Juniper Basics (sunlight, soil, repotting)
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- Опубликовано: 10 фев 2025
- Hey guys, we are doing a multi part series on the different aspects of growing and caring for Juniper bonsai in central Florida. This part is all about the basics of bonsai care in Central Florida including location, soil, repotting, and watering.
If you have any ideas for future videos, let us know!
www.schleysbonsai.com
Dude, no matter what I search for (bonsai-related), your channel pops up with an answer. Thanks so much for all the value you provide! 💚
Short, sweet, and to the point! Great job
This was a very simple and very useful video. LOVE IT! Im currently working overseas and missing Ocala and Gainesville so much!
Love the video, info. I have a Japanese juniper start kit coming soon from an online nursery..
I learned the hard way junipers won’t grow indoors. I even used grow lights. It did absolutely no good. They were crispy a dead within 4 months.
Your nursery location is always so quiet (except for the cicadas and the wind)! Thanks for another video with great information.
Another good detailed care for junipers.
Good stuff! I'm looking forward to getting started with one of these.
Ordered a juniper bonsai from 1800 flowers and was immediately concerned our summers would be too hot where I am in the Midwest. Also thank you for clarifting proper watering and placement, the instructions in the box said indoors is fine and to water using a pan (not leaves).
The instructions are incorrect long term care. Thanks for your comment and watching. Good luck!
I grew my juniper in a sun room. And it loved it
It flourished
My trees have responded really positively to the bio gold you sold me! I will definitely purchase some more next time I visit your nursery. Thank you for the recommendation! Also, the re-potting tips were very useful. That would explain some things... Now I know to put off a few things until the spring. Oddly enough, I don't have that many tropical trees... I may have to explore those options.
Excellent video, very informative! Thank you Jason! I watched every video you do! 😌😌
Thank you for this information. You may have saved my tree.
Hey guy just came across your channel , have seen 2 videos and find the very informative and relevant being that your are as far south as I am.. Thanks for the info and keep em coming.
Thank you so much, it help me so much💗💗💗 I hope you make more videos 💗
I grow mine indoor!! but in a special lighting heated humidified tent 😎 it’s growing like a beast!! I have it in a 10 gallon fabric pot. I can do lots of watering without any problems. I also do 18 hours of sunlight six hours of night. Maybe I am a freak situation but been going strong
😂😂😂👍🏼
Humidity percentage ? Artificial light ?
Thanks Jason, great information.
I live in Massachusetts and have several junipers.
In the winter I bring them into a protected unheated area (my barn) so they don’t struggle or turn brown. Each month I water the roots and then as winter ends they return outdoors so they start getting sun. (All winter they receive no light)
I found a Japanese Mountain Maple growing in my side yard where nothing grows, its very healthy, and it has a nice base already. It wants to be a bonsai but im just not touching it. I bought a juniper to start with. Then learned I should wait to spring to do anything with it. But its a lot of fun imagining what it could turn into in so many years.
I've had a juniper bonsai on my window sill for 8 years now its 10 years old I've changed the soil 2 times and trimmed it a few times it continues to grow every year im in Northern Utah
Have you ever wired it just wondering because I just got one and still learning how to take care of them
Very good information
Great advice I will definitely check
back
that some good info, I've had a lot of problems with junipers, so much that I pretty much gave up on them in favor of deciduous trees...I think I will be able to keep one alive after watching this series, thanks man
This is the video I have been waiting for :]
i got multiple kinds of bonsai and my juniper stay outside 365 days and i live in Quebec..winter here in january is like -30 -40 and his in perfect shape after 8 years..
Very helpful!
very2 helping me...now i found my mistake why my juniper just sleep for too long...because i report and wiring in the same day...and my juniper not growing for a years😂...tq master👍🏻
junipers are very diverse and widespread in nature.
