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New to bonsai

Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 11:43 am
by DuWut
I had received a bonsai plant very similar to the ones I have now as a gift a little over a year ago but unfortunately the hot Florida sun dried it out so now I'm back and I've got 2 juniper bonsai trees I purchased from Eve's Garden Gifts online nursery and I was wondering if yall could give me some tips. I've lurked around this forum a little bit and I found a few things that are probably to my benefit such as removing the moss around the one tree so it doesn't rot the trunk, but apart from that I don't really feel comfortable with changing much else.

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Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 2:06 pm
by JustinBoi
I am also in FL and had the drying out problem. For those two, (which are pretty young) just need to grow out. I keep my junipers in semi shade and water every other day, and right now they are putting out a lot growth. I don't have a lot of experience with junipers but this is my experiences so there will probably someone else who could give you more information. Sorry ):

Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 7:49 pm
by kdodds
Nope, I'd say Justin's pretty much got it. Proper grow out pots (not the pots they're in just yet), proper soil, and limited exposure to the hottest part of the day (keep them in semi-shade) should help. Also, search "chopstick method" where watering is concerned. The junipers you have are not really bonsai. Take a trip to a local home store and you'll find gallon nursery pots (likely for $6-7) of shrubs that are better developed. Seriously. If you're afraid to make changes to the current trees, pick up a decent book on Bonsai (I like "the Living Art of Bonsai") and a few of those home store shrubs and have at it. We all kill trees. At worst, you'll be out $20, but up TONS on experience.

Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 11:59 am
by DuWut
Since I realize that what I have is not true bonsai, I've decided to go out and get the supplies I need to do the real thing, but I'm having a hard time finding pots, I've got a large amount of diatomaceous earth and some organic soil and I know a good nursery where I can find some plants, but about the only place I can find pots is online and the pricing for them is a little steep imo. Should I just start out with the plastic bonsai training pots and move up from there?

Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 7:31 pm
by kdodds
I wouldn't use DE at all, it's too small grained, too dense.

Forget about bonsai "training pots" as well unless you must have a pot that looks "bonsai like". Use nursery "bulb pans" for shallow training, and standard nursery pots for growing out.