Juniper roots

[Kyushu Danji]

I have a juniper (possibly juniperus communis?) that I dug up this morning. Unfortunately, it has been in a very neglected spot, and despite the apparent vigor of the tree, the soil was extremely hard and dry. Because of this, and in spite of my best efforts to get as much of the roots up intact as I possibly could, I still ended up with a disproportionate amount of root to the foliage

I have had much more experience with handling deciduous trees, and in fact this is the first time I have attempted to create bonsai material from a conifer. So I would really like to hear people's stories/methods and success rates with these plants.

Here is what I have done so far:

I have bathed the juniper in seasol for half an hour, and planted it with a mix of good quality potting mix and pine bark, with sphagnum moss kept around the roots (I have read that apparently this stimulates root growth, but tends to slow foliage growth) I have also ensured that this mix has REALLY good drainage. I then tied four strings around the trunk and the growing box to ensure the tree stays in position and took away as much dead foliage as I could from the tree. I misted it (I have read that this is good for junipers with poor root systems) and put it in a light, but fully shaded position, facing south.

Suggestions and comments are welcome. I realize it is not an ideal time to be doing this sort of work, but I am hoping that if it is cared for appropriately until next spring, it will survive.

[de_keizer]

one thing with junipers is they will die back killing off random branches to survive if there not happy. my sugestion would be to cut off any branches that you know you dont want to make the transition easier for the tree

[LLK]

As you said it yourself, KD, now is not the ideal time to dig up a juniper, especially since we are in the middle of a considerable heat wave. The advice concerning the lifting or repotting of junipers is generally: "you can do it any time of the year except in the middle of Summer". As with your thread concerning air layering, you ask for opinions after having done the job. In this particular case, if you had asked beforehand, I'd have said "wait a while", and "before lifting the shrub, dig around the roots and thoroughly wet the rootball by filling the resulting narrow trench with water, several times". Well, many people will consider this superfluous, but they don't know local conditions like I do.
Your juniper looks indeed like a communis. They occur frequently here in Canberra gardens as self sown seedlings. I've got some too. Terribly prickly!
You are obviously hyper enthusiastic, judging by your 48 posts in 14 days -- surely a record for a newcomer!! Postponing jobs that you see as "possibles" must be doubly hard for you, but I'd still say "softly softly catchee monkee".

Lisa

[Webos]

I disagree with LLK completely... Go hard Kyushu Danji, make all of your mistakes in a short time. A well known member on this forum recently told me that it took him 10 years to make real progress in Bonsai because he went slow, made mistakes, went slow again, made mistakes again.. Finally, after he had worked a few things out, he was able to make good progress on his trees.

Nothing wrong with a bit of unadulterated enthusiasm!

[GavinG]

Do things at the right time.

Gavin

(You can cut the top back if there's not much root ball to feed it. Mist the leaves each day. Keep it in the shade until Something Happens.)

[MattA]

Hey James,

You really are getting into it... Digging in Canberra at this time of year would have been fun I helped dig a grave in Canberra one feb for a great dane, it took a team of us about 6hrs to dig, we all would have done twice as much for her (RIP Cleo)

I would reduce the foliage volume by about half & stick with your current care, one thing to beware of, as with all conifers too much water around the roots & your in trouble, misting the foliage will help keep it hydrated. One thing, is that the airconditioner next to it? That will not do your tree any good sitting next to that when its running.

Lisa, I agree digging in canberra at this time of year is crazy hard work but as Webos says, let him make as many mistakes as possible as quickly as possible... not to say this is a mistake necessarily. When you work outside of the normally accepted seasons you have to be provide better aftercare & be prepared for some failures and some successes, hopefully learning from both.

Matt

[Kyushu Danji]

Thanks for all of the comments. I have posted quite a lot recently

Sorry Webos, but Lisa is right to criticize, I should have waited. I guess suddenly getting back into to this hobby after a few years of neglect has made me a little over enthusiastic and at times impatient. Even worse is that I haven't really learnt anything from this mistake, because I already knew that I shouldn't be moving junipers at this time of year. I should at the very least have waited until the heat wave had passed. I guess time will tell how much I will pay for this one - hopefully I do not lose the tree, I think it has really good potential as a bonsai one day (when the tree, and myself are ready for that of course!)

As for the air layering post, I had already finished those before I had joined this forum, and another member asked me to post photos of them so he could give me some additional information.

Back to the juniper, I would still appreciate some first hand experience of how after care is taken care of, even if it is only beneficial in the long run for a future plant (taken at the appropriate time). From the articles I have read, there seems to be conflicting advice about this after care. Do you trim the foliage or not?
On one hand, you need to ensure the foliage is balanced with a substantial root ball that can support it, which to someone used to deciduous plants makes sense. But on the other hand, junipers apparently can take in nutrients and moisture through the foliage (if conditions are moist). So wouldn't taking foliage off the juniper stress it even more? Or is it the case that this juniper has so much foliage that it could stand to lose some while it recovers?

