World of Bonsai and Gardening

The Juniper Bonsai

The Juniper Bonsai also known as Juniperus is one of the most popular Bonsai trees. Junipers can be found in all shape and sizes around throughout the world of Bonsai. Juniper Bonsai trees sold at large stores, including Walmart and Home Depot, are often Japanese Garden Junipers, also called Green Mound Junipers (Juniperus procumbens nana). Other popular species are the Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis), the Japanese Shimpaku (Juniperus sargentii), the Japanese needle juniper (Juniperus rigida), two central European species: the savin (Juniperus sabina) and the common juniper (Juniperus communis), and three American species: the California Juniper (Juniperus californica), the Rocky mountain Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) and the Sierra Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis). The foliage colors range from dark blue-greens to light greens and the foliage can either be scale-like or needle-like. Scale junipers usually have needle-like foliage when they are young (called juvenile foliage), the typical scale-like foliage appears later. After heavy pruning or bending, overwatering or other stress often juvenile foliage will grow again. It can last a few years until enough normal scale-like foliage has grown and all the needle-like foliage can be removed.

Bonsai Tree Soil Potting Mix Blend

The berry-like cones are round or oval, depending on the species they measure between 3 mm and 2 cm and they need a year or two to ripen. The seeds are round or edged. The cones are often eaten by birds who spread the germinable seeds later with their droppings.

Junipers are very suitable for creating deadwood (jin and shari). This is due to the fact that live veins below a broken or for other reasons dying branch will dry out and die. This results in natural deadwood which is peeled, polished and bleached by climatic conditions and is very durable in case of the juniper. The triad of green foliage, reddish-brown or yellowish-brown bark and silvery white deadwood is very appealing.

Position: Place the tree outside, year-round, on a bright spot with lots of sunlight. The Juniper cannot live indoors. During the winter protect the tree once temperatures drop below -10 degrees C (14F). Some species change their foliage color during frosty periods to a purplish brown which is connected with their frost protection mechanism. In spring they will turn green again.

Watering: Be careful not to water too much, as the juniper roots don't like soil wetness. Before you water, the soil should dry well. Misting the tree can be done regularly, especially after the tree has been repotted because it benefits from air humidity. Continue reading about watering Bonsai trees.

Feeding: Use normal organic fertilizer pellets or balls every month during the growth season or a liquid fertilizer each week. If strong growth is desired some higher nitrogen levels can be applied in spring.

Pruning: To develop the foliage pads, long shoots which stick out of the silhouette can be pinched or cut at the base with sharp scissors throughout the growth season. Do not trim the juniper like a hedge because the removal of all growing tips will weaken the tree and the cut will turn the needles brown. When the foliage pads become too dense they must be thinned out with sharp scissors at the base. The Juniper Bonsai is generally a strong tree that also withstands aggressive pruning quite well. But it cannot bud again from bare tree parts, so take care that there is some foliage left on every branch you want to keep alive. Continue reading about pruning Bonsai trees.

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Wiring: Junipers which are produced for Bonsai purposes are already wired quite heavily in most cases when they are still very young. Dramatically twisted shapes are very popular and correspond with the natural shapes that used to grow in the Japanese mountains in former times. Junipers can be strongly bent, if necessary wrapped with raffia or tape as a protection, but you must be careful with parts that possess deadwood. Those parts break easily. If they are large and old, you can split the deadwood off in order to bend the more flexible living parts. The foliage pads should be wired and fanned out after thinning when necessary, to let light and air get in. Otherwise, the inner parts of the foliage pads will die. In addition to this, the danger of pest infestation is increased if the pads are too dense. From the aesthetic point of view, we also want to achieve unobstructed structures and want to prevent the juniper from looking like broccoli.

Re-potting: Once every two years, very old trees at longer intervals, using a basic (or somewhat more draining) soil mixture. Don't prune the roots too aggressively. I'd suggest the Bonsai potting soil mixture, click here for customer review details on Amazon.

Propagation: Use seeds or cuttings.

Acquisition of juniper Bonsai: Many well-suited juniper species in different sizes are offered in most nurseries. You can often find good Bonsai raw material there. In gardens, concrete pots and on cemeteries on old graves that will be cleared there are often quite old junipers and if you are lucky the owner will allow you to dig one out for little money or a new plant. Specialized Bonsai traders offer everything from young plants, pre-Bonsai and pre-styled juniper trees up to high-value Bonsai, in various styles and shapes.

