Juniper Berries

[drew33998]

My question is Does anyone let their bonsai produce berries? I have a collected tree that will spend its first FULL growing season in its grow pot. It has been in this pot for around 8 months and it is starting to develop berries. I didn't think that it was strong enough to do so but I guess I was wrong. I plan on removing them, but I wanted to know if there ever was a time that one would leave them. This is the tree in question

 

[Vance Wood]

It won't hurt the tree to remove them (I think) that is a certainty, but to keep them could sap the tree of strength. Junipers I have read will sometimes produce berries because they are under stress.

 

[drew33998]

It won't hurt the tree to remove them (I think) that is a certainty, but to keep them could sap the tree of strength. Junipers I have read will sometimes produce berries because they are under stress.

The stress thing makes since. It definitely hasn't "thrived" in its new home yet. I guess they produce the berries much like other plants try to produce blooms when under stress. To guarantee the continuation of their genes. Thanks Vance

 

[Vance Wood]

The stress thing makes since. It definitely hasn't "thrived" in its new home yet. I guess they produce the berries much like other plants try to produce blooms when under stress. To guarantee the continuation of their genes. Thanks Vance

How much sun light does this tree get? You said it was collected 8 months ago? I would consider giving it a bit more light. Be patient Junipers are slow to come back from a root disturbance.

 

[quietobserver]

The stress thing makes since. It definitely hasn't "thrived" in its new home yet. I guess they produce the berries much like other plants try to produce blooms when under stress. To guarantee the continuation of their genes. Thanks Vance

I've been told the same thing, they push berries to 'continue the family name' so to speak when stressed. Although I have a shimp of unknown variety from nebonsai that's super healthy and ALWAYS pops berries for whatever reason.

 

[Poink88]

I've been told the same thing, they push berries to 'continue the family name' so to speak when stressed. Although I have a shimp of unknown variety from nebonsai that's super healthy and ALWAYS pops berries for whatever reason.

You've got a "recreational" type. LOL

 

[Brian Underwood]

Haha! Yeah, most trees will make a last ditch effort to reproduce. I always get a little nervous when one of my fruiting trees has an exceptionally spectacular bloom. I have never let berries grow on a juniper for fear of sapping strength for no reason, I've always cut them off.

 

[drew33998]

How much sun light does this tree get? You said it was collected 8 months ago? I would consider giving it a bit more light. Be patient Junipers are slow to come back from a root disturbance.

Actually, it has been babied for the last 8 months. I kept it in 90 percent shade for the first 4-5 months under the large live oak you see in the picture. It didn't have much roots when I collected it from the heap that the landscapers placed it in. I was afraid to put it in too much light to keep it from drying out.

 

[Vance Wood]

Actually, it has been babied for the last 8 months. I kept it in 90 percent shade for the first 4-5 months under the large live oak you see in the picture. It didn't have much roots when I collected it from the heap that the landscapers placed it in. I was afraid to put it in too much light to keep it from drying out.

You should start exposing it to more sun light. Junipers usually need a good deal of sun light. Start with four or five hours in the AM.

 

[berobinson82]

The only time I had berries to remove on a juniper was an ominous beacon that I'd soon have more space on my bench.

On a positive note, juniper berry tea has multiple health benefits. Never tried it as I'm partial to Constant Comment or Masala Chai.

I can't think of any reason to keep them.

 

[drew33998]

The only time I had berries to remove on a juniper was an ominous beacon that I'd soon have more space on my bench.

On a positive note, juniper berry tea has multiple health benefits. Never tried it as I'm partial to Constant Comment or Masala Chai.

I can't think of any reason to keep them.

It actually has also started pushing new growth along with the berries. I would agree with you on the dying thing if I hadn't started to see new growth too. I think I will put it in more light as Vance suggested and see what happens after that. It also has not had any fertilizer until about three to 4 weeks ago, aside from what nutrients were in the soil. Scared to put fertilizer on the tree since it was not healthy.

 

[bonsaibp]

Take them off growing any fruit takes strength from a tree that could be going to roots and foliage. The important thing now is for the tree to get strong and healthy.
Get some more and you can make gin.

 

[drew33998]

Turn the tips up?

