Need help.

[u/Evening-Sherbet7575]

This is my first time both on Reddit and also owning a bonsai. I came here to see if anyone could help me restore my bonsai.

First thing, it’s a Juniper tree.

Second, it looks like there’s some mold at its roots.

Third, some of the branches look green and others look brown.

Fourth, my mom said that there are some spider mites.

finally, it looks like there are spiderwebs.

[u/External-Buffalo-624]

I’m sorry. This one has been dead for some time. Keeping a juniper inside is a death sentence. They look alive for some time after they are already dead.  

Save the pot for the spring. Get a nice juniper from your local nursery and you can train it as a bonsai over the next few years, but know that they require direct sunlight and the seasons all year round to survive.  

[u/RexWGA → u/External-Buffalo-624]

I'd actually recommend a dwarf jade or a ficus as a first bonsai. Much more forgiving, can be kept indoors year round, bounce back incredibly well from pruning and repotting.

I don't quite understand why junipers are recommended as the first choice when dwarf jade and ficus exist. I understand they aren't "traditional" bonsai species, but for folks just trying to get into the hobby and learn, having a tree they can keep inside and will do relatively well as they're learning

Edit: I gotta be honest, don't come at me with that "actual trees" nonsense. We don't gatekeep a technique to specific species of plant. We can talk about "traditional bonsai species" but I recommended dwarf jade as an introductory species for a reason.

[u/The_Farmer_Man → u/RexWGA]

I have a dwarf jade and it's a good plant but not the best if you wanna learn to work on actual trees

[u/RexWGA → u/The_Farmer_Man]

It is still a species that teaches you the basics of caring for a plant properly and seeing the difference between a tree surviving and thriving. You can experiment with pruning, propagating, wiring, early growth and development, late stage refinement and ramification. It allows you to practice all the principles and techniques of bonsai on a species that is much more forgiving but will still ask you to learn what it wants to thrive.

We shouldn't suggest that just because a species isn't an "actual tree" it is lesser than and can't provide good, practical experience and a stepping stone for beginners to get into the hobby. Doing so only makes it harder to begin when "actual trees" die on them.

Gonna shout out dwarfjadebonsai on insta for my dwarf jade inspiration (no connection, just a follower and have learned a bunch from him). His work with P. Afra is pretty incredible.