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Pests/diseases: If junipers are well cared for and placed in an ideal position they are quite resistantwebworms for example. Customary insecticide/miticide sprays will help but you should also find the reason why the tree was prone to infestation. A big problem is fungal rust diseases. The diverse juniper species and cultivars have very different levels of susceptibility to rust fungus, there are also some which are regarded as resistant. As a rule of thumb, the blue-green junipers are more resistant than those with yellowish-green foliage. The Japanese junipers are also not infested very often. In the internet, you can find files which list many juniper species and cultivars and their susceptibility/resistance level to rust fungus. The rust fungus infests the junipers permanently and causes swellings from which hard, brown galls emerge. In spring, during rainy weather, the galls produce large, orange, gelatin-like tendrils, full of spores, which infest the leaves of pear trees (but there are also types of rust fungus which use hawthorn or crabapples as a second host instead of the pear). The fungus causes orange spots on the pear leaves. In late summer brownish proliferation's grow from the bottom-sides of the leaves which release spores that infest junipers again. While the pear trees in most cases are not fatally affected – they are newly infested each year again and they can even be treated successfully with a fungicide, an infested juniper normally cannot be cured. (You may want to refer to my previous blogpost on Cure and Prevention for Bonsai Tree diseases) The visibly infested branches die in most cases and the fungus can emerge on other tree parts. Removing the parts with the swellings and galls is no guarantee at all that the fungus will not reappear. Although some people have a different opinion, it is best to immediately burn up a rust-infested juniper or put it into the garbage instead of your compost heap. It is important though not to let the foliage pads get too dense, because otherwise pests can settle in them more easily. During winter the junipers must be kept in a place with enough light and they must be checked for pests regularly because pests can even occur in winter. Junipers can sometimes get infested with spider mites, juniper scale, juniper aphids and juniper needle miners as well as juniper.

juniper bonsai from the botanical garden in shanghai china on display

Interesting Books on Bonsai can be found here:

The Complete Book of Bonsai --> I've been into bonsai for 25 years and this is the basic Bible for beginner and intermediate bonsai enthusiasts. It has an excellent section on techniques, including pruning, wiring and whatnot, and it has a large species-specific tree guide. If you're into bonsai and want only one book, this is it.

Indoor Bonsai The Great Selection --> Creating beautiful, healthy bonsai is a wonderful skill that anyone can learn, with a little time, patience, and this all-inclusive manual. With color photos and drawings to illustrate the points, it introduces all the cultivation techniques; offers expert advice on location, soil types, watering, and pest control; and provides intricate instruction on training the bonsai--including pruning, wiring, and stretching it.

The Secret Techniques of Bonsai --> In The Secret Techniques of Bonsai, the author of the groundbreaking Bonsai With American Trees teams up with his son to offer not only the basics for creating perfect bonsai, but also secret techniques they’ve developed over years of careful work and observation.

Bonsai Survival Manual --> Problem solving when your Bonsai get sick. Expand your gardening repertoire as you create a captivating and exquisite miniature world. In this introductory guide, Colin Lewis covers everything you need to know to design, grow, and successfully maintain attractive bonsai.

Bonsai and the art of Penjing --> Bonsai & Penjing, Ambassadors of Beauty and Peace describes how Chinese penjing and North American bonsai were later added to the Museum, making its collection the most comprehensive in the world. Stories of individual trees and forest plantings are featured, as are the roles played by the skilled and talented creators of these living art forms people such as John Naka, Saburo Kato, Yuji Yoshimura, Harry Hirao, and Dr. Yee-Sun Wu.

Bonsai with Japanese Maples --> With their delicate foliage, seasonal color changes, and intricate pattern of branching, Japanese maples are among the most popular and suitable plants for bonsai design. In this long-awaited book, internationally renowned expert Peter Adams discusses both the specific horticultural needs of Japanese maples as bonsai subjects and illustrates proven techniques for creating and maintaining beautiful specimens.

The Modern Bonsai Practice --> The most current, useful information on growing Bonsai. Fresh, practical, definitive, comprehensive reference guide to the finest art of horticulture: growing miniature trees. Common sense bonsai answers separating myth from fact with depth and detail. Appropriate for both bonsai hobbyists and experienced practitioners.

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Korean Garden Landscaping and Design

Most of Korean gardens have one thing in common which is the balance of forces. The Korean garden approach is pretty philosophical and pragmatic at the same time. The design of the Korean Garden was influenced by three different pillars of thought: Buddhism, the teachings of Confucius and popular shamanic belief. The latter teaches us the balance of male and female forces in nature. Only together can the male figure ("Knight of the Sky") and the female figure ("Knight of the Earth") unfold their full power as a guardian spirit. You will find the pair at the entrance and at the exit of the village. The Korean Garden is authentic garden art in the Korean tradition. Special features of the garden are the abstract wooden figures and totem poles, which refer to the partly shamanic culture of Korea. Koreans appeal to them for protection and help.

