FEATURED TREE
Juniper
Juniperus procumbens nana (pictured)
Type: Juniper genus is made up of about some 60 species within the cypress family. They are evergreen coniferous trees or shrubs. Juniperus grows mostly in temperate and cold zones. The Juniper cannot live indoors. Along with pines and maples, juniperus is one of the top three trees used for bonsai. Juniperus procumbens nana is a dwarf ground cover, famously known as the bonsai most seen for sale at malls and large box retail establishments, hence the term mall bonsai or “mallsai”. It is a good choice for all levels of bonsai artists from beginner to advanced because of its low, spreading habit and compact foliage.
Style: It is well suited to most styles except formal upright. Best suited to semi-cascade, cascade, slanting, and informal upright.
Summer Placement: Place in full sun. If recently potted place in semi-shade for a couple of months. Some species change their foliage color during frosty periods to a purplish brown which is a part of their internal frost protection mechanism. Don’t worry they will turn green again in spring. (BE)
Winter Placement: It can tolerate freezing temperatures but roots should be protected. Again, Junipers cannot live indoors.
Watering: Foilage can be misted on a daily basis during the growing season. Water when soil is moderately dry but do not allow it to dry out completely. (BCI)
Feeding: Feed every 20-30 days using a slow-acting organic fertilizer. If using chemical fertilizers apply a half-strength solution every other week or a liquid fertilizer every week. Do not fertilize during the hottest months from July through mid-August. (BCI)
Wiring: Wiring can be done at any time but should be watched for the wire biting into the bark during the growing months. If wire begins to bite in, it should be removed and re-wired. Wiring is best done in late fall after the growth goes dormant.
Pruning: Prune undesirable branches as needed at any time but it is recommended it be done during spring-summer growth season. Pinch back new growth at the tips with your fingers to keep foliage pads in shape and promote budding back. The Juniper is generally a strong tree that withstands aggressive pruning. But it cannot bud again from bare tree parts, so take care that there is some foliage left on every branch you wish to keep alive. (BE)
Repotting Season: Repot every three or four years. Spring is the best time to repot Juniper. Do not cut back more than 1/3rd of the roots at repotting. There is a window of time around the second to the third week of September when Juniper’s roots grow and can be repotted at this time.
Soil Mix: Use a basic bonsai soil mix. Peter Chan recommends 1 part loam, 1 part peat, and 3 parts coarse sand.
Container: Should be unglazed
More info can be found at Bonsai Empire, Bonsai Club International, Books by Peter Chan
