Juniper bonsai browning normal?

[Yevi]

Hi all, I just got my first juniper bonsai in mid-June, and though it seems to be doing well, I have a few questions...

First of all, how often should I water it? I was doing maybe every 2-3 days, but some fungi began growing on the soil so I cut back.

Also, since the beginning (even when I watered every 2-3 days) I've noticed that the lower parts of green branches tend to have brown needles. is this normal?



lastly, as you can (hopefully) see in the picture, some of the needles have a white dust-like substance on them. I'm sort of able to wash/rub it off, but does anybody know what it might be?

Thanks for your patience with a newbie!

- Madeline
Santa Cruz, CA

 

[jkd2572]

I will tell you the brown needles are normal. This is interior old foliage. It does die.

 

[bennybenben]

yes

Yes this is normal because the foliages don't get enough sun light so foliages are no use to the tree so the foliage dies.