Hey idk if u will ever get this but I’ve just come across this bonsai tree and I believe it’s a juniper. I’m in central fl also. Idk if it’s a tree that can be saved or not but I want to do everything I can to see if it will survive. It’s pretty brown/red with some spots of green left
I just bought a juniper yesterday. It has a few dead limbs and brown foliage, it's mostly green though.
I have a small juniper shrub but it gets tall with thin trunk , it's 2 years old, can I trim it from the top to make it stronger, the weather here in libya is hot 34 c and humid
Subbed yesterday. Binging on your content. Wish I saw this channel a year ago. I have a small Shimpaku that I am struggling to keep alive. At this point I just don't want to kill it but may be too late. CFL East.
Hey :) i can’t put my Junipers in full sun because of my location… however it still has a view hours of sunlight each day. Can they grow with these conditions? :)
You mentioned using inorganic soil for repotting...ive seen a few videos that described organic as the best for development. I just received a baby juniper from a nursery. I was considering repotting it this weekend into a bigger development pot coupled with organic soil. My main goal for this summer is to let it grow and thicken. What would you recommend as far as soil and fertilizer for development purposes? Also, will it hurt to repot right now in Alabama? Its starting to get warmer but it wont be sweltering for another month or so.
I'm not exactly sure where in Alabama you live, but you can get a hold of a local bonsai nursery to see what your local repotting schedule is.
If im trying to get a juniper trunk as large as possible and as fast as possible, it goes into the ground or in raised beds, fertilized aggressively and mulched, and have a multi year plan for the tree, without trimming foliage to also help thicken tree. Or, at a lesser rate, you can grow in a training box or over sized trainer. I still use bonsai soil in that case for more control and better root efficiency with better control of fertilizer and moisture.
You could add pumice or I've added course sand blaster sand if cost is a factor, but bonsai soil is best for long term growing as organics break down after a couple years, even in a bigger trainer pot .
@@SchleysBonsai thank you!
I bought a juniper bonsai and I don’t believe that I have been watering it correctly. Some of the top foliage is crunchy. But the foliage closer the the bottom of the tree is still soft. After the dead foliage falls off is there a chance that it will grow back?
It’s now doing a lot better and regaining foliage under full spectrum led light. I’m hoping to let it recover for a month or so and then put back outside
Hi Jason! Great Channel BTW! 👍 I just picked up a parsoni from a local nursery a few weeks ago and only did a small trim. I slip pot it into a training bonsai pot with the original soil. Can I follow your steps livin in SW Florida? Thank you!
Hello David, thanks for watching! Yes you can, but your window for some things such as wiring, repotting, e.t.c may shrink a week or so depending on how far south you are .
@@SchleysBonsai Thank you!
can you grow one indoors if you have grow lights? im not sure why that wouldn't work
Do you have any advice for really hot areas? That hit 90 degrees in direct sun?
Does growing a tree indoors by the window counts as outside?
I've had my 10 year old Juniper for 5 years and just until now have had problems with it (due to scale insect aparently)
Commenting so I can know too
good question
Same question.
It's definitely not the same as being outside. Being outside exposes the tree to changing humidity and temperatures. It also gets rainwater and not just tap water. Some plants are fine with the stable environment they get inside. Some not.
I have recently purchased a beautiful Japanes Green Mound Juniper from a nursery. This is my second one, but I understand why I lost the first. I pruned it too much and it couldn’t handle it. I have not touched this tree except for picking off any obviously dead leaves/pointy leaves. Is it okay for the juniper to stay outdoors all day in Georgia. The temperature ranges from high 70s - low 90s right now. Humidity can be up to 85% from what I’m seeing. And would it be okay if it got rained on. The part of Georgia I live in receives afternoon showers almost daily. Love your channel btw. Very informative.
Yes. Juniper outside all day in full sun. Just make sure you water on the days it doesn't rain, or even when it doesn't rain enough to fully water the pot. I actually water daily AND let the rain water thrm as it's 95 f + daily and pots dry out fast, exp in bonsai soil
Jason Schley thank you so much for your help!
