Hello!

I got a bonsai as a gift (I believe it is a Juniper). I don't have the greenest of thumbs and think I may have killed my tree.

I got it in July and was watering it every few days to once a week. It seemed to be drying out so I tried paying better attention and watering it when it was needed but I'm not sure if it was too late.

I have attached some photos for your reference.

Any help in determining if there is still hope/ how to care for it at this point would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

hi skubicka2
i am sorry to say this but it seems your juni is heading to the plant heaven in the sky :pinch: it is still very dry foliage if your still watering it so i wouldnt hold to much for it sorry and it is a juni they are normally hardy but still need water regulary
cheers dean

Dean,

Thank you for responding. I am still watering it but still only about once a week. I am wondering if I should do it more till its perked up? There seem to be some new buds at the ends of the plant so I don't know if that makes any difference.

As you can probably tell I don't want to give up on this one

Sarah

hi sarah
you need to water it a bit more than once a week what you need to do is check the soil everyday if it is dry water it if it is damp just a little water if still wet wet dont water and give it a dose of fertilizer (seasol) every 2 weeks and they pray
cheers dean

Thanks Dean!

Last question, are there any signs I can look for to see if the fertilizer and more watering is working?

Thanks

Sarah

howdy sara,

junipers need a winter domancy which is to be put in a cold place with little sunshine during the cold months. junis are not indoor plants and ive seen this happen too often to beginers. seeing you have buds on the ends it may just loose a majority of the needles and survive but it isnt likly .the one i had years ago didn't live.

hi all
what i know and have seen juni's are all weather plants,i live in australia (south of sydney) and my juni,s have been outside all year no special treatment just water and fertilizer but in winter i fertilize only every 3 to 4 weeks and water every 2 to 3 days you will notice that the juni will start to go greener sarah if your lucky if not browner
cheers dean

that one looks like a garden juni,i have one fattening up outside now and it just finally popped out of the snow.this species is a zone 3 plant and in the U.S. they sell them as bonsai ( u can usually find them in supermarkets)and usually end up dieing cuz beginners just dont know it really stinks that growers do this for a quick dollar

Thanks for all the responses!


I'm pretty sure (but not positive) that it was grown as a bonsai because it was bought from a bonsai dealer not a supermarket (although that doesn't guarantee that its not a garden juniper).

I haven't yet bought seasol but I plan on doing that today. So far I have been watering whenever the soil felt dry, and I have been misting the plant with a spray bottle.

I have tons of new buds, which I'm assuming is a good thing. Correct me if I'm wrong!

They don't seem to be much greener than the others (but not browner either) and I was hoping that would change with fertilizer.


I have attached pictures of the new buds, this IS a good thing right?


Thanks all!

howdy skubicka2
just keep doing what you are doing and pray
cheers dean