Juniper Bonsai

For a bonsai that lives indoors year-round and does not need outdoor cold dormancy, the Ficus Ginseng Bonsai has a dramatically swollen sculptural root structure and suits warm bright Canadian rooms.

For a compact conifer that prefers cool conditions and handles indoor Canadian rooms better than Juniper, the Ellwoodii Cypress grows in a narrow columnar form and suits cool bright rooms or sheltered outdoor positions from spring to autumn.

For a long-lived plant that develops a tree-like sculptural form over years and lives entirely indoors on a south-facing Canadian windowsill, the Jade Plant has woody branching stems and thick succulent leaves.

No. Juniper is a temperate outdoor conifer that requires a cold winter dormancy period below 10 degrees C to survive long-term. Kept in a warm indoor room year-round it will appear healthy for a few months but will gradually decline and die within one to two years. If you want a bonsai that lives entirely indoors year-round, the Ficus Ginseng Bonsai is the right choice.

An unheated but frost-protected location is ideal: an unheated garage that stays above minus 5 degrees C, a cold room, an enclosed but unheated porch, or a sheltered outdoor position against a south-facing wall with protective covering during the coldest periods. The goal is cold dormancy, not freezing. Check the soil every two to three weeks and water if completely dry.

Yes. The ASPCA confirms Juniperus spp. is toxic to dogs and potentially harmful to cats. The berries, foliage, and bark can cause vomiting and gastrointestinal upset. Keep out of reach of pets and small children.

Some inner foliage browning is a normal seasonal shedding of old interior growth, which happens more noticeably in autumn as the plant approaches dormancy. It is also caused by keeping the plant indoors in warm, dry conditions where the foliage dries out. If the outer, visible foliage is also browning, the plant is likely too warm and dry. Move it outdoors or to its cold winter position immediately.

Check the soil every two to three weeks during cold winter storage. The goal is to prevent the root ball from drying out completely, not to keep it moist. If the soil is still slightly damp on your check, leave it. If it is completely dry, water with a small amount and allow complete drainage. Never water a fully dormant Juniper as frequently as an actively growing plant.