Please help this new Bonsai owner

ChineseCutieJing · Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2005 7:09 pm Post subject: Please help this new Bonsai owner

HiHi,

I am Jing. I am new to bonsai as owner. I have always loved how they look so thought to try this as a hobby. I own 2 bonsai: A 10 year old Juniper Procumbens Nana and a 9 year old Chinese Elm that I will receive next week as a gift.

I received the Juniper bonsai about 2 month ago in very nice, vibrant green condition. Unfortunately I tried to keep it in my bedroom with grow light for most of the 2 months. The area of the Juniper that was most under the sun lamp is still vibrantly green. As you look at it to the outermost areas of long branch, the foliage is a mix of mostly green, to paler green to brown. None of the folliages come off easy.

If you want to see the design of my Juniper, this is the Juniper I ordered (so you can see how it is shaped, if it help) from Bonsai Boy. http://www.bonsaiboy.com/catalog/product253.html

I took the bonsai out of my room and placed it now outdoors, after having read it is an outdoor plant. It is basically same condition (no better, no worse) after a week outdoors. I keep it watered every day, unless it rain. I feed it every day. I use miracle grow plant food (with 20 drops per quart of water, for every watering feeding, per the instructions).

I wish to know is my poor little bonsai going to die, since it is not getting better? Crying or Very sad

What can I do to save it? What can I learn to avoid for my Chinese Elm when I receive it next week (which will be kept outdoors too, next to the Juniper)?

Oh, I forgot to mention sun exposures. I used to keep the Juniper on the east side of my home so it would get AM sun, but I have now placed it on the north/west side of my home so it is in my back yard (away from eyes of anyone who may want to steal it). At this location it gets very direct sun after 11 Am (and shade/indirect before 11).

I should also mention my location. I live approx 1.5 mile from the ocean (but I think salt in air does not reach this far to my home). We get noreasters and hurricanes, but as I am on west side of home, and these storms come from east (from ocean) I think my bonsais will be fine, yes?

I just realized I wrote a short book. very sorry!

Please help my Juniper with advice.

ThxThx in advance!

Jing Smile

Stymie

Hi Jing.
Are you in Singapore or the U.S.? There is a bit if difference.
You did right to get your tree outside. The recovery may take a while because Junipers seem to have a nap during midsummer and they're only now starting their second annual growth spurt. Leave off feeding it for now as it isn't able to use the fertilizer at present. We'll talk more about that when it has shown signs of recovery for 4 to 6 weeks.
Assuming that your Elm comes in good condition, start feeding that after a couple of weeks with half strength fertilizer but no more frequently than twice a month.
If you join with full membership, you will discover helpful information about both species in our A-Z forum. Membership will also allow you to post photographs on other threads and access lots of helpful discussions. Come back as often as you like. Smile

ChineseCutieJing

Stymie

You're welcome Jing. You really are a cutie (I think).

ChineseCutieJing

suki

Hi jing,

Welcome to Bonsai help, nice to meet you.

I cant help much with saving trees as I'm only learning myself, but with regards to fertilizer I think it's worthwhile investing in some bonsai liquid fertilizer. I used to use miracle grow when I first got my tree and it was OK it kept it alive and green, but on the advice of someone who kept bonsai's I switched to bonsai feed and I really noticed the difference. I have a serissa so maybe your tree will react differently, but seriously this time last year the tree had no flowers I started using the feed at the end of August and then it flowered for three months around December and then started flowering again in May and still currently flowering well.

Can buy the liquid fertilizer on WS bonsai £3.50 or on e-bay.

Take care hope your juniper doesn't die

Suki
xxxx

ChineseCutieJing