The varied landscape is an authentic reflection of Korean nature. Surrounded by rocky landscapes, you’ll find the tree species typical of Korea: pine, bamboo, oak and Japanese maple. In addition, four courtyards with lavishly designed gates and masonry invite you to linger. Built on rocks, the central structure of the complex is "Kye Zeong" (pavilion on the water), and, as its name suggests, it is located directly on the water. In it you will find some typical Korean living rooms.

The crucial elements of a typical Korean garden

A typical Korean garden complex consists of three different sections: open spaces and courtyards, called “Ma-Dang”, a pavilion, and a landscape like Korea’s real natural rocky landscape with its typical Korean vegetation. Pine trees, bamboo, oaks, and Japanese maples are among the trees planted. Usually three to four-walled courtyards, each with differently designed gates, and a pavilion built on rocks at the water’s edge. Like for example the “Kye Zeong” (pavilion at the water’s edge) contains living spaces once typical in Korea.

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Zang Sung, Buk Su and Sot Da - Korean shamanism

The various wooden figures and totem poles are testimonies of Korea’s shamanic culture. Totem poles called "Zang Sung" and large wooden figures are used to address the wishes of the people; the smaller figures are to protect against natural disasters such as fire or flood and epidemics. They are called "Buk Su". Birds are given a special role in communication with the spirit world: The so-called "Sot Da" sit at the head of the shamanic spirit poles and are said to act as messengers, carrying the prayers of the people to the spirits in the upper worlds.

Dol hareubang garden statues

Dol hareubangs, also called tol harubangs, hareubangs, or harubangs, are large rock statues found on Jeju Island off the southern tip of South Korea. They are considered to be gods offering both protection and fertility and were placed outside of gates for protection against demons traveling between realities.

Description

Dol hareubangs are carved from porous basalt (volcanic rock) and can be up to three metres high. The statues' faces feature grinning expressions, bulging eyes without pupils, a long, broad nose, and slight smile, and their hands rest on their bellies, one slightly above the other. In sets of two, one has a higher left hand, and the other a higher right hand. The hat is commonly described as phallic or mushroom-like.

Etymology

The name dol hareubang derives from the Korean word for "stone" (dol 돌), plus the Jeju dialect word hareubang (하르방), meaning "grandfather" or "senior" (harabeoji [할아버지] in Standard Korean), and was coined in the mid-20th century. Other earlier names for the statues include beoksumeori, museongmok, and useongmok. Beoksumeori, meaning shaman head, is used in the former area of Jeongui Hyeon (county), museongmok in Daejeong Hyeon and Jeongui Hyeon, and useongmok only in Jeju Hyeon. Historically, the Tamna Chronicles called them ongjungseok (옹중석/翁仲石), but this usage is unknown today.

Hanok style interior with garden at the centre

An other interesting aspect beside Hanok village landscapes, gardens is KNF (Korean Natural Farming) which can be used for the benefit of any type of plants or tree.

Korean Organic Natural Farming explained

Korean natural farming is a self-sufficient farming system that involves the culturing of indigenous microorganisms (IMO) – bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and protozoa – in place of inorganic fertilizers to produce fertile soil. Soil plays a vital role in our ecosystem; without it, life for many multicellular organisms would cease to exist. In addition, food shortages are driven by soil degradation, as poor farming practices lead to loss of nutrients through erosion and leaching. To maximize crop yield, it is imperative that farmers maintain a healthy environment for plants to grow, as the quality of the soil can change the outcome of the harvest. The most common way to replenish the soil is by adding fertilizer to it. However, the maintenance of fertile soil does not come cheap. Fertilizers and other soil additives can be expensive, especially in Hawai‘i, due to the higher costs of shipping. Korean natural farming (KNF) has been proposed as an attractive alternative for farmers and gardeners who wish to become less dependent on external inputs.

The famous korean natural farming book Jadam shows you how to make natural pesticides that can replace chemical ones. He started organic farming and raised animals himself from 1991 in Asan, Chungnam province. He went on to establish "Jadam Organic Farming" and started to promote this farming system through books and website (www.jadam.kr). He established "Jadam Natural Pesticide Institute" in 2002 from where he continued his research while integrating knowledge from many experienced farmers which led to the completion of the system of ultra-low cost Jadam organic farming. He invented and developed many technologies for a natural pesticide which he voluntarily did not patent but rather shared through books and website. His "Natural Pesticide Workshops" teaches the essence of ultra-low-cost Jadam organic farming.

