First Time Owner

treatmentkid137 · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 9:06 am Post subject: First Time Owner

I recently recieved a Juniper Bonsai and from what I can see (which doesn't mean much) its very healthy. I read the small amount of instructions that came with it and it really didn't answer too many of my questions. It said to leave it in the sun durring "growing season" which I assumed means spring and summer and fall I guess considering I live in the Bay Area of California. It also said to take it inside away from the sun durring winter and to water only when the soil is dry. But it never gets cold here (maybe mid 30's lowest). I read a few posts here that say differently and I'd rather take advice from here than a brief list of instructions. I know nothing about Bonsais so any help would be appreciated.

yamadorinige · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 10:57 am Post subject: Re: First Time Owner

Hello Treatmentkid, welcome to bonsai help!
Contrary to what your instructions said your juniper should never be inside it needs the rise and fall in temperatures that it will receive outside, It is a plant that doesn't need molly coddling, it is one of natures toughies. Mine are left outside all year in rain, sun, ans snow and freezing temperatures( currently 0 degrees C).
You should be aiming to water just before it dries out and never to a timetable.
It doesn't need feeding at this time of year but should be fed at half manufacturers recommendations from late March 'til September.

Dick · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:10 pm Post subject: Re: First Time Owner

Hi Treat....

Welcome to the site.

You juniper can live outdoors all year round inthe bay area. There is no problem with it at all. However, in the summer, when the temperature and sunlight are the hottest, it can use a bit of mid-day shade so as not to burn it. Watch the watering schedule. Spring and summer temperatures may necessitate that it be watered more frequently than winter.

There are some good bonsai places to visit in the Bay, Berkeley, Oakland, Haywood, Sebastepol, Sacramento area. Check them out.

treatmentkid137 · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 2:21 am Post subject: Re: First Time Owner

Alright, Thank you. Outside it goes.
Are there any Fertilizer brands that I should look for.
And what about repotting and trimming?

Stymie · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 2:51 pm Post subject: Re: First Time Owner

Your questions are answered elsewhere many times on the site. You will not need any fertilizer until March which is also a good time to do a re-pot if necessary. Don't start to feed for 4-6 weeks after a re-pot.
Trimming or pinching out is done frequently during the growing season to hold the shape but a prliminary styling may be adviseable.
Could you show us one or two photographs so that guidance can be specific. You will not be able to post them directly into this forum but if you submit them to a free hosting site such as 'photobucket', the URL/address can be posted here and we'll be able to dowload them. I would urge you to read as much material about bonsai as possible at this stage. Full membership of this site will allow access to all the other forums which have loads of information and advice on them. Everything that you need to know cannot be included in one posting but its all on the site somewhere.
You will also be able to post photographs directly into the other forums when you take out full membership. Meanwhile keep talking to us here.