Brown tips on Kishu

[Balbs]

Hi all!

Here’s a little Kishu I’ve had for a few years. This year at the start of spring the tips browned, I think from the tips back. I think it has stopped spreading which makes me think it had a little cold/frost damage. But I’m unsure and thought maybe I should check on here to see if people think it’s fungal or something else. What do you all think? It does have growing tips that have started to move a fair amount over the last two weeks or so.

 

[WNC Bonsai]

I had a similar outbreak on my J. procumbens this spring. I diagnosed it as juniper tip blight and cut the infected branch off and put it in the big trash can fast. I then laid on a treatment of Bonide Infuse granular fungicide. I think I caoght it 8n time as the rest of the tree looks healthy and is putting out new growth.

 

[Balbs]

Not sure I’d have much left if I did that.

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Well, I’d isolate it and treat just in case.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Sorry to see this.

Likely there won’t be much left if these affected areas arent removed as it sure looks like Juniper tip blight. Cut into the green below as @WNC Bonsai recommended. Kishu regrows pretty fast once it’s happy.

Even if the tree is sprayed with copper and/or mancozeb etc, these infected sections will need removal. When spraying a two week interval is usually used, alternating between two products is recommended. Please wear protective gear and check the online SDs for each product you use.

Better to bite the bullet now than lose the entire tree.

Good luck,
DSD sends

 

[Paradox]

Agree with @Deep Sea Diver
Had this on a few small juniper a few years ago. I carefully cut off the tips as described and they all did fine

 

[Balbs]

Thanks, all. I'll begin treatment. what's the easiest way to sterilize my sheers between the one million cuts?

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

We use a spray bottle with alcohol. Still use the 92% left over from the pandemic.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[Balbs]

Thank you

 

[Paradox]

Thanks, all. I'll begin treatment. what's the easiest way to sterilize my sheers between the one million cuts?

Rubbing alcohol and paper towel works too. Just wipe between cuts or use a small glass and dip in between

 

[Balbs]

Thanks all. Prune first and then spray? Or the other way around?

 

[Paradox]

Thanks all. Prune first and then spray? Or the other way around?

I would prune first ya

 

[bwaynef]

I had similar and asked about it elsewhere and it was suspected to be one of the tip blights. I believe it was @johng who told me I could do something or I could do nothing and it would likely result in the same thing: healthy growth in a few weeks. I opted for topical fungicide and pinching the dead tips off. (Pinching, brushing, plucking, removing. Don't get hungup on the "pinching".) A few weeks later it started putting out new growth.

 

[Balbs]

Thanks everyone. I pruned off as many brown tips as I could find. There’s still a good amount of green and lots of new growing tips. Then I treated with copper. Cross your fingers.