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Grow Your Own Juniper Bonsai

Ever wanted your own tiny tree? Juniper bonsai trees are super cool, easy to grow, and look like they came out of a fantasy world. They make fantastic bonsais. The best part? You can grow one from a cutting. Here’s how to do it!

 

Grow a Baby Juniper from a Cutting

No need to buy a big tree — you can start small and grow your own!

  1. Snip-Snip 
    In late summer or early fall, cut a 4–6 inch piece from a healthy juniper branch (not too soft, not too woody — just right).

  2. Make It Root

    • Strip the needles off the bottom 2 inches.

    • Dip the end in rooting hormone (this helps it grow roots faster).

    • Plant it in a pot with sandy soil that drains well. Look for a pot with great water drainage.  

  3. Wait for the Magic 
    Place the pot in a warm, shady spot and keep the soil slightly moist. In about 1–2 months, roots should start growing!

  4. Allow it a few months to get established in the soil and develop new leaves and branches before starting to train and trim. 

Train It Like a Bonsai Master

Now the fun begins — shaping your mini tree into a bonsai masterpiece!

  1. Pick a style
    Want it upright like a proud old oak? Twisting like it’s growing in a mountain storm? Go wild! (Well, thoughtfully wild.)

  2. Trim It Up 
    Start pruning off extra branches to give it shape. Be gentle — bonsai is a slow art.

  3. Wiggle & wire
    Carefully wrap wire around branches and bend them into cool shapes. Don't go too tight — you’re training, not choking!

  4. Transfer it to a fun Japanese style bonsai pot
    Transfer your tree to a shallow bonsai pot with fast-draining soil. Congrats, it’s officially a bonsai-in-progress!

Keep It Happy

  • Sunshine: Junipers love sunlight. Put it outside if you can!

  • Watering: Let the soil mostly dry before watering again. No soggy roots!

  • Feeding: A little bonsai fertilizer once a month in spring and summer will keep it strong.

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