51cg

Hi - I purchased this juniper just over a year ago. I currently water its roots twice a week and fertilize it once a month. The couple from whom I purchased it told me it should remain indoors and I should only water the roots, not wet the foliage. This seems counter to things I have read, hence my outreach via this forum. It is worth noting, I live near Boulder, Colorado -- we have an extremely dry climate / very low humidity. The tree presently lives on my kitchen windowsill that gets significant sunlight. I have taken other plants (not bonsai) outside that have been roasted by our sun. If possible, I would love advice on 1) current care (should it actually live outdoors / foliage watered?), and 2) pruning. I have never pruned this (obvious, I know). I have purchased some tools but would love some guidance so I don't accidentally harm or kill it.?

Thank you!!!

You are lucky it is still alive!!! Get it outside now. Junipers will not survive inside. Looks a nice plant just needs pruning. Watering so little is not good, you should water when needed not to a schedule. I am watering twice a day at the moment with the warm weather we are having. You may not need to do that often, but twice a week seems too little. You can add more fertilser if you want, but once a month is just about enough. As for pruning you need to thin out the branches to allow more light into the branches inside. It is difficult to say what and how much without seeing the plant. If you have that much heat then semi shade would be fine.

Thank you!! That is all very helpful! I will get a spot set up for it outside. We are in a high desert, so it gets quite cold at night. Not too bad right now because it is summer. At what temperatures should it be brought inside? Thank you again!

Junipers need a dormant period, which is the reason for leaving them outside. The main problem it will have outside is drying winds during winter, and all it should need is protection from the wind, except for one thing. A month or so ago that area had a sudden cold snap with several inches of snow. I probably would have had it indoors if it had started new growth just before a cold snap.

Find a bonsai group near you and see how they protect trees in your climate. Boulder probably has a club. If not Denver certainly has one.

Thank you, Ivan! That is all very helpful!?

I think procumbens can be problematic in desert environment. They are from temperate areas in East asia where humidity is high most of the years.

Join a club in your suroundings and mert people that are growing trees in the same environment.

You've already received excellent advice from some very experienced growers, so I won't add much except to say that you have a lovely tree. Considering it has spent the last year indoors, it actually looks remarkably healthy. I think you're going to enjoy working with it as it develops. Best of luck, and do let us know how it progresses!