Hi, I received a Juniper bonsai a few months ago. I left it inside and now it's turning pale green and brown. I think that it is dying. What should I do?

Thanks, Andrew.

This is a problem many beginners have - when they purchase a new bonsai (namely a Juniper) and don't realise that the plant is not a house plant and cannot be kept indoors for prolonged periods of time. If you have a Juniper bonsai and are keeping it indoors, then there lies your problem. Unlike the Serissa or Ficus, Junipers are not indoor plants. They are outdoor plants which require an annual period of dormancy (winter). Without a cold dormancy period in winter, a juniper will die or become very sick as it is unable to rejuvenate.

Junipers wont do well in a household environment. All bonsai, with a few exceptions such as the Ficus, Serissa, Bougainvillea, Succulents, or Fukien Tea (tropical plants, which have practically the same climatic conditions year-round) need to be kept outside. You should only bring them in during severe cold in the winter or to display them for a few days.

Junipers can also be made unhealthy due to overwatering. Don't water excessively as they like to dry out slightly between waterings. (Misting is okay however.) Other affecting factors could be pests, lighting, temperature or fertilizing.

If you live in an apartment and have no choice other than to keep your Juniper inside, it can be done, but you must be very careful and keep a constant, watchful eye. If you are the kind of person who are going to forget about your plants for weeks or even days at a time, you wont succeed in keeping a Juniper indoors. Make sure the Juniper bonsai receives good light, is not exposed to drafts, heaters or radiation and is watered properly. If the plant receives a semi-dormant period, it (hopefully) should stay healthy.

A description and care guidelines for the Juniper can be found Here.

Good Luck!
Dan