New to bonsai; need help with a Needle Juniper.

[GinharoBEAST]

I received a needle juniper bonsai for my birthday two weeks ago - it came with general bonsai care instructions but nothing specific to this species. I have consulted a few websites and books but advice varies greatly.
The plant is still evidently young and is enclosed in a tiny pot (dimensions are approx. 9x5x5cm)

Is there anything I should know immediately about how to care for my new bonsai?

Watering, location and pruning tips would be greatly appreciated

[Sabamiki AKA Craig]

hi , http://www.makebonsai.com/guide/bonsail ... le_Juniper

[GinharoBEAST]

Thanks for the link, informative but I was wondering if anyone had experience with this kind of plant.

There are also teeny tiny rocks on the surface of the soil: is this a good thing or will it encourage too much moisture to be retained in the pot leading to root rot?

[treeman]

Hi Beast,
Is it a genuine needle juniper- juniperus rigida? .Thats important because if its a shore juniper-J conferta, it will be easy to grow. The only real Toshos I've seen in this country are the couple I managed to persuade from seed. They are very touchy! Die back easily and are slow to thicken in the extreme! I only have 1/2 of one left

[harry]

A picture would help, first to determine if it is either a shore juniper or a genuine Tosho. The to say whether the rocks on top should be removed.
As many of the mass produced for the markets, have them glued on which is not good.

Harry

[The Specimen]

Im no expert though would like to share my experience.

I have about 8 of these in the family of Junipers.. few that were in the pot.

If you want to display it then u can leave it as is of course with some care.

Should you want to progress this plant so that it grows faster (for trunk and branch development), definitely put it in the ground for several seasons.

I did this with about half of my junipers and only wished I had done it earlier by about 8 years

[GinharoBEAST]

It is a rigida as far as its tag tells me. Thankfully the rocks are not glued on which would have been a sure-fire sign to even me that something needs to be done. Unfortunately I haven't got a camera until next week (loaned it to a friend)

[PETER VINCENT ADAMS]

Hi!

Feed J. rigida every 7 days as a foliar feed with a well balanced fetiliser to charge it up. Many Rigidas are damaged by overpinching. The key to success is to feed freely, keep the soil damp at all times and delay initial trimming/pruning/pinching until the new shoots have enough energy to respond to pruning. Wait usually until the first shoots are three or more inches in length. This is essential with Rigida. Once it gets over-pinched, or repeatedly pinched too closely, it goes into a negative spiral of dessication, losing shoots, twigs and even whole branches. So, let it grow, keep it perky and you will do OK -- just buy it dinner first!

I know this stuff thru importing needle junipers from Japan for over twenty-five years and observing their behaviour. Might be an idea to pot it up into a larger container also to help invigorate it. Avoid acid, junipers prefer alkaline conditions.
Hope this helps.

Best .. Peter Adams

[GinharoBEAST]

Thanks very much Peter! I should be able to buy bonsai food and the proper fertiliser from a nearby nursery. I'll make sure to follow your watering and feeding advice, especially the pruning! I was worried about the tiny pot size too so it's great to have second opinions - I'll transfer it to a larger pot with some help. (paranoid about hurting the tiny thing)

Thanks again everybody for your advice! I think I feel more confident about taking care of the little guy now (^__^)