Hello Jason, can I ask what the fertiliser was that you mentioned at 5:40 please, along with Bio Gold?
We use Suncote here in florida due to the hot weather. There are a few brands of granule fertilizer that work well though. Davidsons, Nutri-cote, and Osmocote are some examples I know people use, although I haven't used all of those myself. Just make sure its labeled for container use. fertilizer can burn your tree badly if not used correctly.
Thanks for the reply Jason and thanks also for all the help and advice. Really appreciated.
I have a juniper bonsai on my desk in my home office and it gets several hours of direct light each day. Just purchased it last week, should I be worried?
It likely won't do well inside. Might be fine for a while, but not long term.
@@mattschroeder6081 It's been hanging out on my front porch which gets a couple of hours of direct sun, will move it indoors for a day or two, then let it sit outside for one day. If it works, I'll report back.
@@florianfirlus4638 I don't believe that this tree "can only grow outside".
I will find out in time!
Hi Jason, I live in New Brunswick Canada 🇨🇦 and I bought a juniper last year. It was healthy when I bought it, however it was my first bonsai so I got to aggressive. Our nights here are pretty cold but it has survived because I’ve protected it. BUT, it’s looking pretty sad and has only a few green needles on it and it’s so delicate that branches fall off easily. What should I do to bring it back. I know it’s not dead and I’m determined to help it. What should I do?
Thanks
Kim Richardson 🇨🇦
I just procured a juniperus chinensis parsonii and since you are in central Florida also you can give the best advice...im just wondering about the general info on this type, how fast it grows, when to repot, if it will even lend itself to making a bonsai...its small with three thin trunks and leggy growth...how can I get the trunks to thicken up, it looks top heavy
We will talk about it im an upcoming video, but letting it grow out a few years, then trimming back will result in a thicker trunk and better proportions. Time is the best factor in thickening parsonii
I put it into an indoor grow tent and it seems to be bouncing back..I think the Iowa heat on my patio is too harsh for it right now
Hi Jason, I see you don't have an organic component in your potting mix. Is that because of your climate (temperature/rainfall) or for horticultural reasons.
Here in Australia we add inorganic materials to the mix to aid drainage. I am enjoying using the 4 seasons knowledge you share of how plants grow annually. The part of Australia I that come from has 6 seasons!
What were the steps taken in to care for the juniper with brown tips which went through the drought?
misting the foliage a few times a day. Watering carefully but not keeping too wet since respiring of moisture is compromised. Protection from direct sun untill it started to grow again. Active inspection and irradication of any pests. A stressed plant of any type becomes a beacon for many types of pests from fungus to scale to mites to blight. All need to be identified and treated or plant will fail. I need to do an update video! Thanks for watching !
Thank you so kindly for replying! I look forward to all your new video updates
I bought a small juniper bonsai tree from a nursery. It already came with a bonsai style pot. However I was wondering since the pot is tiny and is limiting growth to an extent. Would I be able to repot it without any pruning etc into a bigger pot anytime of the year?
Thank you
My husband just gave me a small juniper in a pot without a hole in the bottom, it dosen't say bonsai and it doesn't say what type of bonsai, but it has the layer of small rocks on top and the soil was very, very dry. I did water it this morning, that's when I discovered no hole in the bottom, I'm now thinking maybe I better repot it, please advise!
What is the best plant pot for a 1-2 year old juniper seedling?
@@carolficorilli9768 a 1 to 2 year old seedling ( probably a cutting?) Should be put in a training pot. Maybe wire the trunk now for movement, and let it grow in an over sized container for a while till the trunk is thick enough to go into a bonsai container. Remember, this is a journey, not a destination.
I live in Fort Lauderdale and I have two Junipers (pre-bonsai), and I' keeping them in potting soil and they stay in my back porch in full sun; one of the trees even stays inside of my little greenhouse. When do new shoots and leaves usually start to grow? I think I may have cut a little too much foliage when i got the plant.
