bonsaifweek

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I would like to know how some folks out there keep junipers,aligator juniper,shimpaku junipersor any other juniper alive. First, I live in Southwest AZ in Sierra Vista. The elevation is about 4600-4700 ft. I have tried to keep them living but I just can't seem to get it and I'm tired of killing them. It is dry here and I do see them as hedges and such. I go to Lowe's, Home depot or on Ebay. But it does not matter where I buy them. This is what "usually" happens. I use fast draining soil...from the bag "black gold" bonsai mix and I will add turface and or some course sand and small pine bark chips as I have read and this is what they like. If I get them from Lowe's, Home depot I do notice that they are water logged so I try to get the ones that don't feel "so" heavy. I lift it from it's pot and smell the soil...no bad odor...just that nice earthy smell. I bring them home and I give them a little rain water or water that has been to the open air for 4-5 days. No "fert" or anything added...just water and some time to get used to it's new surroundings and I spray the foilage in the morning. After that I pinch the folage back a little Or a lot. Sometimes I don't do any pinching at all and it seems no matter what I do the follage dries up and dies. It does not turn yellow, brown or ANY other color. It stays green. Light green or dark green...it just dies. Dries up and dies, crunchy. I've tried trimming/raking the roots or not...they die. The roots do not seem to be bound in anyway. I've done this to them in the spring or in Feb. ( as it gets cold here in "our winter" although it does not snow here much at all if ever. ) On the north side of our house is where I have them now. I have tried the south and east in the shade or morning sun up to about 11:00 am. Mind you it can get hot here so in full sun in the afternoon is a no no if it's in a pot. I've tried less water, I've tried more water. I use a chop stick to see how much moisture is in the soil as I know junipers can tolerate drier soil. I've watched the ph in the water as well as the soil...they die. I look for bugs...no bugs. I look for mold...no mold. Not sure what I might be doing wrong. I'm about ready to give them up forever. Does anyone have any advice that will help me?
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...So many bonsai...so little time.

__________________
...So many bonsai...so little time.
My opinion is just that...my own

JLDoggett

Try this, buy a juniper at Home Depot or Lowes, do not repot it just grow it in its origional pot and soil. Depending on cost, I would buy 4 of them, putting 2 in a sunny place, 2 in more shade; water one of each pair as soon as it seems dry, the other of each pair I would keep moist. Then see which ones do best. If they can grow in the ground there, they should be able to grow in a pot (though remember overheated roots will kill them fast, no matter how moist the soil is).

As for your soil mix: it may not be the best for evergreens in your area. Remember one of the reasons there is so much debate over soil mixes is because what works for me here in cool, damp New Hampshire might not work in warm-but-humid Florida or hot-but-arid Arizona. From the sounds of your trees post mortum they dried out so quickly that the colour was preserved. Are they subjected to hot winds?

There are many possible reasons your trees are dying. You might try asking at your closest bonsia club or shop for information.

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bonsaifweek

Thank you for your tip! I'll try that and yes sometimes we can have hot winds here.

__________________
...So many bonsai...so little time.
My opinion is just that...my own

digger714

Hello, i would try not spraying them unless its time to water. The best way i figured out is every day put a chop stick in the pot all the way to the bottom. Let it sit for 20-30 minutes. Check to see if its wet, damp, or dry. You dont want you plant to dry out completely, but almost dry. Over watering is a definate killer. They might take a while to get used to afternoon sun also. Especially when first repotted. Check them everyday for the first year or so, and get a "feel" for when they need water. Shouldnt be any problem then. Good luck.

Brad

treebeard55

Look for a bonsai club within reasonable driving distance. (I drive an hour each way; to me that's "reasonable.") The members will be familiar with your growing conditions, and can give better climate-specific advice than I can from close to 2K miles away.

I suspect some of them were already moribund when you got them. Trees and shrubs live on a slower time schedule than we do, you might say; if they die within a few weeks, or even a month or two, they may well have already been beyond recovery.

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Treebeard 55
Steve Moore
http://hoosierbonsai.blogspot.com

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bonsaifweek

Update on junipers!!!

Well I did as I was instructed and things seem to be going well. I want to thank those of you who have given your advice and your help. Spring is around the corner and I'm sure things will be good then as well. Thanks again!

__________________
...So many bonsai...so little time.
My opinion is just that...my own