KNF is a sustainable farming system developed by Master Han Kyu Cho from Janong Natural Farming Institute in South Korea. It has been practiced for over 40 years throughout Asia. KNF is a self-sufficient system that involves culturing indigenous microorganisms (IMO) – fungi, bacteria, and protozoa – and reintroducing them into nutrient-depleted soil, thus enhancing soil microbial activity and fertility (Essoyan 2011). There is a symbiotic relationship that occurs between plants and beneficial IMOs; the microorganisms convert nutrients into a form that the plant is able to absorb. In turn, the plants provide food to these microorganisms. This type of closed-loop farming system maximizes the use of on-farm resources and recycles farm waste while at the same time minimizing external inputs.

Natural inputs used to make the IMO (Cho 2010) Very important graph explains the principles of IMO. Details and crucial steps can be found in the PDF document published by the university of Hawaii Manoa.

Interesting Books on Bonsai can be found here:

The World's most famous Bonsai

The art of planting trees in containers is called Bonsai and it comes from Japan. But it is more than an art; it demands your patience. Bonsai as an art form emerged solely to charm the viewers and to show the skill and expertise of the grower. When we are talking about this art form, let us take a look at the world’s most beautiful bonsai trees. The ranking of the world's most beautiful Bonsai trees has not changed for at least one decade. This valuable ranking tells us that their Bonsai carekeepers were truly unbeatable masters. Some of these Bonsai can be admired in various museums around the world. One of the most interesting museums is the Omiya bonsai art museum which offers hundreds of different master pieces on display.

The Bonsai universe is vast and almost endless, however countless and beautiful Bonsai masterpieces exist that are still unknown to us. Unknown does not mean that they would not fit into this ranking. Some of these beautiful Bonsai are easily over 100 years old and passed on from generation to generation by numerous Bonsai artists around the world. In fact, Bonsai passion has no borders, and a lot of Bonsai artists are exchanging knowledge through social media like Facebook and YouTube which is a good thing for Bonsai in general. Some of the beautiful Bonsais like the Shunka-en Bonsai are displayed at Museums in Japan. One of the most famous museums for Bonsai is the Omiya Museum (see my other blog post Omiya Bonsai village). Bonsai museums are not only in Japan, if you travel to Germany, Korea, Eastern Europe, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, and China, you will be impressed too. These marvelous Bonsai masterpieces are certainly not the only famous ones, there are countless Bonsai trees in other parts of the world that have not been mentioned in this blog.

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1. Shunka-en Bonsai, 800 years old and still steady!

Beautiful master piece of Shunkaen bonsai is displayed at Shunkaen Museum in Tokyo

2. The Yamaki Family 389 years old White Pine

The tree survived the Hiroshima Atomic bomb. Donated to Bonsai & Penjing Museum in Washington

3. Goshin ''Protector of the spirits'', by John Naka

A forest planting of eleven Foemina Junipers, the earliest of which Mr. Naka began training into Bonsai in 1948.

4. The famous Juniper Bonsai by Luis Vila

A unique Crescent Bowl which enhances the dramatic effect of the cascade composition.

5. Juniperus Chinensis by Mauro Stemberger

Mauro Stemberger was born in 1978 in Feltre, Italy and works as an architect and Bonsai artist.

6. Atlas Cedar by John Naka

Atlas Cedar with Shadows at the National Bonsai Museum in Washington DC.

7. Toichi Domoto Trident Bonsai

The large trident maple since 1979 is part of Domoto Collection in California.

8. Saburo Kato - The Forest Bonsai at Mansei-en

Professional Bonsai Set, Click here for Details

Latest Book on Penjing Bonsai

Todaiji Temple Poster Nara

The Japanese Garden Poster

Interesting Books on Bonsai can be found here:

How do you make a beautiful bonsai garden?

Garden Bonsai are potted trees that are very similar to, yet slightly different from Bonsai. The dramatically shaped trees stand out in any garden and are increasingly popular in both Japanese and Western garden designs. As a matter of fact, designing one is incredibly difficult, especially because you need to find a way to display your trees at eye-level, while keeping in mind the individual requirements of each of your trees. Some trees will need at least partial shade on the warmest days, while other trees prefer as much sun as they can get. Most professional Bonsai gardens have shade-cloth systems, with varying amounts of shadow provided, that can be used in summer.

Professional Bonsai gardens (think: Japanese Bonsai gardens) often display their most important trees centrally in the garden, placed on poles. Placing the trees at eye level makes them stand out and gives visitors the opportunity to gaze at the trees while strolling around. Placing the poles is relatively straightforward, so the only difficulty is in choosing materials. We've come across wooden pillars (old railroad ties or tree trunks), stone slabs, and concrete pillars. If you are interested in the Japanese marketplace, ZenPlus offers Japanese craftsmanship and represents unparalleled craftsmanship.

