Bonsai.ch Juniperus Itoigawa Juniper cm

Total height: approx. 55 cm

Juniperus chinensis is an evergreen conifer. It originates from East Asia.

The juniper is very popular as a bonsai. It is excellent for deadwood designs (Jin and Shari).

Care

The Chinese juniper prefers a sunny location outdoors all year round. If winter temperatures drop below -10 °C, the root ball should be protected. At very low temperatures, its foliage may discolor unattractively, but it will turn green again in spring. It likes well-draining soil (e.g., Kiryu), either pure or mixed with Akadama or our house blend. Watering should only be done when the soil is dry. Be sure to avoid waterlogging. When repotting, mix a handful of the old soil with mycorrhiza (white fungal network) into the new substrate. From spring onwards, provide with organic fertilizer.

Design

To maintain and densify the shape of the foliage pads, the shoots that extend beyond the silhouette should be pinched throughout the entire growing season. It is important to pinch the green shoots with your fingertips, not to cut them with your nails or use scissors, as this would cause the shoot tips to turn brown. Only when shoots need to be completely removed should scissors or branch cutters be used. The branches can be easily shaped with wire; when using wire on rough bark, wrap the branch with a protective tape first.