So the greenhouse here at work has received some fairly major renovations. A polycarbonate frame was built around the old frame and the old one was removed. With the move a lot of old benches and whatnot were torn out also. During the course of this some odd plants were found in out of the way or buried places. Probably the oddest one found is a fairly large (3-3 1/2 in" diameter) juniper. It was not growing in a cool section, it was actually near one of the steam release valves. It was also completely obscured from the sun by some out of control wandering jew and spider plant. I asked the person who runs the greenhouse how long the juniper had been there and he wasn't sure but he thought about 10 years.
Needless to say I was a bit flabbergasted. This juniper had been living without a dormant period for 10 years and very little sun for at least the last 3 years.
Anywho... the bench the juniper had been on was one of the ones that was torn out. I found the tree in a pile the day after the bench was removed. It had quite a lot of other greenery piled on it which I hope kept enough moisture close to the roots for it to hang on. It had been growing in pure sand so after I cut roots that absolutely had to go I potted it up into a large nursery can with an almost pure sand mix with a little oil-dri mixed in.
I believe the horticultural term for this tree's chances of survival is "screwed". However since it's already survived where it had not business doing so for the last ten years it was worth a shot. I have pics taken, just have to figure out how to get them from the camera to here, hopefully later tonight.
Two questions about what I should do.
1. Would it be best to add some chopped sphagnum moss and pack it in near the rootbase to encourage feeder roots?
2. Lots of differing opinions by very knowledgeable people over whether or not foliage should be reduced to match roots lost. What are your experiences with such?
Thanks much for any input.
Needless to say I was a bit flabbergasted. This juniper had been living without a dormant period for 10 years and very little sun for at least the last 3 years.
Anywho... the bench the juniper had been on was one of the ones that was torn out. I found the tree in a pile the day after the bench was removed. It had quite a lot of other greenery piled on it which I hope kept enough moisture close to the roots for it to hang on. It had been growing in pure sand so after I cut roots that absolutely had to go I potted it up into a large nursery can with an almost pure sand mix with a little oil-dri mixed in.
I believe the horticultural term for this tree's chances of survival is "screwed". However since it's already survived where it had not business doing so for the last ten years it was worth a shot. I have pics taken, just have to figure out how to get them from the camera to here, hopefully later tonight.
Two questions about what I should do.
1. Would it be best to add some chopped sphagnum moss and pack it in near the rootbase to encourage feeder roots?
2. Lots of differing opinions by very knowledgeable people over whether or not foliage should be reduced to match roots lost. What are your experiences with such?
Thanks much for any input.