Hi all lovely people. I submit for your knowledge and consideration my little tree and its struggle. I'm trying to save it but I'm starting from -0 and recovering from a major head injury, so we both need some help.
I was given this tree as a gift, it was bought at a local store called plant (
plantshop.ca/ not a department store, but not a bonsai-specific nursery) in Calgary, Alberta Canada (basically a dessert, dry and cold overall, although it's been alternately rainy and quite hot the last few weeks).
It was labelled as Japanese Juniper and said to come to Bonsai Empire to do research.
I couldn't use the internet at the time (still shouldn't be, but I want this tree to live), so I asked for research help, and from what was imparted, I watered and misted and left the tree in a window inside (I know, now, how wrong that is) for three days while I was out of town. When I got back, it seemed dry, but still green.
I did some more research and the more I did, the more water it seemed watering involved, even for the "don't over water" Juniper. I check the tree 2-3 times per day, mist each time, and water when the soil seems somewhat dry a bit below the surface. It's in a spot that gets mostly dappled sun and shade all day, and is sheltered from heavy rain. Most places seem to agree on a "sandy" volcanic mix soil, which this doesn't seem to be, although I'm very much not an experienced soil evaluator.
I'm beginning to suspect that either the tree wasn't properly grown/cared for/set up and was doomed from the beginning, or that my first mistake having it inside for a few days was too much to recover from. However, if either of those things are wrong, I'm fully willing to change any part of the care; schedule, pot, placement, soil, etc., to give her a chance.
This picture is a day or two after I got it:
Here's when it had been in the window a few days:
And this one I just went out and took.
Thank you so much for any advice or insight you're willing to share.