]https://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss73/evan_tha_allstar/IMG_20110401_152722-1.jpg[/img]
Discolored tips
[img]https://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss73/evan_tha_allstar/IMG_20110401_152816.jpg[/img]
Things aren't working so well... everything that was discolored is turning brown now. The new problem I see is that it might be drowning because I put it in a white tray and once it fills to a certain point my bonsai cant let anymore water run out. So I removed the tray and just set it on a flat stool so there shouldn't be any blockage of the draining hole. It has raining so I put it out in the rain. I don't want to give up on this plant.
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JUNIPERS love the outdoors. HOT - COLD doesn't matter too much if given the proper care. Junipers do not like indoor environments (like air-conditioning). Junipers are more likely to die from over watering (which can lead to root rot) than under watering.
In nature junipers grow in the mountains, dry hot locations, in the cold north, outside nearly every McDonalds on the planet. But not in the house.
I think your little guy is suffering from wet soggy roots. Let it dry out a bit, clip the dead tips if you like. It may come back. But if not - try again. At least now you have places like this to turn to for advice.
We all lose a few plants/trees now and then. We try to learn why, and learn from the experiences. The more we learn the better we get.
In nature junipers grow in the mountains, dry hot locations, in the cold north, outside nearly every McDonalds on the planet. But not in the house.
I think your little guy is suffering from wet soggy roots. Let it dry out a bit, clip the dead tips if you like. It may come back. But if not - try again. At least now you have places like this to turn to for advice.
We all lose a few plants/trees now and then. We try to learn why, and learn from the experiences. The more we learn the better we get.