I think my tree is unhealthy, can you help me?

[startjuniper]

Hello, I got this little juniper for Christmas, and I had been begging for one, so it was a big surprise. I kept it healthy until recently, when I guess I loved it to death by taking it in and out of the house and it turned brownish at the top, though there is still growth at the lower part. I will tell you everything I know. I did water it every two to 3 days, or waited longer if the soil was still damp. I may have over watered it. I also took it in and out of the house to often. And a final thing is that the soil is not the best, and the tree might be getting root rot. Now the good sign it that I scratched off a tiny piece of bark at the trunk and it is still green. I also bent the branches and they are alive; they easily bend. Pictures are now in a post below.

 

[edprocoat]

Hello again ! I hope I said welcome to B-Nut in the last thread. I know you said you were in Virginia, that's a good start knowing your location. At the top right of the page are the words " My Profile " click on that and type in Virginia and that will allow others to see your location in all your posts. You will find that posting pictures of the tree you are asking about will get you more responses as people will be able to see what you are talking about. Is this tree in a bonsai pot? Was it bought with little stones glued to the surface of the soil? This would describe a mass produced juniper, or a "mallsai" as we lovingly call them. The rocks, if present, have to be removed. They will keep the water out. The soil may need replaced, junipers take a while to show when they are dying or stressed, since Christmas is just about the right amount of time for the tree to start browning. It also could be spider mites if only the top is browning. You can check for this by placing white paper under the affected branches and brushing them gently. Look at the paper and looks for small things scurrying about, if they are there you have mites and will need to kill them with an insecticide for plants.

ed

 

[startjuniper]

Well, no, it had no rocks glued in; in fact, it was quite plain in a little black pot. But I turned it into a miniature landscape with live moss and a little clay cottage. I will try to figure out how to post some photos if I can, and also, I will try the spider mites trick. But does that happen in winter. And if there are some, how can I fix it? Another question. How do I upload photos on this sight?

 

[Paradox]

What do you mean by "youve been taking it in and out of the house"?

Junipers are outdoor plants and must not be kept inside a house and definately not brought out to the cold then in to a warm house, out to the cold, etc etc. It will die if kept in the house.

Junipers are temperate shrubs and they need winter dormancy. If its been inside, this might be a bit tough with the current weather conditions.

However, they do need protection from drying winter winds. Do you have an unheated garage you might be able to put it into?

Your watering schedule seems fine if youre letting it dry out in beween as you say. I am not a fan of moss around the tree because moss need to be kept pretty moist to survive and having moss makes it harder to really tell what is going on with the soil moisture.

As Ed said, pictures would help.

Good luck

 

[CHUCHIN]

Junipers need to be kept outside at all times. Do you have a photograph that can be shared with the forum? Hang in there

 

[Bonsai Nut]

You're in good hands - we'll help you out. Photo can help - we'll tell you what kind of juniper you have, etc.

 

[startjuniper]

I tried to post a picture but my computer just froze, so I haven't been able to yet. I will try again. Oh, and I did reasearch that too about where to keep a Juniper and it had been outside for three weeks until it got windy so I put it in our garage on a window sill. The pictures came up! See how brown the leaves are? That really concerns me.

 

[Jaberwky17]

I don't think your tree is unhealthy I think it's totally dead.

 

[edprocoat]

Yea sadly that one's a goner ! There is a saying here that killings trees is the tuition you pay learning to keep Bonsai....

ed

 

[sean f]

That's been dead a long time

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Don't want to depress you, but your tree is mostly dead. In fact it is probably 100% dead but if you took it outside and dug it into the ground there is a SLIGHT chance part of it would recover.

Good news is that you killed your first tree We ALL have done it. And if you are like me, you've done it a lot. So what you need to do is get some more trees and start to try to keep them alive and as robust as possible. Once you can do that, you can trim them (and see if you kill them) and then you can move on to repotting (and see if you kill them). You want to develop these skills BEFORE you get an expensive tree.

Junipers are a good tree to start with, but I would go with shimpakus versus procumbens (your tree). Shimpakus are so much more rewarding to work with. See your other thread - there is a source on eBay selling 10 shimpaku cuttings for $30 shipped. Put those in one gallon pots with the right soil and in one year they'll double in size. People will think you are a bonsai master even if you don't touch them

 

[Paradox]

Unfortunately, considering the weather that the East coast has been having. Even planting it outside wont be any good for it right now. They are having a major snowstorm and bitter cold.

Im sorry, but I have to agree the tree is pretty much dead.
If its any consolation, many years ago, I killed my first juniper too.

If happens alot to people that are new to this hobby. Take it as a learning experience and try to study up about bonsai so that you will have better information in the future.

 

[startjuniper]

It's too bad, because I worked hard to keep it alive; I guess I just over loved it. And That guy may have sold it dead, I wasn't there to tell you. I'm not quite even sure where it came from!

 

[startjuniper]

Okay, I will tell my parents and maybe we can go shopping for one. If you know of a place where I could buy one on my post in trees under $30, I would be so grateful.

 

[stosh]

Don't want to depress you, but your tree is mostly dead. In fact it is probably 100% dead but if you took it outside and dug it into the ground there is a SLIGHT chance part of it would recover.

Good news is that you killed your first tree We ALL have done it. And if you are like me, you've done it a lot. So what you need to do is get some more trees and start to try to keep them alive and as robust as possible. Once you can do that, you can trim them (and see if you kill them) and then you can move on to repotting (and see if you kill them). You want to develop these skills BEFORE you get an expensive tree.

Junipers are a good tree to start with, but I would go with shimpakus versus procumbens (your tree). Shimpakus are so much more rewarding to work with. See your other thread - there is a source on eBay selling 10 shimpaku cuttings for $30 shipped. Put those in one gallon pots with the right soil and in one year they'll double in size. People will think you are a bonsai master even if you don't touch them

Hello all, I'm a new member of this forum, What soil is best for those shimpaku in a gallon pot? I just bought a 10 pack and they are going in pots right away.
Thank you

 

[DougB]

If you tell us where is VA you are located we will be able to advise on bonsai clubs as well as sources of pre-bonsai materials. And remember Lowes/Home Depot, etc. have been the source of many bonsai. Also if you are near DC remember that the National Arboretum has an exceptional bonsai exhibition.

 

[stosh]

I killed my first dwarf juniper.....actually 2 and possibly a 3rd. Now I bought 4 these healthy trees for $6 bucks during the winter. In April, I repotted all 4 of them. Few days ago I noticed foliage was faded green and brown, the branches literally snapped off with ease. The second one, not a single branch with foliage is soft and tender, just sharp with stiff needles. Now the third looks like its going to see the bright light like its buddies. It happened so fast.