All of your comments are valuable, I am not afraid of what people have to say. Please be as honest and direct as necessary

James

[Kyushu Danji]

Hey James,

I would reduce the foliage volume by about half & stick with your current care, one thing to beware of, as with all conifers too much water around the roots & your in trouble, misting the foliage will help keep it hydrated. One thing, is that the airconditioner next to it? That will not do your tree any good sitting next to that when its running.

Matt

That is a redundant air conditioner - we had a new one installed but that old thing is still sat there round the back. As I have already mentioned I have concerns about reducing foliage mass because it is a conifer..would like more information/explanation on that one if possible

One thing I did manage to do before digging up this juniper is read up about them. So now you are wondering why I dug it up in summer if that was the case - sheer impatience I am ashamed to say I understand the roots rot very easily. This is why I made sure the soil was very quick to drain. I have misted the foliage several times today - mainly because it has been so hot.

When I was digging this up at 6.30 this morning, I suppose I was thinking to myself that even if 35 degrees and above was forecast for the next week or so, at least it would be given ample shade and water. Unfortunately a little after that I noticed how small the roots were in comparison to the foliage lesson well and truly learned.

[Webos]

Gday James... I have dug Junipers in January in the past and they have come through no worries at all... I have even dug them, potted them in the cheapest back of home brand potting mix, left them in full sun all summer and they made it through without a worry. The key is not to take too much foliage off after you have dug them. They seem to use the foliage to keep nutrients moving through their branches. Unlike a deciduous tree, if you cut off all foliage from a branch, juniper branches will die whereas a deciduous tree will most likely bust out in foliage right along the branch. The Junipers I dug were not communis so I'm not sure how they will react.

Good luck and whatever you do, dont leave them sitting in water...let them dry a little between waters or the roots will rot.

[Kyushu Danji]

Yes. Thats one thing I will be sure to do, prevent it from becoming waterlogged. It's comforting to know that at least you have had some success digging junipers up at this time of year. I think I will definitely continue misting everyday, but will start with a more normal watering regime and wait until the soil dries out a little before watering again.

[Kyushu Danji]

Yes. Thats one thing I will be sure to do, prevent it from becoming waterlogged. It's comforting to know that at least you have had some success digging junipers up at this time of year. I think I will definitely continue misting everyday, but will start with a more normal watering regime and wait until the soil dries out a little before watering again.

EDIT:

Gday James... I have dug Junipers in January in the past and they have come through no worries at all... I have even dug them, potted them in the cheapest back of home brand potting mix, left them in full sun all summer and they made it through without a worry. The key is not to take too much foliage off after you have dug them. They seem to use the foliage to keep nutrients moving through their branches. Unlike a deciduous tree, if you cut off all foliage from a branch, juniper branches will die whereas a deciduous tree will most likely bust out in foliage right along the branch. The Junipers I dug were not communis so I'm not sure how they will react.

Good luck and whatever you do, dont leave them sitting in water...let them dry a little between waters or the roots will rot.

Hey Webos, have you had any luck with finding stewartia? I am thinking of going back to where I got mine to find out either where they got their supply from or when they will be getting some more in. I can let you know how I go if you like.

[de_keizer]

one other piece of advice ive heard is if the leaves start to go brown and die its better for the plant if you cut it off so the plant isnt trying to heal while recovering, hope it helps

[Andrew Legg]

One thing you can do would be to cover it in a clear plastic sheet to keep the hunidity around the leaves high. Misting will help, but how long before it evaporates and the benefits are gone? I have little experience with this kinda dig, but something to think about possibly?

Cheers,

Andrew

[Kyushu Danji]

One thing you can do would be to cover it in a clear plastic sheet to keep the hunidity around the leaves high. Misting will help, but how long before it evaporates and the benefits are gone? I have little experience with this kinda dig, but something to think about possibly?

Cheers,

Andrew

Thanks Andrew, it has been 36 celsius here today, and a really dry heat. I might have sprayed that juniper 5 times already. It shows no signs of wilting, however I have read that conifers tend to take a while to wilt when they are stressed, so that really doesn't mean much. The water from misting evaporates VERY quickly. Apparently tomorrow's forecast is for very humid conditions, so maybe this will work in my favor.

I have been debating over the past few days whether or not to trim the branches, as a number of people have suggested. I was even considering leaving it and waiting until it either fully recovers, or decides for itself which branches/parts of the tree should die off naturally. Maybe it is best to take matters into my own hands

Alot more of this to be done --->

Thanks for the input

James

[Andrew Legg]

My opinion - take about 1/3 off the branches, stick a clear bag over it, and spray spray spray until you see new growth.