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Okay so I got this lil guy as a gift and I want to do my best to take care of it. Im pretty sure it’s a juniper, not sure which kind specifically.
So I’ve only grown large indoor trees so far, I have a pachira aquartica that is about 4 years old, so something this small in size is unfamiliar to me.
I did some research and removed the moss and rocks that were covering the soil and the pot it’s in has proper drainage. It also has a proper root system all set up, I made sure of that by peaking in the soil as best I could, the place where the person who gave me it got it said it’s around two years old, but I’m not sure if that’s true.
But anyway, I know they need to be outside and can withstand the cold, but because of the moss the soil was retaining moisture and is pretty wet right now. I’m worried that if I put it outside the soil will freeze the roots. I live near Chicago, so it gets pretty cold at night, tonight for example is going to be about 9 degrees. So should I keep it indoors until the soils dries a bit or put it out anyway? Also how exactly should I water it if it’s outside in winter without freezing the roots?
I’ve done research and read some guides but they have varying information and I’d feel better hearing from people that I know are familiar with the topic.
Also, please note that I’m not calling this a bonsai as I’m familiar with the fact that mallsai are a thing and this is probably one of them. But I still want to take care of it as best as I can and use this as a learning experience for the future when I feel fully ready to grow a bonsai.

I didn’t mean to attach the image so many times, I’m using this on my mobile.

Drakear wrote: Okay so I got this lil guy as a gift and I want to do my best to take care of it. Im pretty sure it’s a juniper

It's a young juniper. Questions, same as yours, about the same plant are asked every day on this forum, and answered as many times. Just check a few of these posts, like the one about junipers in winter, last post only 3 hours ago.

Not going to make the usual joke that 9 degrees is above freezing temperatures... you mean - 13 C. Protect it from high winds; if you can, place it in an unheated space like a garage or a shed. Keeping it indoors where it's warm, then moving it outside again into the cold is not a good idea.

FYI: mine are outside, always, including the little ones (2 year old cuttings).

Thank you for your reply! And yeah I saw the other post but I was still concerned as I mentioned before that the soil is very wet and I know it’s not good for it to be indoors and then go outside, but since it’s going to be below freezing, even in my shed it can still freeze. I wanted to confirm it would be okay to put it out even if the soil is very wet.
And my apologize for the temperature mishap, I thought that I said it was 9 Degrees Fahrenheit but I must have accidentally left that out. Im not used to using Celsius being used and sometimes forget to specify between the two.

Was it kept in a frost free position before it came to you? Then moving it straight into the cold is a bad idea. If it was outside, then just put it outside again.

My junipers all stay outside yearround. Wet or dry. When it freezes, they freeze. They are familiar with frost, also when wet.

All in all, people worry too much about the weather treee are more sensitive in pots. But hardy species can handle a lot.

So glad I found this post! I just posted actually... I just got a Juniper as a gift on Tuesday.. and saw it needed colder weather as well.. I am now thinking I need to take mine home and put it on my front porch.. My co-workers wanted it to be for my office but sounds like that is not a good environment for it! I am in WA state.. so I understand how cold it gets in Chicago (lived there briefly)!! We hit -10 (F) at times in the winter here where I am at..

shecounts wrote: We hit -10 (F) at times in the winter here where I am at..

I had to convert that to normal standards, but -12 C is a temperature a juniper can easily tolerate.

This, by the way, is a real juniper bonsai.

After a lot of research (I had the same questions you did) I dug a hole in the garden, placed my juniper bonsai in that hole and covered it to its first branch, I then mulched around it. When its dry, I water it (plants need water even in winter just not as much) when leaves cover it from the larger trees in the yard I uncover it so it can get light. It's thriving. I suspect by spring I will need to trim and prepare it well to be potted again. The reason for it to be put in the ground is because you don't want the roots to freeze and they will if you leave it in a pot on the porch. You can also put it in a shed or garage if it has windows just don't forget to water it.

Why would you burry a juniper in winter. THese are frost hardy to -20c. Mine stay out on the bench all winter andget frozen rock solid.

Babying trees is not good for them. Let them experience some winter.