Kishu literati juniper weird color difference.

[Clicio]

Hi folks.
I've been keeping that little literati juniper for some years now.
We are in the middle of our long Spring here - 4 months - and since late winter I've been noticing this color difference between its apex and the lower foliage.
It doesn't happen to my other Kishu, itoigawa or shimpaku.
It is not mites, for sure.

Any clues?


Should I be worried about it?

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Check for spider mites?

 

[SeanS]

I notice a guy wire on the branch holding the discoloured foliage. When was it applied and is all of the discoloured foliage on that branch/section of trunk?

 

[Clicio]

Check for spider mites?

Thanks @Brian Van Fleet , that was my first guess also.
I have been checking the tree for mites periodically, but perhaps they are there, lurking in the dark. So yes, I will check it again today.

 

[Clicio]

I notice a guy wire on the branch holding the discoloured foliage. When was it applied and is all of the discoloured foliage on that branch/section of trunk?

Thanks @SeanS , but no, it's a recent guy wire, applied last week. This tree was free from wires for months, so we can discard that possibility.

 

[TrevorLarsen]

Well the good news is if that part dies you will have more jihns, and it will add to the literati style.

 

[shimbrypaku]

I have a few shimpakus that this has happen to, in my case it’s lack of sunlight, the foliage was no receiving enough light.

Thanks

 

[Clicio]

I have a few shimpakus that this has happen to, in my case it’s lack of sunlight, the foliage was no receiving enough light.

Thanks

Well, that's a possibility, thanks!

 

[shimbrypaku]

In my case it was do to having the plant too close together on the bench.

Thanks

 

[ShimpakuBonsai]

How can the top of a tree not get enough sunlight if the part below it doesn't show any signs of lack of light?
I don't think that's the reason for the difference in color.

 

[shimbrypaku]

Easy, you haven’t seen my bench, a larger tee next to it.

Thanks

 

[shimbrypaku]

How can the top of a tree not get enough sunlight if the part below it doesn't show any signs of lack of light?
I don't think that's the reason for the difference in color.

And as I stated, this was in my case, on my bench, I didn’t state this was the reason for the OP issue.

Thanks

 

[Mike Corazzi]

Hi folks.
I've been keeping that little literati juniper for some years now.
We are in the middle of our long Spring here - 4 months - and since late winter I've been noticing this color difference between its apex and the lower foliage.
It doesn't happen to my other Kishu, itoigawa or shimpaku.
It is not mites, for sure.

Any clues?


Should I be worried about it?

Mine had same color look.

Pale top. ??

How's this look? The upper foliage looks paler than usual. I...THINK.... it gets enough water. Maybe needs more? Inset is whole tree a couple months ago. Same location. 🤔

www.bonsainut.com

It WAS mites.
White paper showed them.
Seems way better now. and is even greening up some.

 

[Clicio]

Mine had same color look.

Pale top. ??

How's this look? The upper foliage looks paler than usual. I...THINK.... it gets enough water. Maybe needs more? Inset is whole tree a couple months ago. Same location. 🤔

www.bonsainut.com

It WAS mites.
White paper showed them.
Seems way better now. and is even greening up some.

Thanks, @Mike Corazzi
I've drenched it with a miticide today, and will repeat it again next week.
I'll post the results here.

 

[trigo]

Check for borers too, if some got on the live vein to the apex, i think it would show this type of discoloration. Wouldn't mites affect the tree as a whole?

 

[Clicio]

Check for borers too, if some got on the live vein to the apex, i think it would show this type of discoloration. Wouldn't mites affect the tree as a whole?

Thanks, you are the second person to mention borers.
I will definitely check for them too.

 

[Tentakelaertje]

Had that as well after mishandling mine, it was the top too with the lower branch remaining lush. Within a couple of days the shade of green was noticably off and the juicyness was not there anymore. With another week/ten days the colour difference was about the same as in your picture. Then it just detoriated further until the entire portion was dead. Stressed and twisted it too much on wood that was too old to make such moves.
Is it possible that you ripped/tore something while applying that guy wire? The timeline isn't far off compared to mine. I hope it's not the same of course but you might wanna start looking at alternative designs

 

[leatherback]

foliage like that.. looks very much like dying off.

was it repotted? has it fallen?

 

[Clicio]

foliage like that.. looks very much like dying off.

was it repotted? has it fallen?

Thanks Jelle.
No, it wasn't repotted, it's been sitting in that pot for 2 years.
No, it hasn't fallen - unless it has happened when I wasn't around and nobody has told me. It is possible.
@Tentakelaertje thanks, but when the guy wire was applied the top color was already off.
Many possibilities, and I'll check all of them.

 

[River's Edge]

Hi folks.
I've been keeping that little literati juniper for some years now.
We are in the middle of our long Spring here - 4 months - and since late winter I've been noticing this color difference between its apex and the lower foliage.
It doesn't happen to my other Kishu, itoigawa or shimpaku.
It is not mites, for sure.

Any clues?
View attachment 515460

Should I be worried about it?
View attachment 515461

Growth pattern and colour variation seems weak. Would allow tree to dry out a bit more before watering again and increase fertilizer a bit. Noticing a lot of foliage with no side shoots. I would also thin out all the weaker foliage in the top section and then treat for mites.
The weaker foliage up top could be a root issue with the shin. The tree is planted higher in the pot and the core can become a problem in situations like this.
I would pull the tree out of the pot and check the root condition.