Juniper in Winter

abbyd

Seedling
Messages
6
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2
Location
Minnesota
USDA Zone
5a
Hello!

This is my first winter with a bonsai and was hoping for some advice. I have a 3-year-old juniper. I'm in southern Minnesota, so I'm in the 5a zone. I've seen lots of varying information on how to care for junipers in winter, and I wasn't sure what the best solution for my tree might be – especially since winters here can get pretty cold.

Some people said to bury the pot in the ground, but I do not have an area to do that. But I do have an unheated garage, though it has no windows. I also have an area outside where walls can surround the plant from the wind. I saw a post where someone placed their juniper in a bucket and covered the pot in mulch. Is that enough to keep the tree alive? I can also put it beneath a table (made of glass) to block the wind.

Also, from my research, it seems the tree needs sunlight until it is dormant. Then it doesn't need sunlight. How do I know when it's become dormant?

Thank you for all your help!
 
Welcome!

I think it would do fine either in the unheated garage or outside in the area protected from wind. You did not state what type of juniper it is, but most junipers are pretty cold hardy.

If you do the garage, you have to make sure to keep it watered throughout the winter. If it dries out too much it will definitely die.

I’d just put it outside in a shaded area, protected from the wind as much as possible. Personally, I like to use snow as insulation and for water. I think in MN you should have no shortage of snow :)

I like to shovel snow around the pot and on top of the soil, so it insulates the roots and also waters the soil as the snow melts.

I have family in Alexandria, and visit every summer. it’s beautiful country up there :)
 
Welcome!

I think it would do fine either in the unheated garage or outside in the area protected from wind. You did not state what type of juniper it is, but most junipers are pretty cold hardy.

If you do the garage, you have to make sure to keep it watered throughout the winter. If it dries out too much it will definitely die.

I’d just put it outside in a shaded area, protected from the wind as much as possible. Personally, I like to use snow as insulation and for water. I think in MN you should have no shortage of snow :)

I like to shovel snow around the pot and on top of the soil, so it insulates the roots and also waters the soil as the snow melts.

I have family in Alexandria, and visit every summer. it’s beautiful country up there :)
Thank you! It’s definitely a beautiful state :)

The only information I got on what kind of juniper it is was the name “Japanese Juniper” – which I’m not sure is an actual name. I’ve attached a picture of it though.

I’m not sure how well the pot will hold up in the cold either. Is there any indication that the tree is too cold or too affected by wind as it’s happening so I can fix it?
 

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Thank you! It’s definitely a beautiful state :)

The only information I got on what kind of juniper it is was the name “Japanese Juniper” – which I’m not sure is an actual name. I’ve attached a picture of it though.

I’m not sure how well the pot will hold up in the cold either. Is there any indication that the tree is too cold or too affected by wind as it’s happening so I can fix it?
Is it still alive, I think last I saw a couple of weeks ago it was all grey yellow?
 
Is it still alive, I think last I saw a couple of weeks ago it was all grey yellow?
Haha this is a new tree. I went to the woman that sold me the bonsai for advice, and she just offered to exchange it. So I’m on a new one, with better knowledge on how to care for it — pending on how to care for it over the winter…
 
Haha this is a new tree. I went to the woman that sold me the bonsai for advice, and she just offered to exchange it. So I’m on a new one, with better knowledge on how to care for it — pending on how to care for it over the winter…
You can bury it in mulch up to the trunk somewhere where wind is limited, and let the snow bury it.
 
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