AusBonsai

Hey there,

i bought a young, 1 year old juniper silver spreader earlier this year, and i have a few questions.

- Im in Perth, whixh i very hot just now. is top watering every day, and spraying, ok?
-The roots seemed quite week adter watering today, a very hot day. Normal?
-The bonsai gets about 4/5 hours of morning sun under a shadecloth. is that sufficient?

Thanks!



Lupus

Welcome Lupus.
Do you know how dense your shadecloth is? It comes in light medium and 90% shade. I think 90% would be too much shade but most trees are adaptable and will adjust. I think at least a few hours direct sun in the morning then afternoon shade would be better.

Top watering is good. How often depends on how quickly the potting mix dries out. I use a pretty open mix and water morning and night every day. Misting the foliage is pretty much useless. You can water the whole plant but make sure plenty of water soaks into the rootzone. A soak in a tub every week or 2 can help to make sure the roots are getting properly dampened, especially if it is a bit pot bound though it sounds like yours might have fewer roots??

Not sure what you mean by

-The roots seemed quite week adter watering today, a very hot day.

Only today? only after watering? just haven't noticed this before? What makes you think the roots are weak? It would be unusual to have a sudden change so it might have been like this fro a while.
Pictures are goood to show what you mean and help us to spot signs you may have missed.

Thanks for the welcome shibui. the shadecloth doesnt seem too dense, there gaps are fairly large in it. it gets good sun in the morning and then none in the afternoon, but it isnt in complete shade, its in a bright area (patio). by weak roots, normally i give the trunk a light tug to see how well its holding, and today it felt like it could come out, unlike other days. worried about overwatering and then root rot.

ill post some pics later

Also, would usuing a weak, standard fertilizer be ok at this time of the year? Just for a wee feed maybe once a week with watering?

Lupus wrote:Also, would usuing a weak, standard fertilizer be ok at this time of the year? Just for a wee feed maybe once a week with watering?

Depending if the tree in question is healthy or not so healthy. A picture would show the approximate condition of your Juniper. If not healthy then do not feed at all but add some Seasol(seaweed extract) to your water when watering , which will help the tree get growing.
If healthy then Yes give it a water with some fertiliser at recommended strenght.

How big/small is the pot it is in. If a small pot then your "weak" roots may just be stressed by heat or underwatered , .good luck

Also, would usuing a weak, standard fertilizer be ok at this time of the year? Just for a wee feed maybe once a week with watering?

Fertiliser is essential with bonsai and other potted plants. Because we water often all soluble fert is quickly washed out of the pot and trees start to starve. Use any standard fert at recommended strength every week or 2 during the growing season. If your tree looks ok at the moment I would give it fert now. I agree with Bonsai trees not to fertilise sick trees but if yours looks ok I would give it some.

Pictures!

Oh jeez, no you can see my terrible attempts at wiring...

Further, i couldnt find any fertiliser at home apart from seasol and lawn fertiliser, so ive put a piece of the fertiliser tablet on the surface under the little pagoda (which i take off to water)