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Juniper BonsaiJuniper bonsai is perhaps the most recognized species used to create these “little trees”. Although used for many years by hobbyists; it was made popular with the general public through a movie. Junipers quickly became known as "The Karate Kid" bonsai.
Pines have been venerated for hundreds of years in the Orient. As a young plant in the ground, Glenn Hilton and the late Joe Samuels wrapped the trunk of this juniper around a steel rod. As the trunk aged, curves developed.
Photo by Bob Hulnick 
The bonsai shown above is a good example of a larger bonsai. The plant shown here was begun from nursery stock by David Baruch, an experienced Florida stylist. The temporary wire tie-downs assist positioning of the branches. The jins (dead wood) were purposely created to give a natural appearance of age. And they do! This bonsai is proof they don't have to be big to be beautiful. (Height under 12 inches.)
Photo by Bob Yahrling. A Special TechniqueThe Japanese word tanuki is used to describe what many refer to as phoenix graft.“Regardless of their name, the process in their creation is basically the same. A large and interesting piece of dead wood is used as the centerpiece in the planting. A die grinder or dremel tool is fitted with a router bit and used to inscribe a groove in the deadwood and then a young leggy plant (most often a juniper) is nailed, screwed or otherwise affixed in the groove.” - Randy Clark - Charlotte, North Carolina On his site, Randy has an excellent how-to section (including photos) on putting together a "tanuki" ... step by step.
Mike Sullivan, a South Florida bonsai artist, created this tanuki from a small juniper and a piece of dead buttonwood (not his). Juniper Bonsai CareIf you have plants, you will have pests. One of the most insidious is red spider mites ... and they love junipers.The first clue to mites is usually a grayish cast to the needles. Another clue is the dense cobwebs. Since mites are almost invisible to the naked eye, a simple way to check is with a white piece of paper. Place the paper under a branch, tap the branch and look closely. If you see something red and tiny crawling around on the paper, your juniper bonsai has a problem. There are many pesticides to use – organic and chemical. Treat the problem immediately! The Christmas Tree AnalogyPine trees are conifers. After they have been cut down for use as Christmas trees, they remain green for weeks. Junipers are conifers. When you purchase a juniper bonsai, it's possible for it to be dead or dying and still be green. Grayish green needles ... needles that fall when touched ... bone dry soil ... and wobbly in container. Generally speaking junipers prefer to dry out somewhat between waterings (NOT bone dry). They love the sun and do not need root pruning every year. More specific care instructions for any bonsai depend upon where you live. Be sure to get explicit care instructions. There are many reasons a plant dies. Some causes could have happened before you acquired it. Drying out, not enough light and too much root pruning are just a few of the possibilities. If your first try at juniper bonsai doesn’t work out, it may not be your fault. Don’t give up! More on JunipersDon't miss the ongoing efforts of one bonsai artist to perfect a wonderful bonsai, on " a Juniper Styling from the Beginning" page!Click here to show off your juniper bonsai and tell us the story!
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