Let's take a look at some Bonsai gardens, the shaping and pole location make a decisive difference. The more angles the better the view:

This Bonsai backyard successfully creates depth in a rather limited space, by placing the pillars in the front a bit lower than those at the back. The simple color of the fence makes the trees stand out.

Well-proportioned, well-arranged benches can bring the art of bonsai to a whole new level.

It’s not just about learning how to display bonsai using benches but it’s about taking advantage of the unique character that benches can give to the display site. When constructed and positioned well, benches can further help to improve the healthy development of your miniature masterpieces – so skip the rush and choose wisely to make your bonsai thrive and flourish while bringing profound pleasure when gazed upon.

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The following steps generally apply to how to create a Bonsai dish garden:

Step 1: Research Bonsai Tree Species. ...

Step 2: Choosing a Bonsai for Your Climate. ...

Step 3: Choosing a Style. ...

Step 4: Considering Soil. ...

Step 5: Buying What You Need. ...

Step 6: Planting Your Bonsai in the Dish Garden. ...

Step 7: Pruning and Shaping Your Bonsai. ...

Step 8: Decorating and fencing e.g. Yakisuki

Using benches in your Bonsai garden

Building a bench to put your trees on is more difficult than it seems, especially when you want it to last longer than 1 - 2 years. In the fourth photo below you see a bench that you can create yourself. First, let's have a look at some examples.

Pros of Bonsai Benches

1 – Freedom

Opting for benches grants you tons of freedom when it comes to the arrangement of your bonsai masterpieces. The construction materials can also vary, so there’s freedom on that note, too.

2 – Affordability

Whether you go for DIY bonsai display benches or choose to opt for readily-available ones, you can find affordable options to otherwise costly alternatives.

3 – Ease of Maintenance

Just do your job of assembling and setting benches the right way, and maintenance can feel like a breeze based on your personal requirements and preferences.

Cons of Bonsai Benches

1 – Durability

If you want to make your bonsai benches last for more than a couple of years (1 – 2 years on average), then you need to act accordingly – do your proper research, choose the most suitable materials, and make sure you take into consideration the external factors that will affect the durability of the benches.

2 – Design Mistakes

It might be the case that you finish your bonsai benches arrangement just to notice that once displayed, the trees seem to lack the visual depth that adds to the much desired authentic looks.

Nonetheless, you might just notice that it’s difficult to reach all your bonsai trees with ease, resulting in tough times when it comes to maintenance.

Below, we will focus on helping you learn how to display bonsai using benches with a focus on avoiding the most common beginners’ mistakes on that note.

Timber

Reclaimed timber can work beautifully, and it is the most cost-effective option. Well-seasoned and not prone to wrapping, reclaimed timber also gets bonus points for its naturally aged appearance. However, you need to check for any traces of fungal and/or insect damage. Also, beware of nails when cutting reclaimed timber. New timber can help you achieve a smoother, more refined bonsai benches appearance. It’s best to opt for pressure-treated lumber.

Concrete block

Often underestimated, concrete blocks can work wonderfully for crafting bonsai display benches. For instance, the Bonsai Garden Oakland features a fantastic example of a concrete bench that is designed in a circle. Sturdy and possible to be further upgraded and beautified, you can also choose to take advantage of re-purposing concrete blocks obtained from a salvage yard as to enjoy their aged finish.

Build a Yakisugi Fence

Yakisugi (-ita) and Shou Sugi Ban both mean “Charred Cedar Board” in Japanese. The Japanese Kanji characters are the same but you can pronounce it either way. Since we have not decided on a preferred way of saying it I will use it interchangeably because you are bound to see it either way. As I have personally heard just “Yakisugi” used in Japanese more often I tend to use that term more. Although not traditionally used in Japanese gardens it makes for a great piece of modern garden art. Sometimes you see cool pieces of funky shaped driftwood being displayed among the flowers, now imagine that solid black. The black really highlights and complements a natural green color so it can work well as a display piece.

Interesting Books on Bonsai can be found here:

The Secret Techniques of Bonsai --> In The Secret Techniques of Bonsai, the author of the groundbreaking Bonsai With American Trees teams up with his son to offer not only the basics for creating perfect bonsai but also secret techniques they’ve developed over years of careful work and observation.

The little bonsai

Growing and Caring for Bonsai Trees

The Juniper Bonsai

Korean Garden Landscaping and Design

The World's most famous Bonsai

How do you make a beautiful bonsai garden?

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