Japanese Garden Juniper

Japanese Garden Juniper Care

Juniperus Procumbens

What is the plant

This dwarf Juniper is the most popular evergreen in the United States. When we think of a traditional bonsai and what it should look like, we think of a "Juniper Procumbens Nana." It is very hardy, long-lived, and tolerates many adverse conditions. Juniperus Procumbens is a low-growing juniper native to southern Japan. The longer prostrate branches tend to intertwine. The leaves are arranged in decussate whorls of three; all the leaves are juvenile form and needle-like with two white stomatal bands on the inner face. It is dioecious, producing cones of only one sex on each plant. Its graceful canopy and impressive bark are another reason everyone should have at least one Juniper in their bonsai collection.

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Lighting

Full Sun

Hardiness zone

min 4b

Difficulty

Easy

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Be careful not to water too much, as the juniper roots don't like soil wetness. Before you water, the soil should dry slightly.
Pruning
To develop the foliage pads, long shoots which stick out of the silhouette can be pinched or cut at the base with sharp scissors throughout the growth season. Do not trim the juniper like a hedge because the removal of all growing tips will weaken the tree and the cut will turn the needles brown
Fertilizer
Use normal organic fertilizer pellets or balls every month during the growth season or a liquid fertilizer each week. If strong growth is desired some higher nitrogen levels can be applied in spring.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
Place the tree outside, year-round, on a bright spot with lots of sunlight. The Juniper cannot live indoors.
Soil
Simon and Schuster’s recommends 60% soil, 10% peat, and 30% coarse sand. Rémy Samson recommends 1 part loam, 1 part leaf mould, and 1 part coarse sand. Peter Chan recommends 1 part loam, 1 part peat, and 3 parts coarse sand.
Temperature
Tolerates a wide range of temperatures, including freezing,however, roots must be protected from excessive heat or cold.