Plant Care

Important: Juniper Procumbens Nana is not an indoor houseplant. Although it is often sold indoors in garden centers, it needs outdoor sunlight, airflow, and seasonal temperature changes to remain healthy long term.

Light Requirements: Full sun is essential. Provide at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. Junipers need strong natural light to maintain healthy, dense foliage and should be grown outdoors rather than as permanent indoor plants.

Water Requirements: Water thoroughly when the top 1-2 inches of soil begins to dry. Allow excess water to drain completely before watering again. Junipers tolerate some dryness but do not tolerate consistently wet or soggy soil, which can lead to root problems.

Fertilizer: Feed during spring and summer with a balanced bonsai or slow-release fertilizer. Follow the fertilizer's dilution and application instructions. Reduce feeding during fall and winter.

Soil: Use a fast-draining, gritty bonsai soil mix. A mix containing pumice, lava rock, akadama, or coarse perlite works well. Avoid heavy soil that stays wet around the roots.

Temperature: Prefers outdoor temperatures and seasonal changes. It is cold hardy in approximately USDA Zones 4-9. Container-grown plants may need additional protection from extreme winter temperatures because their roots are more exposed than those planted in the ground.

Humidity: Average outdoor humidity is generally sufficient. Good airflow around the plant is important, particularly during warm or humid weather.

Pet Safety: Use caution around pets. Junipers are not generally considered highly toxic, but ingestion of plant material can cause stomach upset. The sharp foliage may also irritate the skin when handled.

Growth Habit: Slow-growing, low and spreading, with dense blue-green needle-like foliage. The foliage may develop a slight purplish tint during winter. It is commonly grown as a bonsai and can be trained into attractive cascading or spreading forms.