juniper bonsai health

Uncover the Secrets: How to Diagnose a sick Juniper Bonsai

How to Tell If A Juniper Is Dying?

For most beginners in bonsai that phrase above comes to mind so often. Is my juniper dying? how can i tell if its healthy? Well we are here to try and give you some answers.

 

Junipers are funny when it comes to their health, they can look alive and well for up to 8 weeks after they die which can sometimes make it hard to pin point what went wrong, they are also do something natural that can be confused with signs of ill health. 

 

Our video below will take you through some ways to check your juniper and will also give you some common things to look our for when trying to diagnose the health of your juniper.

 

 

Here are a few tips for junipers to help keep the tree healthy

 

Watering : While a juniper will need to be well watered especially through the growing season you wont want to keep its soil drenched. having some moisture present is always a must because if the root tips dry out the tree will die. But having too much water in the pot at all times can cause the roots to rot. having a proper soil mix will help with this balance.

Sunlight : Juniper require plenty of direct sunlight, i usually tell people to give the tree as much sun as they can if they can keep up with the watering requirements. This will make the tree strong and also make the growth more compact. Junipers Can Not live indoors, even with grow lights. Juniper require direct un filtered sunlight to turn uv rays into sugars through the process of transpiration. They also benefit from the wind flow through their dense foliage to help with avoiding fungal issues.

Correct Pruning : When pruning a juniper both on the top growth and in the root system you wont want to over do it, never take more then 50% of the foliage off in 1 hit unless you truley know what you are doing and fully understand the trees current health. Junipers store energy in their foliage so the more foliage the more energy and health the tree has. It is a similar story in the roots system, you shouldn't remove more then 50% of the root system in a repotting otherwise you run the risk of the tree becoming sick.

 

These are just a few of the main points to juniper bonsai care, we have a further in depth guide here you can read. 

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.

  • Brach Cutter + Scissor Bundle

    These are the 2 most essential tools in bonsai, so why not buy them together and save? Both tools are high quality Japanese Steel from one of the most trusted brands in bonsai. Click the image above to get your discount.

  • Essential Scissors Bundle

    In bonsai you will need a set of scissors to cut the foliage on top and the roots down below. Save when you buy both pairs with this bundle offer. Both tools are high quality Japanese Steel from one of the most trusted brands in bonsai. Click the image above to get your discount.

  • Protect Your Tool Investment

    When investing in high carbon steel tools it is wise to protect them with tool oil to maintain optimal performance. Save 10% when you bundle the tool oil and the applicator together. Click the image above to get your discount.

  • Cut Paste Bundle

    When we trunk chop or break branches during wiring it is best practise to get the wound covered straight away with cut paste or putty. Putty is used for larger wounds while paste is used for cracks, breaks and grafts. Get both today at a discount price when bought as a bundle. Click the image above to browse our range and select your pastes.

  • 100g Bonsai Wire Deal

    Wiring you bonsai trees will be a large part of your practise, make sure oyu have all the wire you need on hand and ready to go with our 100g bonsai wire deal. Add any 5 rolls to your cart and only pay for 4! Click The Image Above To Choose Your Rolls.

  • 500g Bonsai Wire Deal

    If you are a serious wiring machine and require a little extra wire on hand our 500g rolls are perfect, What makes them even better is if you add any 5x Rolls to your cart you will get $10 off. Stock up and be ready for any wiring job. Click The Image Above To Choose Your Rolls.

1 of 6
bonsai artist with bonsai tree

Author : Joshua Hooson

Joshua Hooson is an author and enthusiast of the art of bonsai. He has built his knowledge and understanding of bonsai through a combination of self-experience, lessons learned through hands-on practice, and extensive research. His articles reflect his passion for the subject and offer insights gained through his own personal journey in the world of bonsai. All the information provided in his works is a result of his own experiences and the knowledge he has gained through his studies. He is dedicated to sharing his love of bonsai and helping others grow in their understanding and appreciation of this ancient and beautiful art form.

Learn Bonsai Online With Josh