In the last report we touched on the bonsai care subject areas of watering, fertilizing, and the suitable levels of humidity and sunshine essential to keep your juniper vigorous. In this Part II we will go over the matters of re-potting, pruning, taking good care of your juniper over the winter, and pest management.

What You Need to Know About Pruning Your Juniper Bonsai

Brand new growth will invariably appear on the tips of your juniper bonsai tree branches in the spring, and quite often you will observe further new growth in the fall. Whenever you see this new growth you need to remove the buds by pinching them off. If left on, the branches on the tree will develop rapidly growing shoots and the tree will quickly look disheveled. You should not begin the process of pinching the buds until around a month after new growth first appears in late spring. Spring is likewise the best time to get rid of older inner growth well before it turns yellow and falls off. This older foliage, if permitted to yellow, will always make your bonsai much less desirable. Whenever you see new growth in the course of the regular growing season of summer you must also pinch it off. This will certainly always keep the plant looking tidy and as well to maintain it's shape.

Pinching off new growth isn't going to harm the plant. This is in part the method by which a plant is reduced in size, and the bonsai's ultimate shape would depend on your restricting it's growth in this manner.

The Best Time to Re-Pot Your Juniper Bonsai

When your junipers are less than 5 years old they should be re-potted each alternate year. When they have matured they just will need re-potting every third to 5Th year. Make sure to work with soil that drains freely whenever you re-pot your juniper bonsai. If your bonsai requires re-potting, be sure not to do so during the hot months of summer. Junipers must only be re-potted during the spring and fall to prevent causing any harm to your plant. If you see that your juniper is suffering from root rot while you're re-potting you'll need to cut off all of the afflicted roots, then re-pot using only sphagnum moss as an alternative to soil. Let it grow in the moss for a full 12 months or so after which you can re-pot into good, free-draining soil. Once you have finished re-potting your plant you'll want to water it very thoroughly. After that keep the tree in a shady spot until the roots have recovered.

Pruning the Juniper's Roots

Based upon how old your juniper bonsai is you need to re-pot it every 2-5 years. This is the very best time to prune the plants roots and keeping it from becoming root-bound. Once you've very carefully taken your bonsai plant from it's pot you should delicately remove the soil from the plant's root ball. Cut off roughly one-third of the plant's roots. After pruning the roots, place the plant back in it's pot in a mixture of planting medium and sand in a 3:1 ratio. Your juniper will likely be in a little bit of shock right after having it's roots pruned and being re-potted. To help it recover more quickly it's fine to use a little transplant shock supplement to the water can and water completely. Keep the foliage moist by spraying 2-3 times daily for 2 weeks.

Keeping Pests Under Control

If you are growing your juniper bonsai inside you have to be particularly aware and on the lookout for spider mites. They will cause real injury to your juniper. Include a routinely planned once a month spraying of your junipers utilizing an insecticide created for household plants. Indoors or out, be sure you spray all other close by plants that may also have the spider mites.

Winter Care for Your Juniper Bonsai

Your juniper tree needs a rest period during winter in order to continue to be healthy, therefore it should be kept in a spot that the temperature will not exceed 60F degrees all throughout the winter. Outdoor juniper bonsai plants should be protected from intense, prolonged cold conditions, and also from dry winter winds. This can easily be achieved by making use of cold frames, window wells, enclosed unheated rooms, or mulch beds.

While it can be grown indoors year-round, your juniper bonsai tree will probably be it's best when it is allowed to rest this way during winter. Place it in a cold place during the winter, the cooler the better. A freeze followed by a sudden and rapid increase in temperature will hurt your bonsai. So you could well be doing your plant more harm than good by bringing it inside after it's been exposed to freezing temperatures. The freeze by itself will not likely cause damage to your juniper. If it is cool enough (50 degrees F or less) indirect sunlight is going to be sufficient. Watering needs are going to be substantially lower.

If you cannot simulate cold weather, and must keep your bonsai in your living area, be sure to place it where it will receive the minimum sunshine requirement. For the duration of winter, keeping your juniper's foliage moist is crucial if you are growing it in the house. It really should be sprayed with a mister once or twice per day.