Juniper questions

chappy56 · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 7:22 pm Post subject: Juniper questions

Okay, I know that Junipers always must be outdoors to survive.
But how is it that Garden Centers can keep them indoors this time of year and manage to keep them alive? I just bought a couple in plastic pots from a garden center here and wonder how I should transition them to outdoors. It's averaging 30f degrees during the day and down into the low twenty's at night.

Stymie · Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 8:22 pm Post subject: Re: Juniper questions

Hiyah Chappy,
I don't think that any transition is necessary. Just put them outside. They probably haven't been inside for long if they look healthy. Don't coddle them and they'll be happy.

keithmart · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 8:26 pm Post subject: Re: Juniper questions

Hi

As Don says they are probably new stock if they are still healthy.

One thing with juniper is that they can Look healthy even when they are dying!

Get them outside ASAP

Jayfrin · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 8:57 pm Post subject: Re: Juniper questions

now i could be mistaken but there are junipers around this region in.. abundance and it gets VERY cold in winter so I agree with everyone else jsut leave your little junipers outside and they'll behappy and they can look very healthy and be dieing so i would advise against buying stock form gardening centres this time of year since they may be dieing Razz

mo's bonsai · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 11:19 pm Post subject: Juniper questions

Hey Chappy,

I too have Junipers that I have bought in the winter and some have died and some have lived. There is not really from what I've noticed a sure rule of thumb on checking a junipers health, for example: scratching to see green under the bark. because I've tried that trick and junipers don't have green just a little white and moist and i checked a poor ready to die juniper and it's the same only difference is one is dieing or already dead and the other is thriving. To check the foliage is sometimes misleading too because like the other guys said, a juniper can hold on to it's lush greenness long after it has died or begun to die. the only way I see on choosing a good juniper from a garden center is to know and be able to distinguish foliage shades of green. a dark green to me is healthy, a lighter green needs TLC but not necessarily an out of the question, brown at the tips to me means metal trimmers used and nothing to worry about, and brown all over means it's headed for the dumpster. Now all of these rules I go by are for this time of year only some may be applied during the spring, summer and fall season but may need to be looked at an individual case by case basis. further more, Like everyone said, trees thrive better outside. Mother nature knows best and juniper trees didn't get to live for hundreds of years by being couped up inside. Most of the time garden centers don't even know they got lucky that their plants are still healthy,I should know I worked in one once. Guys if you have any thing else or would like to correct my post , please do so. Good luck with your new stock.

Dick · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 3:29 pm Post subject: Re: Juniper questions

Chappy,

Many garden centers overwinter their junipe stock in unheated conditions. The temperatures will get low enouhg at night time and sometimes below freezing. Junipers can withstand the daily transitions of temperature. And placing them outdoors when it's 30F now isn't a shock for them at all. So go for it.

Jayfrin · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:02 pm Post subject: Re: Juniper questions

while everyone is answering away here I have a question. That's right nobody saw it coming ME with a QUESTION no way! Anyhow around here it can get down to.... oh I'd say its about 20 below zero out right now which is -4F for all you yankees, could a hardy little juni survive that?

Dick · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:34 pm Post subject: Re: Juniper questions

Around here the temperature will sometimes get to -20F which is about -30C for you Brits! And my junipers survive!!!!

mo's bonsai · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 3:06 am Post subject: Juniper questions

Are we talking about junipers with their roots buried in the ground or junipers in pots. Because I would think that junipers buried in the ground exposed to -20f would have a better chance of survival than one in a pot, not to say one in a pot will not survive but considering the climate I would take extra protective measures for one in a pot than for one in the ground. Burying the pot, placing the pot in a garage or simply placing it in an unheated breeze free enclosure are good examples.

lance111 · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 3:17 am Post subject: Re: Juniper questions

I find most garden centers around the Uk don't know alot about Bonsai, and they keep outdoor Bonsai, indoor!???? Confused

I remember chatting to one of the staff in a garden center once and telling him 'It was close to spring and I was going to root prune one of my Trees', he looked at me silly, saying 'you are going to trim back feeder roots? how does the tree survive...?'
And he was in charge of the Bonsai section of a well know Garden center....
I will say no more.... Smile

hungkuen · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 1:31 pm Post subject: Re: Juniper questions

Jayfrin · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 4:04 pm Post subject: Re: Juniper questions

Tee hee hee... So your telling me that I know more then a head of a bonsai section in a well established garden center... oh that's rich. Very Happy

Jayfrin · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 4:07 pm Post subject: Re: Juniper questions

Okay Dick but since I'm Canuck not a Brit what do you do with them just leave them or put them in a garage? or what?

hungkuen · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 4:23 pm Post subject: Re: Juniper questions

i think