New to bonsai

[msamsonz28]

Greetings,

My name is Matt. I recently and impulsively purchased what I believe to be a juniper at the Philadelphia Flower show. I have no experience with bonsai and little to none with gardening in general. I usually do a lot of research before I jump into anything, but this time I did not. After bringing the tree home, I realized I was in a little over my head. I thought I could place the tree in a window sill, water it, and everything would be ok. Now, after some reading I realize it should be placed outside. I'm hoping you all can coach me through the basics at least until I can go to a local bonsai shop which will probably not be for at least a few weeks. Attached is a picture so you can confirm the species. Thanks for any help you may provide.

 

[jk_lewis]

Yes, it is a young -- very young -- juniper, and yes, it belongs outside as soon as temperatures stay above freezing.

Your first job, though, is to ensure that those rocks on top of the soil are removed . . . especially if they're glued on. Replace them with regular potting soil mixed with a little bit of fine gravel, if you can find some.

Then, remember that you do not need to water every day. Keep the soil MOIST - not soggy, or not even damp. Over watering is fatal.

Now, go to your local public library, and check out a couple of books on bonsai. While you are waiting for spring to get here and stay here, read them.

We have a lot of other threads here on new junipers, scan over them; then find the "Bonsai4me" website, and read what is there. When you have digested that, try the evergreengardenworks.com site and read that.

And start enjoying the sport of bonsai.

 

[dick benbow]

Hey matt, looks like juniper procubens. Are the white rocks "glued"? If so please remove them
as they interfere with watering. Yes, you've gotten an outside type, but you still want to keep it from freezing or from an exposure where on sunny days with western exposure it could easily
dry out quickly. If you have some cold snaps, you might want to put near a window in the garage. Evergreen types like access to light during a protectibe period in the cold. Suggest you find a club near you and secure a mentor.

 

[Vance Wood]

At this point it won't hurt the tree to keep it in a sunny window until the weather definitely stays above freezing understanding that it probably came from Florida and has been grown under drastically different conditions than you have in PA. Yes remove the rocks and water the tree only when the soil feels about as wet as a wrung out sponge---more or less cool to the touch.

 

[msamsonz28]

The stones are not glued in, but I will remove them and add soil. I'll look for some books. I was trying to read what I could by using Google and YouTube, but I couldn't seem to find too much for beginners. Do you have any books in particular you would suggest?

 

[Bayou Bonsai]

Bonsai books

I'm relatively new to Bonsai also, I went to the library and checked out The Bonsai Workshop by gustaferson and found it to be most informing!

 

[Poink88]

There are 2 major group of books for me...horticulture and design.

For design you can check this FREE online book. Make sure you go through all 7 chapters.
http://andyrutledge.com/book/content/langofartistry.html

 

[msamsonz28]

How about Bonsai4me: Bonsai Basics? It's only $5.99 on iBooks...cheaper than a drive to the book store.

*edit* It looks like the website contains the exact same info