Help! How do I stop my juniper bonsai from turning brown?

[niuu]

The bonsai tree routine is taking it outside when it’s sunny. When I leave it outside, it sits there for about 5-6 hours, mostly from afternoon to sunset. When it’s inside, I still try to set it in sunlight, like by a window. The bonsai is watered every other day at first but when it started brownish, I thought I was overwatering, so I’ve been watering it every 3 days. I let it drain out, wait 15 minutes, then water it again when I’m watering it every 3 days. It started turning brown (some of the undersides of the leaves) a week after I purchased the bonsai. It’s 9 years old and is a juniper bonsai tree.

I haven’t bought fertilizer for the bonsai yet because I’m trying to figure out what fertilizer would work well for it.

How do I stop it from turning brown? I got it several weeks ago. Does anyone have tips in general for bonsai tree caring or if I'm doing anything wrong? (I put some pictures in case of it)

 

[RoadManDenDron]

Welcome to the forum, youve come to the right place!

Well done for noticing the browning, you obviously care for this tree and pay attention to it

Step 1: put it outside in the sunny spot

Step 2: leave it there

Junipers die inside, hopefully it's not too late!


As for watering, it's best to water when it needs it, not on a schedule, you can put a wooden chopstick in the soil to check moisture of the soil

Also please put your location in your profile, some advice will differ based on where abouts in the world you live, but wherever you are, your juniper is doomed inside. But what to fertilise with and when for example is dependant on your location and season

 

[bwaynef]

RMDD is right. Take it outside and leave it. Don't worry about fertilizer until you're sure about its health.

Welcome.

 

[Attmos]

I got a Juniper as a present, IN COLORADO, lol, and I couldn't keep it alive because I kept it inside. (and probly because it was already dying when I got it)

I get the impression that they aren't a beginner tree.

 

[Shibui]

I'm looking at the photos. The only brown I can find is the very oldest needles. All the outer tips seem vibrant and healthy.
Older needles dying is normal and natural. There's 2 main reasons for it.
1. Any leaf has a limited life span. When they get too old to work properly (photosynthesise and produce food for the tree) the tree cuts off nutrient supply so it's not wasting resources. Juniper needles typically live for 2-3 years before dying. When it's older, inner needles turning brown this is the most likely reason and there's nothing you can do to stop it.

2. Light. If the leaf is not getting enough light it can't process food so is a waste of resources for the tree. The tree soon cuts nutrient supply and reallocates that to leaves which are pulling their weight. If inner leaves are dying before they are 2-3 years old, lack of light is the most likely explanation. To stop this happening, we must allow light to reach those leaves. This can be by increasing the amount of sun or by removing some of the other foliage that's shading that section. Junipers with dense foliage are particularly prone to shedding inner foliage. Pruning and thinning foliage is vital to maintain health of inner shoots.

I suspect there's a combination of both the above happening with this tree. Unless you only bring it inside after dark you will be limiting it's light and if it's not in the sunniest spot in the yard you are also limiting it's light so it will have no choice but to dispose of some of the most shaded needles. There's also plenty of new growth on the tree. Probably time to wire some branches to move them and allow light to penetrate further in and/or selectively remove some parts to allow light to get the the remainder.

 

[niuu]

Welcome to the forum, youve come to the right place!

Well done for noticing the browning, you obviously care for this tree and pay attention to it

Step 1: put it outside in the sunny spot

Step 2: leave it there

Junipers die inside, hopefully it's not too late!


As for watering, it's best to water when it needs it, not on a schedule, you can put a wooden chopstick in the soil to check moisture of the soil

Also please put your location in your profile, some advice will differ based on where abouts in the world you live, but wherever you are, your juniper is doomed inside. But what to fertilise with and when for example is dependant on your location and season

Thank you for the advice and the welcome! I have updated my location.

It's currently fall (going to be winter) soon, so I'm a bit worried about if I should bring the tree inside if it gets too cold like below 30 F? Also do you recommend bringing the tree inside when it is dark out or should I still leave it out there?

 

[niuu]

I got a Juniper as a present, IN COLORADO, lol, and I couldn't keep it alive because I kept it inside. (and probly because it was already dying when I got it)

I get the impression that they aren't a beginner tree.

I'm sorry to hear about your bonsai; they're really lovely plants from the few weeks I've had it. I didn't realize it wasn't a beginner plant. Hopefully things go well.

 

[SeanS]

Also do you recommend bringing the tree inside when it is dark out or should I still leave it out there?

Junipers are one of the bravest plant species and don’t mind the dark at all

 

[BonsaiManic]

One of the most important lessons I've learned so far is that the art of bonsai is nothing without the science. I killed a couple of great prospects because I was too eager to "train" the tree before I knew simply how to keep it healthy and thriving. A sick tree will never be a bonsai. Vigorous trees, however, can have unlimited potential. My advice as a fellow newbie? Listen, watch, learn, practice, repeat.
Welcome to the forum!

 

[Dav4]

Thank you for the advice and the welcome! I have updated my location.

It's currently fall (going to be winter) soon, so I'm a bit worried about if I should bring the tree inside if it gets too cold like below 30 F? Also do you recommend bringing the tree inside when it is dark out or should I still leave it out there?

Your juniper is cold hardy through most of the lower 48 states, meaning it should be outside year round except in the absolute coldest parts of the country. In my zone 6 back yard in MI, where it will almost definitely fall below 0 F this winter, it would be outside. In your location, winter cold will not be a problem. Simply placing it on the ground for those coldest nights is probably all you'll ever need to do. I've had junipers in pots with frozen soil all winter long without issue, fwiw. There's a lot more to know about overwintering in colder climates, but in coastal SC, you should be ok with minimal protection.

 

[Attmos]

I'm sorry to hear about your bonsai; they're really lovely plants from the few weeks I've had it. I didn't realize it wasn't a beginner plant. Hopefully things go well.

I'm a beginner too, so I'm not positive they're difficult. lol
When I got mine I had no freaking idea what I was doing, so... it was most likely my own failure. I've just seen a few people here talk about them being difficult.

Anyway, good luck with it. I hope you're more successful than I was.

 

[snowman04]

Your juniper is cold hardy through most of the lower 48 states, meaning it should be outside year round except in the absolute coldest parts of the country. In my zone 6 back yard in MI, where it will almost definitely fall below 0 F this winter, it would be outside. In your location, winter cold will not be a problem. Simply placing it on the ground for those coldest nights is probably all you'll ever need to do. I've had junipers in pots with frozen soil all winter long without issue, fwiw. There's a lot more to know about overwintering in colder climates, but in coastal SC, you should be ok with minimal protection.

Well said, Dave! I was thinking the same. Mine are now outside for the winter as well...