Page 48 - Ebook bonsai for beginner

The foliage colors range from dark blue-greens to light greens and the

foliage can either be scale-like or needle-like. Scale junipers usually have
needle-like foliage when they are young (called juvenile foliage), the
typical scale-like foliage appears later. After heavy pruning or bending,
overwatering or other stress, juvenile foliage will grow again. It can last a
few years until enough normal scale-like foliage has grown and all the
needle-like foliage can be removed.

The berry-like cones are round or oval, depending on the species they
measure up to an inch (2 cm) and they need a year or two to ripen. The
seeds are round or edged. The cones are often eaten by birds who

spread the germinable seeds later with their droppings.
Junipers are very suitable for creating deadwood (called jin and shari).
This is due to the fact that live veins below a broken or for other reasons

dying branch will dry out and die. This results in natural deadwood which
is peeled, polished and bleached by climatic conditions and is very
durable in case of the juniper. The triad of green foliage, reddish-brown
or yellowish-brown bark and silvery white deadwood is very appealing.

Specific care guidelines

Position: Place the tree outside, year-round, on a bright spot with lots of
sunlight. The Juniper can survive indoor if you create perfect conditions
(lots of light), but it will do much better outside. During the winter protect

the tree once temperatures drop below 14 F (-10 degrees C). Some
species change their foliage color during frosty periods to a purplish
brown which is connected with their frost protection mechanism. In spring
they will turn green again.

Watering: Be careful not to water too much, as the juniper roots don’t like
soil wetness. Before you water, the soil should almost dry out. Misting the
tree can be done regularly, especially after the tree has been repotted
because it benefits from air humidity.

Feeding: Use normal organic fertilizer pellets or balls every month during
the growth season or a liquid fertilizer each week. If strong growth is

desired some higher nitrogen levels can be applied in spring.
Pruning: To develop the foliage pads, pinch long shoots that stick out of

the silhouette at the base with sharp scissors throughout the growth
season. Do not trim the juniper like a hedge because the removal of all