Hinoki cypress? Any suggestions to help this tree

[Hghhhhhhh]

My friend has given me his serissa bonsai in the past in a weak condition but I have been helping it from suggestions and help from people, it seems like hes just giving me his bonsai trees when they are weak or dying like this tree here, I dont know what species it is but he said its a hinoki cypress. He informed me he has repotted it, pruned the tree and pruned the roots when he repotted. In my knowledge doing all this can shock the tree or something, is that what has happened here? Or is it another problem. The edges of the pads are turning brown and crunchy to the touch and it looks really weak or dying as seen in the pictures any suggestions would help thank you.

 

[The Barber]

I would guess it was underwatered at some point or possibly overwatered which caused the dry tips, which in most species of trees show similar symptoms. Also the fact he pruned when he repotted is never a good idea at the same time and if it was recent is also a possible reason it is struggling. Hinoki like the soil to stay moist and don't tolerate dry soil as well as a species like juniper. Generally this time of year hinoki abandon some inner foliage but that is not the issue with this tree.

Keep it watered and in the spring I would move it to a more suitable soil if the soil it is in isn't good or even the ground and let it get healthy and thicken up for several years or so.

 

[Joelshack2362]

Is your tree outside?

 

[Hghhhhhhh]

Is your tree outside?

Yes it is

 

[Hghhhhhhh]

I would guess it was underwatered at some point or possibly overwatered which caused the dry tips, which in most species of trees show similar symptoms. Also the fact he pruned when he repotted is never a good idea at the same time and if it was recent is also a possible reason it is struggling. Hinoki like the soil to stay moist and don't tolerate dry soil as well as a species like juniper. Generally this time of year hinoki abandon some inner foliage but that is not the issue with this tree.

Keep it watered and in the spring I would move it to a more suitable soil if the soil it is in isn't good or even the ground and let it get healthy and thicken up for several years or so.

He told me he repotted and pruned recently, and he just didn’t like it how it wasn’t doing good so he handed it over to me. Should i just leave it as is and just water? Or should i be doing other things to improve its health

 

[brentwood]

I don't think that's a hinoki - looks more like a juniper, maybe a kishu that's thrown juvenile foliage from stress. At this point, water it when it is dry, maybe give limited sun -what season are you in?

Brent

 

[minkes]

Maybe cypress but not hinoki cypress. Anyway they don’t like harsh sun, so keep it semi-shade. It is probably sun burned - I experienced it too on my cypress trees (Chamaecyparis).

 

[NeedlesAndLeaves]

I agree with the above. To much water or not enough, symptoms are alike.
And those actions taken could have stressed the tree.
I don’t know what soil the tree is in, but the gravel on top makes it harder to see when the tree needs water or not.

This is not a hinoki cypress for sure.

 

[Hghhhhhhh]

I don't think that's a hinoki - looks more like a juniper, maybe a kishu that's thrown juvenile foliage from stress. At this point, water it when it is dry, maybe give limited sun -what season are you in?

Brent

Summer right now

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

You are correct, it isn’t doing well at all. It seems at the very least it resented the repotting and root pruning.

My other impression was also the media looks like aquarium gravel mixed in…. But maybe that’s just a surface layer? If so, please pull the layer off, the solar reflection isn’t doing the tree any good at this point, merely reflecting the sun back up at the tree. Backfill if needed with a bonsai media with some bark component.

Concur with @brentwood et al. First would put tree in a place that gets morning sun only, afternoon shade for the rest of year. would hold off on fertilization… More shade if the temperatures get above 32C

Second would like to know what is in the media?

Finally, approximately where in NSW are you? Near the coast like Sydney or west towards the interior. In any event @Shibui is incredibly knowledgeable of bonsai horticulture in Australia and it would be wise to PM him

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[Shibui]

I don't think that's a hinoki - looks more like a juniper

My thoughts too but there's not enough unmolested foliage left to make a call on what it might be IMHO. If it survives we can try to make ID when there's some new growth.

Should i just leave it as is and just water? Or should i be doing other things to improve its health

This tree has already had more than enough stress for one year. Definitely leave it be. Keep the soil as evenly damp as possible. Don't let it dry out but also not soaking wet all the time. As it is not growing well now the tree will be using less water than normal so you'll have to check soil moisture daily to determine whether to water or not. A wood chopstick or skewer makes a reliable soil moisture probe. Leave if pushed into the soil and pull out each day to gauge how wet the soil is.
Part shade might help but conifers will not survive long in full shade. Morning sun, afternoon shade would be the best if you can manage that.

He told me he repotted and pruned recently, and he just didn’t like it how it wasn’t doing good so he handed it over to me.

Seems to be a common story with this 'friend'. Happy they you are receiving some free bonsai but I would not rely much on any bonsai advice from this friend.

 

[stubmle]

Foliage looks like some variant of Sawara cypress, Chamaecyparis pisifera, but I agree it's hard to tell in its current state.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Seems to be a common story with this 'friend'. Happy they you are receiving some free bonsai but I would not rely much on any bonsai advice from this friend.

If you listen to the advice here, in a few years you can show your friend all the trees you nursed back to health he initially fucked up amd make him wonder wtf he's doing wrong. LOL.

 

[Hghhhhhhh]

My thoughts too but there's not enough unmolested foliage left to make a call on what it might be IMHO. If it survives we can try to make ID when there's some new growth.


This tree has already had more than enough stress for one year. Definitely leave it be. Keep the soil as evenly damp as possible. Don't let it dry out but also not soaking wet all the time. As it is not growing well now the tree will be using less water than normal so you'll have to check soil moisture daily to determine whether to water or not. A wood chopstick or skewer makes a reliable soil moisture probe. Leave if pushed into the soil and pull out each day to gauge how wet the soil is.
Part shade might help but conifers will not survive long in full shade. Morning sun, afternoon shade would be the best if you can manage that.


Seems to be a common story with this 'friend'. Happy they you are receiving some free bonsai but I would not rely much on any bonsai advice from this friend.

I don't think its doing too good, the pictures i sent looking better than what it actually is heres some more pictures. I know its too early to judge but i think maybe its too late for this tree? Or do you think it can recover

 

[Hghhhhhhh]

I don't think its doing too good, the pictures i sent looking better than what it actually is heres some more pictures. I know its too early to judge but i think maybe its too late for this tree? Or do you think it can recover

The foliage is turning a greyish colour and falling off

 

[Shibui]

I suspect you are correct but, on the bright side you'll have an empty pot to put another live tree in.