I also just repotted it. It had been over 5 years since last repot so I had no choice.
I received a small juniper bonsai plant for valentine's day my husband bought, I sit it outside everyday in the morning and afternoon sun, however it is in a pot without a hole. Today I decided to report it and discovered the plant has some type of glue holding it in the pot. I have only watered it 1 time, I carefully took a knife and slide around the edges to release the glue, I managed to release it from the pot, and it is soooo dry, I watered the roots thoroughly and I am purchasing a pot with holes and some potting soil to report. The leaves appear to be very dry. I don't know if I should mist it daily, since I have thoroughly watered the roots or not. Can you give me possibly some suggestion? I am going to move it on my deck, so at least it can get morning sun everyday or is it better to get afternoon sun? Thank you.
So I have a small jupiter bonsai I live in Texas so lots of heat, if I kept it in a window that gets sun all day will that be good enough for the tree or does it absolutely have to stay outside I work long hours and don't want neighbor or wild animals messing with it! So if in a window that gets sun all day and in a humidity tray be okay?
No. It won't survive long term inside.
If you want an indoor bonsai, get a tropical tree.
Is it oke if i repotting my juniper and than i put in full sun?
I bought a juniper a few months ago, and put it on my windowsill, the leaves/ pines are a shallow, almost brown green, and it doesn't look happy, I water it every morning because I was told there's no such thing as over watering when it has holes in the pot.. I live in Ohio, do you think it will survive if I put it on my porch? We get alot of cloudy weather, but a good amount of rain. Is there anything I can do?
hi! do you sell bonsai at your nursery? I live in orlando about an hour away and I was wondering if I could drive down. I have never grown a bonsai but I have grown a few inorganic only substrate cacti. I would love to pick your brain and get some tips for keeping them healthy too
Yes we do. We actually have one of the largest bonsai nurseries in Florida
@@SchleysBonsai that is awesome! I will take a trip out there in the new year! thank you!
Is it okay to start them in late fall and leave them outside even if they get snowed on? Because I’m trying to get them to fully root in spring but the cold climate worries me that it will die
I know Sierra junipers can handle snow
I just bought some chinese juniper seeds but i don't realy know how to plant them they say to cover it in sand and then water them and set them in the fridge but that sounds a little strange to me :) what do you recommend?
can I use a good plant grow light for my juniper that places right next to the window? Or alternative lighting won't work
No sorry. Outdoors.
I got a bonsai from a grocery store like a week ago and he seems ok. I kept him inside for like five days because I was waiting for a new pot since his pot didn’t have drainage holes. I’m really scared I’m going to kill him. I repotted him gently and kept him outside for a few hours and brought him in because I’m scared of stress-killing it. I brought him outside today for some sunshine. I have a spot that gives it bright sun in the morning and then shade in the afternoon. I’m just mainly worried I’m going to stress it out and kill it. I’m also confused on how much I have to water it. It’s a super humid summer here in Chicago and also really hot. The soil still seems moist. Should I water once a day or once every other day?
Outside, in summer, in a properly sized container in bonsai soil, every day up to around 90f. Above that, we do it a second time a day up to around 18" pots, or if it has very full foliage and dries out fast
What about Wisconsin winter when it’s below zero?? Our pot broke and the moss is wet but the tree has brown on the foliage. Is it dead already? :( I saw in another video when the edges get brown it’s already dead? Should we repot it??
It’s a juniper pro nana
In Wisconsin, thry go through a cold season fine, as long as they are protected from drying winds. Most of the time thry are put in cold storage. The foliage will take on a reddish color, but isn't brittle to the touch. It'll green back up in spring if that's the case. You can send me a pic of it if you'd like.
Jason Schley yes I’d be happy to send you a pic! How can I send it to you?
