Received a Juniper Bonsai Today - Questions

[VR6 Mk3]

I will take some pics this weekend. I've been out of town for the past week (my room mate/rain have been watering it while I was gone).

Just bury, no worry for covering the plant? Thanks!

[alexinoklahoma]

All you need to 'protect' is the roots. The above-ground portions of pretty much all Junipers can withstand some pretty cold temps by design. If/when they get snow-covered, they are rather safe as the snow insulates.

So, yeah, just burying pot is fine. you can also place it into a much larger pot and backfill with mulch or whatever and insulate *that* pot in-ground or wherever. Make sense?

Alex

[VR6 Mk3]

Thanks for the tips!

I took some photos today, please let me know if you have any advice for me.

Here are some of the brown areas. I tried to adjust the white balance as best I could to show the true color. Please let me know if this browning is normal before winter, or if the plant is sick. The part of the tree that was facing the house is definitely greener, and the whole thing has definitely lost a lot of color compared to the spring:

[img]https://www.overdrivephoto.com/images/BonsaiNov2008/images/DSC_3571.jpg[/img]

[img]https://www.overdrivephoto.com/images/BonsaiNov2008/images/DSC_3580.jpg[/img]

[img]https://www.overdrivephoto.com/images/BonsaiNov2008/images/DSC_3574.jpg[/img]

Also, I've buried the pot in my garden for the winter and covered it with soil. Please let me know if I've chosen a good location:
[img]https://www.overdrivephoto.com/images/BonsaiNov2008/images/DSC_3584.jpg[/img]

[img]https://www.overdrivephoto.com/images/BonsaiNov2008/images/DSC_3590.jpg[/img]

I've also posted some more photos here if that helps:
https://www.overdrivephoto.com/images/BonsaiNov2008/index.html

[VR6 Mk3]

Wow, planted it in the ground, and the next morning it's snowing out. Hopefully I did it just at the right time?

[VR6 Mk3]

Anyone?

[Gnome]

VR6 Mk3,

I think you have done fine as far as the location is concerned. Now that I see it the overall color of the tree concerns me somewhat but it may just be the lighting. I take it that you have not re-potted it yet. In reviewing this thread I assumed you were going to do so this past spring.

Norm

[VR6 Mk3]

VR6 Mk3,

I think you have done fine as far as the location is concerned. Now that I see it the overall color of the tree concerns me somewhat but it may just be the lighting. I take it that you have not re-potted it yet. In reviewing this thread I assumed you were going to do so this past spring.

Norm

Thanks! I quickly re-read the thread, and I didn't see anything about re-potting it? I've had the tree for less than a year, and everything I've read says to re-pot every 2 years or so.

If the color is a concern, is there anything that I can do at this point to help it out?

[Gnome]

Also, sorry another question. It came in a plastic pot currently. Am I correct to assume that a ceramic pot would be better, but that I'm better off to leave it alone, and not to repot it until the spring?

'Better' is a question of aesthetics but that aside...Spring is a far more appropriate time for a repot than now.
ynot

Emphasis mine.

I had assumed this meant you intended to re-pot this past spring. While a two year cycle would certainly not be too infrequent I would have liked to see it in a better medium by now.

when I got my Juniper it was borderline too late to re-pot so I left it the first year but the first order of business the following spring was to get it into a nearly 100% inorganic medium. I used approx 50% Haydite/50% Lava with just a touch of bark.

This may be part of your problem, Junipers don't like 'wet feet' perhaps the water retentive nature of the soil has caught up with it.
https://www.overdrivephoto.com/images/BonsaiNov2008/pages/DSC_3579.html

Norm

[VR6 Mk3]

I had assumed this meant you intended to re-pot this past spring. While a two year cycle would certainly not be too infrequent I would have liked to see it in a better medium by now.

when I got my Juniper it was borderline too late to re-pot so I left it the first year but the first order of business the following spring was to get it into a nearly 100% inorganic medium. I used approx 50% Haydite/50% Lava with just a touch of bark.

This may be part of your problem, Junipers don't like 'wet feet' perhaps the water retentive nature of the soil has caught up with it.
https://www.overdrivephoto.com/images/BonsaiNov2008/pages/DSC_3579.html

Norm

Sorry, when you said later that the type of pot (plastic vs. ceramic) is not so important, I thought that meant that I didn't need to repot. I didn't realize the soil was not ok. I actually thought the opposite may have been true, and the tree wasn't getting enough water.

I will now plan new soil for NEXT spring. Is there anything else that I can do between now and then to help the situation?

[alexinoklahoma]

FWIW, ditto to what 'gnome' has said. I, too, think its a bit brownish, but possibly the lighting/camera issue(s). I now my camera sucks at 'true' color. Location is good, and snow is fortuitous as well. Just keep it from staying 'soggy'; dryness is not likely an issue being a Juniperus, IMO

Definitely repot just before it starts its awakening come Spring '09. Otherwise, gut feeling says it will be toast (same color, too, LOL)...

Alex

[VR6 Mk3]

Thanks guys. I will keep that in mind.

Anything I can do to keep it from getting too soggy over the winter? I can control how much water I give, but not precipitation. I think the spot that it's in at least will stay somewhat drier than other parts of the yard.