Help with a rescued Juniper.

[Craig.a.c]

I recently bought a large juniper bonsai from our "DIY hardware" store.
Original price was $280, I laughed at them and said "I will give you $80 for it". So I got it for $80.
90% of the growth was all dead with green growth at the ends of the branches. I removed all the dead growth from it, and the green parts have new buds coming through.
There is no new buds coming up on the old growth though. How do I encourage it?

Cheers - Craig.

[Craig.a.c]

On a positive note. If it doesnt make it, I got an awesome pot for $80.

[mattgatenby]

Hey Craig,

I'm reasonably new to the Bonsai world also but a couple things I would try is getting the plant on a steading feeding routine and pinch pruning the shoots to encourage new growth further down the branches

I'm sure that there are more knowledgeable members out there that could offer you sound advice but this is what I have done with my limited experience while having a positive success rate with juniper rejuvination

Cheers
Matt

[kcpoole]

Hi Craig
Let it recover and show signs of positive growth and they that new growth extend for the rest of the summer to get it really going. Once you have a really healthy tree, then you can start to cut back the growing tips and you should get adventitious budding back on the older wood. Particularly around the base of existing branching.

I have collected one a few months ago, and is only now starting to show signs of new growth, and has some back on the trunk. I will not be toching mine till next spring at the earliest.

Do not be in a hurry as Juniper take their time to recover

Ken