Hello, thanks for the video, I have a question, when you say that you transplant in January, February and March, what season of the year is it referring to? winter? greetings from Santa Cruz Bolivia
For us, it's early spring. Thanks for watching!
Jason Schley Thank you!!!
Hi Jason, I'm up in Canada and have a green mound juniper. I was told the roots should be exposed above the soil, is this correct?
Also, it often gets lower than - 20 in the winter. I imagine this is a sure way to kill a juniper.
Thx in advance!
The feeder roots should be below the soil, the nebari should be exposed to express age and stability to the viewer
@@SchleysBonsai thanks for the quick feedback! I'll be sure to check that the feeder roots are below the soil. All the best!
can I grow indoors if they are directly in sunlight all day?
I have a porch can I keep my juniper on the porch and then in the winter just movie them out of the sun light?
If it's cool enough in the winter. Below 40f thry don't really need sun
@@SchleysBonsai and yes its cool enough it is the same as the outside temperature give or take 5 degrees also I want to put them there because of the less pests
I have a Juniper bonsai tree and my foliage is hard and color is a light green, what should I do?
If it's all crunchy, there isn't much you can do. It'll soon turn brown and fall off to the touch. Now if there is still some soft and cool the touch there still might be life. If not, it's dead
Full sun in Phoenix Arizona?
well technically you can grow them inside. ive been doing it for about a year with full spectrum grow lights with a couple days a month in real sun
Im from the Philippines, do you think a juniper can thrive in a tropical country?
A tropical juniper can, absolutely.
Look at the Taiwan juniper, Hollywood juniper, a few others as well
Currently I’m trying to revive my juniper because I moved and it stayed inside for 2 month and it almost killed it
What’s your aftercare following repotting?
Very good question. You'd think with all that talking I'd actually say it.
If the temps are below 75f I put them right back in full sun, but out of wind for about 2 weeks.. if temps are going to be over 75f, I put in morning sun with overhead mid day shade for the first couple wks, then full sun once I see growth.
Thank you for watching!
So these can't be left by a window?
In Texas where it is 110 septillion degrees outside if that helps you give me advice
Not if you want them to live and thrive, no
@@SchleysBonsai ok what about the ficus retusa variety?
@@thatsignorant1729 you can grow many tropical trees indoors long term well, providing you give them the correct lighting, watering schedule, and fertilizer.
Awesome thank you
Help!! My bonsai is completely brown
How do Junipers do with Grow Lights? I know it’s not the same as the sun and being outside, but does it help at all?
It helps, but not long term.
So many people try to grow junipers indoors, with so many ways.
I know 2 people who have grown junipers indoors long term. Out of literally 100s that have failed. Its just not viable to grow and develop a juniper into a bonsai. Both of the trees im talking about have been inside over 3 years. And both look about identical to when they were first brought inside.
It's just not viable. So I won't say that in any circumstances it's desirable to outdoors.
If you must grow inside, get a tropical
i bought a juniper and the seller told me it would be fine indoors. now its dead lol :(
unfortunatly, this is too common. Im hoping the video will help the viewer understand that it was bad information and frankly to not buy from somewhere that will tell you that information. They are either badly uninformed, or out to take advantage of the uninformed.
I’m in Missouri and it’s January. I just purchased a very nice juniper and I don’t want to kill it. Can I store him on my front porch safely? It gets a very similar sun treatment as you described in this video. I’m just afraid the cold will get it but this video says otherwise. Comment back to reassure me or email me at Surfaceprollc@yahoo.com. Thank you for the info.
What is your coldest temps right now? It would be best to protect it from cold temps until it's acclimated to your zone. That normally takes a full grow cycle
I killed more junipers than anything else.
Can they grow indoors under grow lights?
whats the lowest & highest temp a juniper can take?
So -10°f was mentioned as one extreme, though if any tree has been outside in the cold long enough to feel -10°, they're probably dormant, and so protected against that to some extent.