What to do for bonsais in cold Alberta winters

[Chrdarale]

Hello All!

Just started doing bonsais this summer. I now I have several junipers in pots and also a Japanese maple. Not sure how to look after these plants for the winter as the temperatures can go down to - 40° centigrade with wind chill. Any suggestions? Was thinking of bringing them down into my basement but not sure how the junipers would do. Also have a boxwood and cotoneaster. Thanks for your replies!

 

[Jrmcmich]

you have a garage you can use?

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Here is a resource that might give you some good ideas. It’s about all bonsai, so ignore the satsuki parts.

Overwintering bonsai – Theory, Planning and Case Studies Azalea Focus

Oct 16, 2022

Overwintering Bonsai

• Deep Sea Diver
• overwintering bonsai wintering over azalea bonsai wintering over examples wintering over methods wintering over planning wintering over theory
• Tutorials

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[rockm]

It would help tremendously if you provide WHERE YOU ARE. PLEASE FILL IN THE LOCAITON INFO IN YOUR AVATAR TO THE LEFT. Winters vary all over the planet. What works one place can kill in another....

There are other overwintering videos by Mirai online for free that are extensive in detail, but this one is probably the best short hand overwintering vid I've seen--basically Protect the root mass, protection depends on on species, soil volume and extremes.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

…

It would help tremendously if you provide WHERE YOU ARE. PLEASE FILL IN THE LOCATION INFO IN YOUR AVATAR TO THE LEFT. Winters vary all over the planet. What works one place can kill in another....

To accomplish this, simply double tap your icon atop the page…then Account details…scroll down and enter the approximate location and USDA Plant Hardiness Zone and save.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[River's Edge]

Root Cellar , Insulated structure with supplemental heat.
Alberta has a pretty wide range of winter temperatures from southern Alberta to the far north. If your site includes -40 Celsius than the only option is heated location. Juniper is good to -25 Fahrenheit normally. Unless you are speaking of native juniper.
As always the more information provided the clearer the answers will be and thus more useful. There are several members on Bnut currently living in the Calgary area. I lived in Edmonton for fifty years but did very little bonsai in that location. Mostly native species with fewer requirements for extra winter care.

 

[Chrdarale]

you have a garage you can use?

Yes I do. But very cold air will come in when the cars go in and out. Will that matter? How low can the temperature go in the garage?

 

[Chrdarale]

It would help tremendously if you provide WHERE YOU ARE. PLEASE FILL IN THE LOCAITON INFO IN YOUR AVATAR TO THE LEFT. Winters vary all over the planet. What works one place can kill in another....

There are other overwintering videos by Mirai online for free that are extensive in detail, but this one is probably the best short hand overwintering vid I've seen--basically Protect the root mass, protection depends on on species, soil volume and extremes.

Thanks for your reply! I live in Edmonton where it can get down to minus 40 centigrade!

 

[BonsaiPoppie]

Hello All!

Just started doing bonsais this summer. I now I have several junipers in pots and also a Japanese maple. Not sure how to look after these plants for the winter as the temperatures can go down to - 40° centigrade with wind chill. Any suggestions? Was thinking of bringing them down into my basement but not sure how the junipers would do. Also have a boxwood and cotoneaster. Thanks for your replies!

Move to Southern California.

 

[Chrdarale]

 

[Canada Bonsai]

Are you in a local club/society around Edmonton? They will have experience dealing with a situation most like yours. They have their own facebook group for discussion:

Log into Facebook

Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

www.facebook.com

See also attached image.

Here is a document i put together for people with similar questions to yours:

Winters in Canada

CLICK HERE for our 'Winters in Canada' handout

www.canadabonsai.com

If all else fails send me an email and i can connect you with the people from alberta on my mailing list, and somebody will surely jump in to help you

 

[M. Frary]

First off only get trees hardy to your zone.