clueless newb needing bonsai care advice

[SeaBucket]

I love bonsais but have no idea what I'm doing. I've owned a small ginseng ficus for a few months and have managed not to kill it. I bought a baby juniper and baby mugo pine. I think. I live in essentially Phoenix, Arizona, so our winter is not what most people consider cold.

First, the Mugo and Juniper came with lots of little pebbles on top of the soil in the pot. The pebbles are not glued. Should I remove the pebbles anyway, or will the treelings be fine if I leave them on there?

Second, during a winter when it rarely drops below 50F overnight, is that too cold for the trees? Should I keep them indoors or are they ok outside? i have this question for the Ficus too. I have tried researching the answers to this, but haven't found a good answer that i feel related to my climate.

Any resources specific to my location and trees would be much appreciated! Thanks!

 

[SeaBucket]

more questions

also, how much and how often should i water these guys? Is the same fertilizer OK for all the trees? So so lost. Do I even worry about pruning/ shaping these guys when they are so tiny, or do I wait until they grow?

 

[tmmason10]

The juniper and mugo definitely need to be outside. They will be perfectly fine well below 50 degrees. The ficus honestly could stay outside if it stays above 50 as well. What's under the pebbles? If it's potting soil it will hold a lot of moisture so be careful about overwatering. Feel the soil, if it feels damp than it shouldn't need water yet. The juniper and the pine need to grow grow grow no trimming needed for years. Welcome to the hobby.

 

[MHarmon]

pheonix bonsai society

You may find useful information for future reference on the Pheonix bonsai society website. There is a lot of good information under the club resources tab, with regard to which species are outdoor hardy to your area. There is also a good desert bonsai faq page.

http://www.phoenixbonsai.com/

 

[Alain]

I lived in Tucson for awhile so I imagine your climate pretty well: I think the 3 of them could be outside (in Chandler you don't even go that 'low' in T than in Tucson).

The main problems for you will be: watering, but you know that, sun, so much sun, wtf, is it possible to have that much sun????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Take care of the dust storm! I didn't had bonsai when I lived there but I'm pretty sure these little guys won't like that.

Otherwise to get in touch with the Phoenix bonsai club might be a good idea, after all your climate is special and the trees you have don't really fit the description (tropical humid and temperate to cold).

The good thing living there is that you should have fun looking for yamadori, just beware of the rattlesnakes, scorpions and other tarantulas...