TimIAm
Yamadori
I notice there are already a few threads where dieback in cotoneaster has been mentioned e.g.
In my case, I don't think this is an issue with watering or disease. My suggestion is that it may be a characteristic of the species. This is just a 1 person opinion, the purpose of asking is I want to see if anyone else had any thought or opinions.
Fire blight has been suggested in other threads. However, fire blight is not present in Australia.
This tree, I lost about 40% of at the beginning of Spring, during the time where first flush happens:
It previously had a whole left side.
This tree (below), is just starting to dieback in several places, we are just about to head into Fall. The trees in my yard are just starting their second major round of growth which happens once the last of the summer hot days happen. You can see from the picture there is plenty of new growth amongst the dying branches. However, the branches where the dieback is happening, the recent new growth is also going limp.
The sob story... I've been working on this tree for 3 years from seedling, I'm happy with how it's progressing and was really looking forward to Fall months where I can enjoy looking at the red berries.
Because of this, I personally would avoid growing cotoneaster as bonsai in the future. I have hundreds of trees here that I don't have problems with, other than the regular bonsai battles, but I rarely have trees just drop a branch randomly.
In my case, I don't think this is an issue with watering or disease. My suggestion is that it may be a characteristic of the species. This is just a 1 person opinion, the purpose of asking is I want to see if anyone else had any thought or opinions.
Fire blight has been suggested in other threads. However, fire blight is not present in Australia.
This tree, I lost about 40% of at the beginning of Spring, during the time where first flush happens:
It previously had a whole left side.
This tree (below), is just starting to dieback in several places, we are just about to head into Fall. The trees in my yard are just starting their second major round of growth which happens once the last of the summer hot days happen. You can see from the picture there is plenty of new growth amongst the dying branches. However, the branches where the dieback is happening, the recent new growth is also going limp.
The sob story... I've been working on this tree for 3 years from seedling, I'm happy with how it's progressing and was really looking forward to Fall months where I can enjoy looking at the red berries.
Because of this, I personally would avoid growing cotoneaster as bonsai in the future. I have hundreds of trees here that I don't have problems with, other than the regular bonsai battles, but I rarely have trees just drop a branch randomly.
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