You should start exposing it to more sun light. Junipers usually need a good deal of sun light. Start with four or five hours in the AM.

Vance/All, I placed this tree in the sun and it has rewarded me with new growth all over. My question is that when this tree was in the ground I believe it was laying on its side. A lot of the foliage is hanging down now that it is upright. The foliage that is turned up has new shoots on it. My question is should I wire the tree so that all foliage is turned up at this point? Most of the foliage on the right side I will remove when I style it. Only the upper left most portion will I keep to style the tree.

Also when I potted the plant I placed the root ball about 2 inches below the soil line. When I moved back the soil I noticed that there were new roots emerging from the base.

Should I:
1. Wire the tree to turn the tips upward
2. Since I will not use the right side and it is growing very well, should I go ahead and remove it, or a portion of foliage to encourage more growth in the portion that I will use?
3. Do nothing until fall and risk the lower hanging branches becoming weaker and possibly dying?

Thanks

 

[Dav4]

When your styling a juniper and applying wire as part of the styling, it's always good practice to have the growing tips point upward. If you're just letting this tree recover and gain strength, I wouldn't wire it as wiring in and of itself is stressful. Let the tree sort it out and grow unfettered for a while. Also, I wouldn't remove any foliage until you're ready to style, meaning the tree has recovered from collection.

 

[Vance Wood]

Vance/All, I placed this tree in the sun and it has rewarded me with new growth all over. My question is that when this tree was in the ground I believe it was laying on its side. A lot of the foliage is hanging down now that it is upright. The foliage that is turned up has new shoots on it. My question is should I wire the tree so that all foliage is turned up at this point? Most of the foliage on the right side I will remove when I style it. Only the upper left most portion will I keep to style the tree.

Also when I potted the plant I placed the root ball about 2 inches below the soil line. When I moved back the soil I noticed that there were new roots emerging from the base.

Should I:
1. Wire the tree to turn the tips upward
2. Since I will not use the right side and it is growing very well, should I go ahead and remove it, or a portion of foliage to encourage more growth in the portion that I will use?
3. Do nothing until fall and risk the lower hanging branches becoming weaker and possibly dying?

Thanks

You do need to wire the growing tips upward, if you do not the tree will decline. I know that with the change of position being as significant as it is, this is going to be a big job, but this time of year you can take a couple of days to pull it off.

 

[Poink88]

I am checking some of my small juniper and noticed a couple are producing lots of small white flowers. I think I got a couple "promiscuous" type as well!

Anyway, the flowers are very small still and not sure when I should start picking them off. If this early, I will need tweezers. Any advise is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Vance Wood]

I am checking some of my small juniper and noticed a couple are producing lots of small white flowers. I think I got a couple "promiscuous" type as well!

Anyway, the flowers are very small still and not sure when I should start picking them off. If this early, I will need tweezers. Any advise is appreciated. Thanks!

I know that a lot of people believe and teach that Junipers are male and female and either one or the other. However in the research and study I have done over the years Junipers are monoecious, both sexes on the same tree, but my research is old and maybe that's not so. Any way the little with flowers are only pollen flowers. Most of my Shimpakus will do this and I have never once found a berry on any of them. In short unless you find berries don't worry about it.

 

[garywood]

I am checking some of my small juniper and noticed a couple are producing lots of small white flowers. I think I got a couple "promiscuous" type as well!

Anyway, the flowers are very small still and not sure when I should start picking them off. If this early, I will need tweezers. Any advise is appreciated. Thanks!

Dario, could they be male "flowers"? Juniper berries are green until ripening. They pretty much supply their own "energy" sugar. Just food for thought.

 

[Poink88]

Dario, could they be male "flowers"? Juniper berries are green until ripening. They pretty much supply their own "energy" sugar. Just food for thought.

Could be, not sure. They are star like white flowers like this but much smaller (for now). What do you think?

 

[Poink88]

I know that a lot of people believe and teach that Junipers are male and female and either one or the other. However in the research and study I have done over the years Junipers are monoecious, both sexes on the same tree, but my research is old and maybe that's not so. Any way the little with flowers are only pollen flowers. Most of my Shimpakus will do this and I have never once found a berry on any of them. In short unless you find berries don't worry about it.

Thanks Vance. I posted a sample picture (from Google) above.