Looking for advice from #gardening Mastodon: I got this sweet tiny juniper bonsai as a gift with no care info. I’m in Northern California, where we have almost no frost but lots of winter rain. Is it okay outdoors this small with chilly nights? Will it tolerate rain? It has drainage holes. How wet should soil be? How much sun? How to prune?
@sfphotogirl
I have four varieties of bonsai the same size & I’m in Sac County. I water every day, even if just a little, (except for a ponytail palm which is only weekly).
I bring mine inside when temps are forecast to below 40°, otherwise I leave out in the rain, although I do protect against strong winds. I skip watering if there’s been quite a bit of rain. Soil should be “moist” (unless that species is different…you can Google for requirements).
Pruning is another whole subject… I think the wiring & pruning is kinda like tree torture so I skip it, but it is part of maintenance if you choose. Don’t worry about doing anything for the first year.
Easternleaf.com has an index of care for most varieties, plus they sell good bonsai fertilizer & tools. Very reputable source for healthy plants, also.
YouTube has a LOT of videos on care of bonsai. The worst mistake is underwatering.
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