Newbie with Juniper - please help

[Klogg]

Hi all,

Warning: Newbie post!

I've been searching these forums the last couple days and have read over the wealth of advice given by all, but to be honest I'm a little overwhelmed by a few things and was hoping someone could help me out. (Sorry for making you re-post the same info!)

I recently got a bonsai for Christmas (see attached pics) and would like to know if you could help me out with any of the following:

- Browning of needles: When I first got the tree, it was entirely green. Then, within 3weeks it started browning a lot. You'll notice in the close up picture it's far more brown than it was! I've read that I should simply pinch of the needles that are browning, but should so much of the tree be turning brown?

- Watering: I've also read that I should water whenever the soil is dry by putting a chopstick in for a few minutes, then pulling it out. If it's moist, don't water it. The thing is, it takes 3-4 days for the soil to completely dry and I'm concerned that I'm drying the tree out (it's summer here at the moment, reading about 30 degrees Celsius (85 Fahrenheit) on average. Am I concerned for nothing?

- Soil Type and pot: After I received the bonsai, I immediately noticed it was root bound and upgraded the pot to something about 3 times the size (and watered it when this was done). I bought a generic, organic bonsai mix and have placed a mesh type material over the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. Should I be using a different soil mix?
Also, I'm yet to feed the tree, but I've had it for less than a month. Is there a particular feeding frequency I should be aiming for? (I've read various bits of info, all of it ranging immensely!)


I apologize for the lengthy post, and the fact that some of this has been posted before, but I'm very confused and am overwhelmed by the amount of varying information that I've read.

Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated, as I'm keen to learn about bonsai trees, especially because I've always found them very fascinating.

Also, if you need any more specific information from me, please let me know and I'll give as much detail as I can.
(And I know I'm asking a lot in one post, but does anyone know the specific type of Juniper that this is)

Thanks in advance,
Klogg

[Qitianlong]

Hi Klogg,

mate I'd be watering a little more... I give mine a solid drenching in the morning, and if it's anything above 33 degrees or so I give em another go in the afternoon. I base my watering on the local bonsai nursery, and how they water. From what I've read about over watering, those guys are certainly doing it, but their trees are loving it. It depends on the soil of course, and how much water it retains. Sounds like your soil could be a bit stodgy, but I'd still err on the side of watering a little more.

The bigger pot is cool, as it'll grow a little bigger in there.

I'll let others with more know-how fill in the rest!!

[Trent McKenzie]

Hi Klogg, and welcome to the wonderful world of bonsai.

In your post you mention that you potted into a larger pot. Sorry to say but this is the wrong time of year for repot on junipers and should be done late summer to mid autumn. It should be ok as long as you didn't disturb the roots too much. I think the tree could be in a little bit of shock and is browning as a result.

The best advice I can give is to invest in a bottle of seasol and give it a good drink of that. Also being summer more water than every 3-4 days is surely in order, I water daily whether dry or not.

One last thing that may be of importance is where the tree is located, it needs to be outside, in a partly shaded area to start with but should tolerate full sun once established.

good luck and don't give up, we all kill trees, I for one have yet to go 12 months without losing a tree.

[Klogg]

Thanks very much for the quick responses!

I did forget to mention that the tree is outside, getting mostly morning sun and protected from the midday sun.

As for re-potting, I'll keep that in mind for next time. Again, I appreciate the advice
I didn't touch any of the roots too much, so I'm guessing it'll be OK (fingers crossed!).

I've had a few people tell me I'm waiting too long between watering, so from now on I'll be watering far more often (especially given it is Summer). I did give it a good drenching today, watered it right through and water was running through the drainage holes. Hopefully it picks up from here...
To be honest, I was initially concerned that the tree was waterlogged, but clearly I was way off the mark. I would've found that out the hard way without this forum.

And I'll be sure to give it a little Seasol tomorrow - I'm sure my dad has a bottle around the house!