Juniper trees

Juniper trees come in different sizes, from ground coverers to really big trees. The Bonsai form is very popular because of its comfortable size for apartments, still retaining its tree shape; less known is that it is a symbol for strength, athleticism and fertility. They are a great bonsai tree to start with because of their adaptability and can be found in flower shops, placed in various trays, from 1 inch tall to even 40 inches.

What you might not know is that there are about 50 juniper species today. They are favored among landscapists and gardening enthusiasts because they make a pleasant hedge, bear digestible berries and are generally hardy plants, with species that can tolerate various climates and soils. They should receive a minimum of 4 hours of sunlight per day, maintaining appropriate moisture level and spraying the foliage during summer.

The most popular species of Juniper bonsais are the Green Mound Chinese Juniper, which can tolerate cold temperatures, the Shimpaku Juniper, special because of its soft bark that peels off when the plant has matured and evergreen foliage, the Dwarf Garden juniper, which only demands humidity and sunlight and of course the Rigid Needles Juniper which is a little more demanding, but has beautiful bluish green needle-like foliage.

Caring for them is easy, just don’t pamper them too much. Fertilizer should not be added during summer or after it has been repotted and it should have a balanced pH level, adding only several acidic feedings along the year. If it has bushy foliage, some pruning is required; do it in summer or spring and you might want to use wire and wire cutters, and possibly a few others, to give it the shape you want.

You can place them as a center piece and they will look very stylish and beautiful.

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