Juniper is one type of popular bonsai trees and thus if you are a bonsai enthusiast, it is a good idea to understand about juniper bonsai care. It is relatively easy to provide Juniper bonsai care as compared to other types of bonsai trees. Juniper can grow both indoors and outdoors, although you need to keep them in a cooler environment in winter months so they can enter dormancy. As long as you follow some basic rules, they can grow healthily without any significant problems.

You might be surprise, but moss can be a part of your juniper bonsai care. Moss is useful to improve moisture retention and it also can enhance its beauty. As most bonsai, juniper prefers a short dry period between each watering. You should never leave a bonsai without water for a long period of time though because it will stress and eventually kill the plant. It is recommended to water a bonsai by soaking it in a sink filled with water up to the trunk of the tree for about five to ten minutes. You have to allow the bonsai to drain properly afterwards because soggy soil can rot the roots.

If you use a tap instead to water your juniper bonsai, you can start watering it then wait for several minutes before watering again. You need to repeat the process for several times to make sure that the bonsai receives enough water to grow properly. After some time, you can develop watering schedule depending on the climate conditions as a part of your juniper bonsai care.

Essential food and light in juniper bonsai care

Filtered or shade sunlight is the best amount of light to provide juniper bonsai care. It is good for the bonsai if you can provide low intensity of sunlight in the morning while avoiding direct sunlight in the afternoon.

Your regime of juniper bonsai care should also include giving the plant fertilizer every two weeks especially during the growth season. The most suitable fertilizer is an organic liquid fertilizer like the organic seaweed fertilizer. You can use chemical fertilizer, but it is better to dilute it to half the strength so it will not damage the roots of your bonsai.

Another important part of juniper bonsai care is maintaining the humidity around the bonsai. You can achieve this by putting the bonsai on top of a tray filled with stones and water. The stones prevent water to soak the bonsai while the water can evaporate and create humidity around the plant. Another alternative is to mist the bonsai occasionally, but it should never replace watering.

Once every year or two years, you need to repot your juniper bonsai and prune the roots so it stays small. The last part of the juniper bonsai care is to keep the plant in cool temperatures, around 60 degrees of Fahrenheit, in the winter so it can enter dormancy and rest. It needs to be protected from winds and extremely cold temperatures during this period.