The needs of a bonsai tree depend on the species of the tree and the type of soil it is planted in. A bonsai is usually planted in decorative porcelain pot and does not have much reserve of water content.
Wrong soil type
Clay soil does not absorb water quickly, This kind of soil will be good for Juniper or Cypress varieties – plants that do not require lots of water to survive. If the same clay soil is used for a tropical plant, the bonsai will be under watered. There is also another kind of soil – a greasy-like soil. This one absorbs water and retains moisture. Therefore, not recommended for Cypress tree.
Underwatering
You may be underwatering your plant and yet ignoring the signs it is sending out to you. The trunk may have creases – signs that it is shriveling up. The soil may feel hard and dry and the roots are actually sticking out – and an indication that the roots are coming out of the soil to try to find water at the surface.
Overwatering
If you are overwatering, there will be lots of leaves being discolored (yellow and brown). The trunk will become soft and the small branches will be falling down. The branches will also darken and the tree will no more look healthy and vibrant. What’s wrong? The roots do not need water anymore. The common mistake here is that you let the tree where it is, and the roots start to become black and disease sets in.
Wrong location
Juniper
is an outdoor kind of bonsai that needs a lot of sunlight exposure.
If you place it inside your house or in a shadowy place on your
terrace, the leaves will become yellow and further turn brown.
Eventually, the poor little bonsai will die.
Too much
sunlight
The tree should not be kept in a place where it
will get heavy sunrays around noon. This kind of sunlight is
dangerous to your tree and the latter will become weak because of
excess heat.
No patience!
Some bonsai lovers
are just too impatient. They like to prune and repot the tree too
often. This becomes stressful for the bonsai and causes the tree to
lose its vitality.
Repotting and pruning should be done once
every 1-2 years depending on the bonsai’s pace of growth.
I
hope this article is of some help to your Juniper bonsai tree. Your
views and opinions count for me. Do feel free to jot down your
comments in the section below.
