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Juniper Bonsai
Buy One or Make One? If you are a beginner in bonsai, there are advantages to both strategies. If you buy a Juniper bonsai which is well styled, it can serve as a three dimensional model for you to learn how to style your other trees. However, there is some expense involved in purchasing an established bonsai, particularly one which is well styled. For a fraction of the cost, you can create your own. You will still need to buy a bonsai pot, though. If you decide to create your own bonsai, you will need to go to a garden center, landscape nursery, or the garden department of your local “big box” store in order to purchase the raw material. There are several varieties of juniper available in nurseries, but the easiest one for beginners to work with is Juniperus Procumbens Nana, also called the Japanese Ground Juniper, Japanese Garden Juniper, or the “Green Mound” juniper. These Junipers are usually sold as ground cover in temperate climates, and are usually available in one gallon and five gallon sizes. Try to find one that has a thick trunk, and some strong upper branching that you can use to create the top of the tree. Creating the Juniper Bonsai (Skip this part if you purchased one already made). Once you have your raw material home, you will need to prune and shape it. Remove it from the nursery pot, or cut away the rim of the nursery put so you can access the lower part of the tree’s trunk. Most nursery plants are too deep in the soil, so scrape away the surface soil to see what the root spread looks like. Prune away the undergrowth, and prune out enough inner growth so you can see what the branching is like. Find a strong central branch to act as the upper trunk or leader, and wire or stake it into an upright position (if you are styling an upright tree – skip this if you are doing a windswept or a cascade). Select your side, front and back branches and prune away unwanted growth. You should have back branches starting above the first side branch and continuing to the top, and front branches on the top half or third of the tree. Front and back branches give the tree three dimensional reality. Potting the Juniper Bonsai Clean the old soil from the roots with a root hook, chopstick, or wash it off with a hose. Prune the roots to fit the bonsai pot. Your first bonsai pot for the juniper should be half as high and twice as wide as the nursery pot. Fit some drainage screens to the holes in the bonsai pot, and put a layer of bonsai soil in the pot. Position the tree and wire it in place if necessary. Fill in around the roots with bonsai soil, and work the soil in with a chopstick. Water the tree until water runs out the bottom of the pot. Where to Keep Your Bonsai: Junipers are outdoor trees. Period. Do not attempt to keep one indoors. While Junipers ordinarily prefer full sun, the small soil volume of a bonsai container will dry out rapidly if you keep one in full sun. The best place for a Juniper bonsai is on a covered patio or porch that faces south, east or west, so it will receive some sun but be sheltered in the hottest part of the day. Junipers are winter hardy, and will not need winter protection except in the most severe climates. Watering: Most good bonsai soils are designed to drain well, and your Juniper bonsai will need to be watered at least once every other day, and possibly every day. You should never leave it waterlogged, and never let it dry out completely. If your Juniper is waterlogged a day after being watered, then your soil does not drain well enough and needs to be changed. Pests and Diseases: Junipers tend to be relatively pest and disease free. The commonest problems are red spider mites, particularly in hot weather if you do not water enough, and Juniper weevils, which are small beetles that eat the new growth. Maintenance: Prune your Juniper bonsai by pinching out new growth with your fingers every two weeks or so to preserve its shape. Enjoy: Enjoy your new Juniper bonsai and your new hobby. Your little tree will bring you great beauty and contentment for many years to come. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Charles M is a bonsai artist with 20 years' experience. His website is Kuromatsu Bonsai. For more information on juniper bonsai, please visit Juniper Bonsai For information on Azalea bonsai, please visit Azalea bonsai |
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