Hello all,

I have a dwarf juniper bonsai that I got last summer. When I repotted from its container into a pot, I did not wire in the root ball and I did not use a bonsai soil. The soil I used was a combination of small pebbles and potting soil. The soil seems to drain well. My other bonsai are wired in and have bonsai potting mix that I buy from my local bonsai nursery. The juniper went through dormancy and he seemed so-so, now he is inside and being watered every three days or so. I trimmed off the foliage that seemed to be dying and he appears to be doing a bit better.

My question is, should I repot him now (early spring) into better soil and wire him in well? Or should I wait until fall to repot him?

These are first bonsai so I appreciate any help. Thank you!

Why have you put this plant inside? That is the quickest and easiest way to kill it. Sounds like a very poor soil it is in. You must water when needed not to a schedule. Read how to look after it and it might live if you put it out.

I've read they can be grown both indoors and outdoors as long as it is able to go dormant during the winter; in which that time he was kept outside. I'm not watering on a strict schedule, trying to wait until the soil starts to get dry then I water. It just seems to be around every three days or so. I agree the soil is poor. Should I repot it now with better soil? Or wait until the end of summer/fall

cjt2424 wrote: I've read they can be grown both indoors and outdoors...l

That's simple not true.
If they live indoors, they will die.
Sometimes they are already dead for months but the foliage is still green.

There is some info here:
www.bonsaiempire.com/tree-species/juniper

A juniper inside will die. As as stated above they may be dead for a long time before it'll look it.

Okay, I can move it outside. It has only been indoors for a couple weeks now.

Still, should I repot it with better soil now or should I wait?

Two reppotings in the same season is risky.

I repotted it last august. So it would be twice in year but maybe not the same season? Should I wait to repot until August/September?