| The success of your bonsai depends on a variety of factors, most notably watering and light. Below are some species specific guidelines to follow that will help ensure that your bonsai will stay healthy and happy. |
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Pruning Tips: Juniper bonsai trees can be trained either using the clip and grow method or with bonsai training wire. Juniper will back bud easily when cut back. Due to this nature, undesirable branches can be removed to allow new shoots to sprout. If training with wire, we recommend using a wire that is 1/3 to 1/2 the diameter of the branch. This will ensure that the wire is strong enough to hold the branch into the desired position. We do not recommending pinching new growth as this will weaken the branch. Instead, we prefer to cut the back on the growth with shears to shorten branches. Regularly thin out your foliage to let in light to prevent inner foliage from browning. |
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Fertilizing: We recommend fertilizing your bonsai tree every month with a bonsai fertilizer. Time release granules are the easiest to use and can be added every season. Reduce the amount of fertilizer during the winter. Take care to not over-fertilize as this can cause your leaves to burn or grow too leggy. |
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Lighting: Juniper Bonsai trees thrive best with natural sunlight. We recommend filtered natural sunlight. If placed in full sun, take care to manage your watering to prevent your tree from drying out. |
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Temperature Requirements: Junipers are very hardy to all climates including both hot and cold condtions. Due to their evergreen nature, juniper bonsai trees will maintain their green color over all seasons. However, may darken during the winter when the weather is cold. |
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Watering Requirements: Juniper bonsai trees require moderate watering. We recommend using a soft spray to soak the soil. Ensure that water penetrates not only the topsoil but also into the roots by checking that draining is occuring on the bottom of the pot. Keep the Juniper moist at all times. |
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Repotting: Juniper bonsai trees can be repotted during spring and fall for highest success rates. Avoid winter repotting as colder temperatures will make it harder for roots to recover. During repotting, we recommend trimming off older roots to promote new growth. After repotting, place tree in a shaded area for 2-3 weeks prior to placing back in full or partial sun. |
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Outdoor: Juniper bonsai trees thrive best in outdoor conditions. During the winter, trees can be overwintered to protect from freezing. |
How-To Juniper Videos
Learn how to care for, prune, shape, and train a Juniper bonsai with practical tips from Eastern Leaf. These Juniper bonsai videos cover essential techniques including pruning, wiring, branch development, styling, watering, and seasonal maintenance to help keep your tree healthy while developing a balanced and refined bonsai design.
How to Style 3 Types of Bonsai for Beginners
Learn how to style a Juniper bonsai from starter material as Jason creates three different bonsai designs from similar trees. He covers trunk movement, branch placement, and shaping techniques while showing how each Juniper can be styled based on the tree and the artist’s vision. Hosted by Jason Chan of Eastern Leaf.
How to Create a Bonsai with Movement
Learn how to wire a bonsai tree to create trunk movement and shape branches for a more refined design. This video covers basic bonsai wiring techniques, including how to apply wire to the trunk and smaller branches to guide growth, improve structure, and develop the overall shape of your bonsai.
Beginner Bonsai Styling - Choosing Branches to Cut
Learn how to prune and select branches on a Juniper bonsai with Jason Chan of Eastern Leaf. Using a 1-gallon Juniper Procumbens Nana, Jason covers common problem branches and explains how proper branch selection helps build the foundation and structure of your bonsai.