Brown tips on kishu shimpaku

[goosetown]

I did notice the brown tips after a couple days of rain (and I had watered the previous afternoon). It's the only one of my junipers not in bonsai soil. I really hope it is just a watering issue. There could be fungal issues developing in such wet weather though, right? I'd rather be safe than sorry.

And here's that other pic that didn't get attached in my previous post.

Definitely better to be safe as opposed to sorry, no question. But if your trees are anything like mine, this looks like an overwatering situation to me. I would absolutely consult someone who can take a look at it in person (along with the one in the bottom right corner, which seems to be experiencing the same) and take their advice as far as spraying, but my guess is you'll eventually be slip-potting this one into soil that better manages its water intake.

As I mentioned previously, you might also check for spider mites. They've been a disaster for me in Los Angeles this year and I've heard that it's a nationwide problem.

 

[KennedyMarx]

I looked for mites but didn't see any. The little juniper next to it is one that got knocked out of its pot after it was repotted and it's been struggling since.

 

[goosetown]

I looked for mites but didn't see any. The little juniper next to it is one that got knocked out of its pot after it was repotted and it's been struggling since.

Good to hear re: the mites. Bummer about the little guy, but in my experiences shimps have a ton of chin and tend to hang around more often than not if you correct whatever's ailing them.

 

[october]

Looking at the new pic. I am about 90% sure it is fungal.

Rob

 

[goosetown]

Looking at the new pic. I am about 90% sure it is fungal.

Rob

Why so sure? Even if this were to be, say, gnat larva - which is technically fungal - that's not something that would necessitate spraying. In fact, spraying wouldn't even do anything. You just let the soil dry out enough to kill them. Just takes patience and a couple days.

Otherwise, what kind of fungus would it be that's merely causing tips to brown? Wouldn't there be other symptoms that are just as visually apparent?

 

[mcpesq817]

Interesting you posted this as one of my two kishus did this a few weeks ago as well. I think it had to do with the winter and/or the soil staying too wet, as it is now covered in new growth.

Fungal issues work pretty fast, so you'll know if that is what is going on.

 

[october]

Why so sure? Even if this were to be, say, gnat larva - which is technically fungal - that's not something that would necessitate spraying. In fact, spraying wouldn't even do anything. You just let the soil dry out enough to kill them. Just takes patience and a couple days.

Otherwise, what kind of fungus would it be that's merely causing tips to brown? Wouldn't there be other symptoms that are just as visually apparent?

Spraying the tree will not hurt anything. If it is fungal, not spraying the tree will kill it. It is better to be safe than sorry. As mentioned, if it is fungal. You'll know within a few weeks because the tree will be half dead.

Rob

 

[thumblessprimate1]

Love the advice and info on this thread. I bought a juniper, and I took it home even though it was sick. It was a good deal and the juniper had an interesting shape. It's recovering well since I stuck it in a larger pot with just pine mulch. I guess better drainage helped a lot. It's growing well but still has some browing and dieback at the tips. This thread seems to confirm that it has had fungus since then. I'm treating it now with Daconil now. Hopefully it'll make a full recovery this year.

 

[Dav4]

Another take home from this thread is to understand how important horticultural practice is in maintains healthy junipers. In my experience, junipers are exceptionally disease resistant when healthy. However, keep them in less then optimal conditions- inadequate sun, moisture retentive soil, improper overwintering (too little or too MUCH winter protection), etc., and the tree's health may suffer and set them up for contracting secondary infections and infestations. Keep the tree healthy and they hopefully won't contract anything, and they will recover faster if they do ( this does not apply to spider mites- little b$&sturds!).

 

[fore]

Another take home from this thread is to understand how important horticultural practice is in maintains healthy junipers. In my experience, junipers are exceptionally disease resistant when healthy. However, keep them in less then optimal conditions- inadequate sun, moisture retentive soil, improper overwintering (too little or too MUCH winter protection), etc., and the tree's health may suffer and set them up for contracting secondary infections and infestations. Keep the tree healthy and they hopefully won't contract anything, and they will recover faster if they do ( this does not apply to spider mites- little b$&sturds!).

