Hi everyone, I am fairly new to bonsai so I am still unsure about a few topics. It is mid-late winter where I am at. I just finished repotting a garden center bought juniper. When I put my filter over the drainage hole and layered the bottom of my pot with stones and pebbles, I directly put my pruned juniper into the pot and wired it down without putting soil down first. I then added the soil on top later and used a chopstick to fill in the spaces. I was wondering if the layer of soil between the bottom stones and the roots is required. Also I wasn’t sure if I repotted during the right season so I guess we’ll see if it survives.

I am also not sure where I should keep my juniper because the people at the nursery told me the one I bought was an indoor juniper but many people online are saying that they should be kept outside. I appreciate the feedback.

1) wrong season, you should have done this in early fall or early spring
2) it may not be too bad, depending on the amount of roots you trimmed
3) as long as there are no air pockets it should be fine no matter how you placed the dirt
4) there is no such thing as an “indoor juniper”

Yes it must be outside, it will be dead in months if you don't. Would have been better not re potting in autumn, but too late after the event, and yes a layer of soil under would have been a better idea, but too late now.

If Iook at the top of the pot.. The fine gravel is that the soil you used?

You can just use this throughout the pot. Adding pebbles to the bottom of the pot does not add anything.

Thank you I did remove the roots that were wrapping around the soil when I took it out of the pot. They looked unhealthy and had some white substance coming from them. Those were the only roots I pruned.

Should I also keep these pre bonsai plants outside as well? Or are they too fragile to do so? One is a

Juniper and boxwood

yeah, should be outside. Just be carefull putting plants that have been in a warm place for fall, into frost.