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Hi everyone,
I'm totally new to bonsai and to the forum.

I bought a bonsai for my boyfriend for his birthday tomorrow because he's always been interested and never had his own. He loves tinkering, building things, and can be quite particular and, well, anal about things so I think he'll be a great bonsai owner.

I bought the little tree at the Philly flower show and I honestly don't know it it's a good tree. I know nothing about bonsai and the more I read the more I see that buying a baby Juniper from a random seller at a flower show in the dead of winter may not have been the best way to start... I was going to make a pretty little display to give him on my own, but I have seen now that it is best to train and do some things to the tree BEFORE potting, so I think I am now going to give everything to him separately (the tree, which is just in its little plastic pot, pottery, conifer soil, and decorations) and let him play with it. Is this best?

Any recommendations for a beginner with a baby juniper? I wasn't sure what to do with it right away and I was scared to put it right out into the cold in case the nursery hadn't properly wintered it (I read that it's an outdoor type) so it stayed in my sunroom for a few days... then it warmed up a bit and the last 4 days it's been outside (50s-60s day, 30s-40s night). It's in the sun, relatively sheltered from wind. I'm trying to make sure the soil is barely damp, but it's really hard to tell so I'm erring on the side of dry.

I hope it doesn't die at all, but I really hope it doesn't die before I get to give it to him! LOL It's really a very pretty tree. It has such a lovely shape and flow to it just as a little thing, I think it could be really beautiful. Any help, advice, etc would be greatly appreciated! THANKS!

Here is a picture of the little tree...

Hey there
Here is my opinion on what you should do to this tree....
Don't re-pot it now. Let it stay in the pot for a few more weeks(depending on your planting zone). Put it in the coolest part of your house. Water it only when the soil is dry. To determine this, poke a chopstick in the soil, wait a few minutes. Pull it out. If it's damp..don't water it. If it's dry...water it.
When the danger of frost has passed in your area, re-pot the tree. Comb out the old soil and clip off all the slimy roots. Do not cut more than 1/3 of the roots.put it in it's new pot with new soil.
After the re-pot, put the tree in a shaded area protected from the wind OUTSIDE for a few weeks. Water it only when it's dry. Junipers hate wet feet. when you see new growth, start giving the tree a few hours of morning sun, then protection from afternoon sun. Junipers like lots of sun, but I keep mine out of the hottest summer sun.
Leave the tree outside from then on. It's not an indoor tree. It will acclimate itself to the seasons and go dormant next fall like it's supposed to.Protest it from wind in the winter.
I know this might seem like a lot to do, but it's really not. Take your time.
If you want to get him an indoor tree, try a schefflera,ficus,or jade tree. They are pretty easy to care for and are forgiving...
Good luck.
Lance

howdy reaven ( if thats your name it's a neat one )


your tree looks healthy you should be fine.i really wouldnt cut the roots if you dont have to to get it in its new pot and leave it till next spring... wiring can be done if he wants to adjust the trunk . as pinkam said this is an outdoor tree and should not be kept indoors .when witer is close just bury the pot in the ground and protect it from the wind and crushing snow accumulations and it will be fine. if he is like the rest of us his bonsai collection will grow quickly...check into bonsai shows in your area they usually pop up un june or july ,if hes interested like you say he'll love the surprize. keep us posted n best of luck

Thank you so much, guys! Every little bit of information helps when you're just getting started! I'm so glad to hear the little tree might make it. As of later today, the tree will be living in Philadelphia, PA; I'm not sure what zone that is but I think we are past the chance of frost. We've had a mild winter as it was, but the temps this week will be in the 60s and 70s! I can't wait to give him his bonsai later!

good luck im sure he will love it

Hi again,
Philadelphia is planting zone 7.