I totally agree with this. The only junipers I've had effected by disease have been sub optimal. This yr, everyone is very vigorous and not a touch of disease. Knock on wood

 

[quietobserver]

Spraying the tree will not hurt anything. If it is fungal, not spraying the tree will kill it. It is better to be safe than sorry. As mentioned, if it is fungal. You'll know within a few weeks because the tree will be half dead.

Rob

I've had 2 or 3 respected nursery guys tell me this over the years, as long as you're following the label you can spray fungicides all you want and it won't hurt anything; you might be spending money needlesly on an abundance of chemicals but you won't hurt anything.

http://peterteabonsai.wordpress.com/2012/05/01/i-love-the-smell-of-pesticides-in-the-morning/

Here's a good read that makes the rounds regularly from Peter Tea. Malathion & Daconil on everything in the nursery just in case...

I'm not promoting or advocating anything, just passing on what I've read and heard redundantly.

 

[goosetown]

Spraying the tree will not hurt anything. If it is fungal, not spraying the tree will kill it. It is better to be safe than sorry. As mentioned, if it is fungal. You'll know within a few weeks because the tree will be half dead.

Rob

Fair enough.

 

[bonsaibp]

My experience with Shimpakus says its more than likely a watering issue. I'd bet the root tips are suffering and it is showing on the tips of the branches. Root rot is a fugal issue but copper won't help it. I use an 1/8 of a teaspoon of potassium promagenate (sp) in 3 gallons of water and drench the soil. It will oxidize any rotting roots and add oxygen to the soil. You can sometimes get it from a pharmacist - it used to be a popular athletes foot cure. I use this once a year on everything in a bonsai pot and have not had any root rot issues on a tree that has been treated since I started doing it on a regular basis.
Please note this is my experience this stuff is not sold or labeled as a cure for root rot use at your own risk.

 

[KennedyMarx]

I'm watching the watering on them, but I went ahead and sprayed Bonide fungicide on all of my junipers. Keep your fingers crossed. Thanks everyone.

 

[quietobserver]

FYI for anyone else curious...


http://www.amazon.com/Potassium-Per..._sim_sg_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=0BP4RPG1BEP986HN3RY6

I assume you use 1/8 tsp of solution created from the crystals? Says its used to age movie props as well lol, maybe it'll add 50 years to the trunk as a bonus. (One of the other offerings of same product states this)

 

[october]

I'm watching the watering on them, but I went ahead and sprayed Bonide fungicide on all of my junipers. Keep your fingers crossed. Thanks everyone.

Good, better safe than sorry. Keep us updated. You'll know within a few weeks. If the probelm is still there and getting worse, you might need to spray again. Sometimes it takes a few sprayings to wipe it out. Sometimes, alternating fungicides. Sometimes, the fungus still persists. It nearly destroyed 2 of my junipers. They looked terrible. Both did survived. I am put back a year or 2 style wise though.

Rob

 

[fore]

Good, better safe than sorry. Keep us updated. You'll know within a few weeks. If the probelm is still there and getting worse, you might need to spray again. Sometimes it takes a few sprayings to wipe it out. Sometimes, alternating fungicides. Sometimes, the fungus still persists. It nearly destroyed 2 of my junipers. They looked terrible. Both did survived. I am put back a year or 2 style wise though.

Rob

Lets hope Rob we have a better yr

 

[october]

Lets hope Rob we have a better yr

I don't want to speak to soon, but things are doing well. However, mites are the new problem. Already lost a small section on juniper that I just started training. I did a pre pesticide spraying about 3-4 weeks ago. I was going to do another one in the next week. However, with damage already accuring, I sprayed all the junipers today. I am going to continue with my plan of spraying once a month regardless if there are pests or not.

Rob

 

[Dav4]

I don't want to speak to soon, but things are doing well. However, mites are the new problem. Already lost a small section on juniper that I just started training. I did a pre pesticide spraying about 3-4 weeks ago. I was going to do another one in the next week. However, with damage already accuring, I sprayed all the junipers today. I am going to continue with my plan of spraying once a month regardless if there are pests or not.

Rob

If you actually have mites (and not just dealing with their damage from last year), you've got to spray more frequently, assuming you're using a miticide and not a horticultural oil. Spraying every 5 days for a total of three treatments will kill the mites along with their progeny which will be hatching from eggs within 7-10 days of the first spraying.

 

[larlamonde]

What do you with those brown tips? Pull them off, cut them or leave alone? I have the same problem on one of mine.