Hello Everyone!
I have admired bonsai trees for a long time and bought one at a roadside stand today on a whim. I asked a few questions while there and figured I would read up online when I got home. ...And then I realized that I had no idea what kind of tree I purchased. DURRR!!!
I took some pictures, If they're not good enough just hollar and I'll take some more.
Thanks in advance!!!
~Maureen
[img]https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v442/wannabeagoonie2/000_5750.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v442/wannabeagoonie2/000_5748.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v442/wannabeagoonie2/000_5751.jpg[/img]
[img]https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v442/wannabeagoonie2/000_5752.jpg[/img]
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MermaidGirl
- Newly Registered
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- Joined: Sat Jul 28, 2007 7:47 pm
- Location: Chicago
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Gnome
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 5122
- Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:17 am
- Location: Western PA USDA Zone 6A
Maureen,
Hello and welcome. It looks like you have acquired a [url=https://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Juniperus.html]Juniper bonsai.[/url] Sometimes evergreens can be tricky to ID, at least for me. Perhaps you can inquire at the stand where it was purchased. You can also use Google to search for some more pictures to verify this ID.
In the meantime please read the sticky threads located at the top of this forum. Take the time to follow the links that are posted there. Pay attention to watering and location. The peat based soil is not ideal by any means so take a look at the soil sticky as well. You do have it outside, right? No tree will be at its best inside and some will not do well it at all. Junipers fall firmly in the latter group
I have never seen anyone water with ice before. I don't think I would suggest that you continue this practice. Watering should be thorough enough to wet the soil all the way through and I fear that this method might tend to keep the surface wet while not providing sufficient moisture to wet the depths of the pot.
Norm
Hello and welcome. It looks like you have acquired a [url=https://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Juniperus.html]Juniper bonsai.[/url] Sometimes evergreens can be tricky to ID, at least for me. Perhaps you can inquire at the stand where it was purchased. You can also use Google to search for some more pictures to verify this ID.
In the meantime please read the sticky threads located at the top of this forum. Take the time to follow the links that are posted there. Pay attention to watering and location. The peat based soil is not ideal by any means so take a look at the soil sticky as well. You do have it outside, right? No tree will be at its best inside and some will not do well it at all. Junipers fall firmly in the latter group
I have never seen anyone water with ice before. I don't think I would suggest that you continue this practice. Watering should be thorough enough to wet the soil all the way through and I fear that this method might tend to keep the surface wet while not providing sufficient moisture to wet the depths of the pot.
Norm
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MermaidGirl
- Newly Registered
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- Joined: Sat Jul 28, 2007 7:47 pm
- Location: Chicago
Thanks so much! I looked at some pictures of junipers and that is indeed what I have.
The woman who sold me the tree told me about the ice. I haven't come across anything about it while reading up so, no...I won't continue with that. And I do have it outside.
About the soil, I read that the latest you can repot is July. As August is pretty much here, will it be ok to leave it in the soil it is in? And when it comes time to repot, I found "Conifer Mix Bonsai Soil" at bonsaiboy.com...would that be something to consider? I did read the soil sticky, but not only am I new to bonsai, I'm not much of a gardener either...so I don't know much about soil period.
I'm now getting this feeling like I'm in over my head. AHHH!
The woman who sold me the tree told me about the ice. I haven't come across anything about it while reading up so, no...I won't continue with that. And I do have it outside.
About the soil, I read that the latest you can repot is July. As August is pretty much here, will it be ok to leave it in the soil it is in? And when it comes time to repot, I found "Conifer Mix Bonsai Soil" at bonsaiboy.com...would that be something to consider? I did read the soil sticky, but not only am I new to bonsai, I'm not much of a gardener either...so I don't know much about soil period.
I'm now getting this feeling like I'm in over my head. AHHH!
I would say it is hard to say weather the soil you specified would be any good, it all comes down to what the soil is comprised of if some kind of peat is present this is generally no good.
Some of the members here make there own other use akadama and KYODAMA mixes.
It all comes down to the species and how they like to be kept,
https://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Juniperus.html
Read the above link and there may be some info there for you.
Hope this helps
Some of the members here make there own other use akadama and KYODAMA mixes.
It all comes down to the species and how they like to be kept,
https://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Juniperus.html
Read the above link and there may be some info there for you.
Hope this helps
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Gnome
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 5122
- Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:17 am
- Location: Western PA USDA Zone 6A
Maureen,
I was careful not to over-water it all that summer and it did fine. As fall approached I found a spot in my garden and slipped the tree from the container without disturbing the roots. I backfilled the hole, watered and mulched it in. We had some very cold spells last winter, zero F for a while and my tree came through fine. This year the soil it is in will be too loose to handle it this way so I've yet to decide how I'll handle it.
I much prefer the looks of their "Professional Bonsai Soil" but there are other products from other retailers that you can consider. You have time. My Juniper is in a nearly totally inorganic mix that consists of lava rock, Haydite and a little pine bark.
Norm
You're right, I think it is getting a little late to re-pot this year. If you manage it properly there is no reason that it can not stay in the soil it is in until next spring. When I bought mine in the spring of 2006 it was in a nursery can and since I had purchased it for a styling contest I of course pruned it. Due to this I chose not to re-pot it until the following spring, this spring.About the soil, I read that the latest you can repot is July. As August is pretty much here, will it be ok to leave it in the soil it is in?
I was careful not to over-water it all that summer and it did fine. As fall approached I found a spot in my garden and slipped the tree from the container without disturbing the roots. I backfilled the hole, watered and mulched it in. We had some very cold spells last winter, zero F for a while and my tree came through fine. This year the soil it is in will be too loose to handle it this way so I've yet to decide how I'll handle it.
I took a look at that product and found that it is not described at all and looks too fine and possibly too much on the organic side, but it is hard to say just from the picture.I found "Conifer Mix Bonsai Soil" at bonsaiboy.com...would that be something to consider?
I much prefer the looks of their "Professional Bonsai Soil" but there are other products from other retailers that you can consider. You have time. My Juniper is in a nearly totally inorganic mix that consists of lava rock, Haydite and a little pine bark.
Did you follow the links in the sticky? I think that there are also some links in the general growing sticky as well. The key thing is to realize that the vast majority of modern bonsai enthusiasts utilize no soil at all.I did read the soil sticky, but not only am I new to bonsai, I'm not much of a gardener either...so I don't know much about soil period.
Welcome to bonsai, just when you think you have begun to get a handle on one aspect of bonsai there is always another species or technique to try out. Good luck.I'm now getting this feeling like I'm in over my head. AHHH!
Norm