Kishu literati juniper weird color difference.

[Clicio]

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.

Thanks, Frank.
I will do it.
In fact I was planning a repot for next year, as I guess the pot is a bit small for this juniper. And yes, I wonder how compact and airless the core is right now.
Treatment for mites and bores were already done, with due second dose in 10 days.
Thanks for your suggestions.

 

[River's Edge]

Thanks, Frank.
I will do it.
In fact I was planning a repot for next year, as I guess the pot is a bit small for this juniper. And yes, I wonder how compact and airless the core is right now.
Treatment for mites and bores were already done, with due second dose in 10 days.
Thanks for your suggestions.

Yes, given the stage of development and design I would be keeping the tree in a larger container to promote vigour and speed foliage growth and pad development.

 

[Clicio]

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

was it repotted? has it fallen?

Well, as some of you have guessed, the apex was definitely lost.
Now I have this ridiculous tree that looks like a life saver buoy on a stick.
Yes, I will find a way to style it back to something that will remotely look like a bonsai, but...
After repotting - up potting - and jinning it, I guess I will wait for the Autumn.


Thanks all for your suggestions.

 

[leatherback]

sorry to see. I think letting it grow wild and bishy for the season will give you plenty to work with

 

[Clicio]

sorry to see.

Well, I have found out that the loss of the upper part of the tree was entirely my fault.
There was a wire holding up the apex, that became embedded into the bark.
Some weeks ago I decided to take it off, and now I see that by unwiring it, a gap in the live vein was created, interrupting the sap flow.
So, I have learned the hard way.
Thanks all for your suggestions.

 

[Hartinez]

Well, as some of you have guessed, the apex was definitely lost.
Now I have this ridiculous tree that looks like a life saver buoy on a stick.
Yes, I will find a way to style it back to something that will remotely look like a bonsai, but...
After repotting - up potting - and jinning it, I guess I will wait for the Autumn.


Thanks all for your suggestions.

View attachment 518168

Clicio. While def a bummer, I think what you e got here is an excellent oppurtunity. You just may find that when you restyle this tree that its character only improves from the loss of that Apex. You’ll have this great story and a ten Jin than can tell it.

 

[BrightsideB]

Well, I have found out that the loss of the upper part of the tree was entirely my fault.
There was a wire holding up the apex, that became embedded into the bark.
Some weeks ago I decided to take it off, and now I see that by unwiring it, a gap in the live vein was created, interrupting the sap flow.
So, I have learned the hard way.
Thanks all for your suggestions.

That happened to me this spring with a spruce. Sometimes got to learn the hard way. It only took a couple days for me to see the trunk was dying off. Luckily I have the base with a couple branches left.

Good luck with your juniper. Like others said I think you still have a great tree there to work with.

 

[Maiden69]

@Clicio I completely agree with @Hartinez , I'm still pretty new at this, but I think that what you have now embodies a literati way better than the previous version. I think there are 3 major branches from what I can see in a 2D image. I would use the yellow as your defining branch, dropped down and away from the trunk. The red could be reversed into an apex, and the blue as the back.. or red moved to the back and the blue divided into apex and 2nd branch. Granted dimensions are not proportional, but something like the image in the bottom, with smaller pads of course.

 

[Potawatomi13]

PLENTY potential left there.