I received a juniper bonsai for a Christmas gift and it has been inside for a few weeks now. I know I need to put it outside, but my question is do I need to transition it to the cold weather or can I just put it directly into the cold? I live in Ohio and the weather here is in the 20 degree range. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.

andrewfox1887 wrote: I received a juniper bonsai for a Christmas gift and it has been inside for a few weeks now. I know I need to put it outside, but my question is do I need to transition it to the cold weather or can I just put it directly into the cold? I live in Ohio and the weather here is in the 20 degree range. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.

20 degrees is pretty warm. Lovely temperature, in spring. How does it get so warm there, in winter?

20 degree F, -7 degree C

andrewfox1887 wrote: 20 degree F, -7 degree C

Got an unheated space?

Do you have a garage? Where in Ohio? I'm in Columbus and my junipers are outside all year round, but if you have a garage you may want to put it in there for a bit first.

I have an outdoor closet attached to my balcony. I live in an apartment building. Does the juniper need light during the winter dormancy? Or will it be ok not receiving any sunlight in the closet space? Jimib, I live near Cincinnati, what do you do to protect them from these extreme cold temps? I did some research and it was saying anything below around 20 F, the roots should be protected. Thanks for the support! New to bonsai, looking forward to learning all I can and building more of a collection eventually (why I started with a juniper)

If it's a small one i'd put it in a larger box with much around it. I've kept mine in the garage when it gets below 20..but once it hits the 30's I've left them outside with no problems.

As said before, junipers can withstand this sort ofcold without a problem. 20F is about -6c. This is nothing. Only when it starts to drop below -15c (0F?) you need to start to consider protective measures. The main worry is that you have had it indoors for a bit now, and you do not know how it was kept at the trader. Trees need to build up their cold resistence ( www.growingbonsai.net/avoid-winter-damag...ed-winter-hardiness/ ).

So, for now, I would put it in the closet. Keep it there; It probably is well above freesing now? As soon as it warms up a bit, put it directlly outside. Juniper need light as they grow 'continuously'. When frozen they can stand to be without light for a while.