Hi Everyone,
I just got a new, tiny juniper tree in the mail. I just had a couple of questions, because I really want to take great care of it!
1) Should I repot this thing? It looks like someone just mashed the roots into a pot of soil, watered it, and sent it on its way. Some of the roots are even visible above the soil.
2) I would like to place this tree outside; I have read numerous times that "there is no such thing as an inside tree." I have attached photos of the location I would like to place it. This location faces due east (in the photo, I am facing due west), and gets probably 60 - 90 minutes of direct morning sunlight. It gets indirect sunlight for the rest of the day. This location protects it from rain and moderate winds. Is this a good idea, or should I choose a different location?

Thank you for any and all help!
-J

Is there a way to keep it outside all the time?
Junipers need full sun, all day.
I guess 90 min/day is not enough.
Ah, don't repot it unless you know exactly why, how and when.

This tiny plant does not need protecting from anything. It does not need to be re potted, but it must be outside never inside. Get it in the sun and learn how to water, wait until almost dry before watering.

Please tell me they did not call this a bonsai when you purchased it...

They did, but I pretty much knew I was getting a cutting. It was very inexpensive. I'm still trying to take care of it though, maybe it will eventually become a bonsai!

I can put the tree in a location where it will get direct sun in the morning and especially in the evening, but I dont really have a place where it will get all sun all the time (except if I place it atop the tin roof of the garage, which I can access via my kitchen window) The sun rises directly over my house.

Thanks again for any and all advice. You guys are awesome!
-J

justiniadonisi wrote: They did, but I pretty much knew I was getting a cutting. It was very inexpensive.
Thanks again for any and all advice. You guys are awesome!

Well... not that awesome, sorry. Why did you buy this? It is indeed just a very young cutting with the lower branches cut off.
You could have purchased a young juniper and made this yourself.

Now what you have is just a young plant that is going to need years of growth. So, let it grow, don't do anything with it now. Start learning about growing bonsai, you have years time before you can do much with this plant.

Let me ask you this: would a cutting have a root ball? This little plant does, which is why I was thinking of putting it in proper bonsai soil.

it is a rooted cutting

Hey guys,
Thanks for your feedback. Update: I placed the "tree" in direct sunlight. I live in north GA, where it is temperate and very sunny this time of year. Today's high is like 75, and the low is in the 60s. When I say direct sun, I mean it - no shade at all except when clouds float by.
The soil is now bone dry, and resembles clay more than dirt. There were also what appeared to be dead larvae in the soil. I honestly believe that the cutting *will* die in a matter of days under its circumstances - the soil is poor, and the cutting is not even planted completely in it. I am gonna repot it; I read up on it. I honestly think it would be an initial potting more than a repotting, as the cutting isnt really even planted that well. Maybe it was before it shipped.

I will keep you guys posted. Wish me luck!
-J

I did the same thing with a money tree bonsai that I once purchased, encased in a clay pot. The tree started to die quite quickly, so I smashed the tree out of its pot, placed it in one that drains, and in proper soil. That was a year ago, and the tree is currently thriving.