Need advice for a juniper bonsai

[mikeyleaf868]

I have a Juniper bonsai tree (relatively small). There is clearly large amounts of new growth on the tree, the soil drains well and the material under the bark is bright green still. However, many of the leaves (mostly on the interior) have heavy brown hues and feel extremely dry and crispy to the touch. I am watering this tree in small bouts daily and applying a little fertilizer once a month. I'm just not sure what to do to remedy these brown dry leaves or how to prune the tree really. Please help

 

[Lorax7]

What is the composition of the soil? (I can’t tell from the pictures on my small phone screen)

 

[Deleted member 47471]

Let us know your location and zone.

Keep juniper outside all the time, plenty of full sunlight, allow soil to dry completely then water thoroughly until water runs out of the bottom of the pot like a faucet. Repeat when soil is fully dry.

Which fertilizer are you applying and is it a liquid? How much are you applying?

Interior dead foliage can be pruned off anytime. Sometimes shaded foliage will die or drop off the tree.

 

[Paradox]

If you have been keeping it inside your house, that is why it is dying. Junipers need to be outside despite what the place you bought it from said.

 

[mikeyleaf868]

Such a fast reply thank you so much!!

I'll be honest I'm not sure what the soil composition is.

I'm living in Seattle Wa, USA.

So I should regularly check the soil and only once it is dry then water it? (should I dig into the soil a little bit to gauge whether it's dry or not?)

I've attached pictures of the fertilizer (granules) applying it once a month (just started using it last month) I sprinkle it beneath the soil very sparingly before covering it.

In terms of pruning is the practice to trace a branch back to its stem and make the cut there?

 

[mikeyleaf868]

Let us know your location and zone.

Keep juniper outside all the time, plenty of full sunlight, allow soil to dry completely then water thoroughly until water runs out of the bottom of the pot like a faucet. Repeat when soil is fully dry.

Which fertilizer are you applying and is it a liquid? How much are you applying?

Interior dead foliage can be pruned off anytime. Sometimes shaded foliage will die or drop off the tree.

Such a fast reply thank you so much!!

I'll be honest I'm not sure what the soil composition is.

I'm living in Seattle Wa, USA.

So I should regularly check the soil and only once it is dry then water it? (should I dig into the soil a little bit to gauge whether it's dry or not?)

I've attached pictures of the fertilizer (granules) applying it once a month (just started using it last month) I sprinkle it beneath the soil very sparingly before covering it.

In terms of pruning is the practice to trace a branch back to its stem and make the cut there?

 

[Paradox]

Such a fast reply thank you so much!!

I'll be honest I'm not sure what the soil composition is.

I'm living in Seattle Wa, USA.

So I should regularly check the soil and only once it is dry then water it? (should I dig into the soil a little bit to gauge whether it's dry or not?)

I've attached pictures of the fertilizer (granules) applying it once a month (just started using it last month) I sprinkle it beneath the soil very sparingly before covering it.

In terms of pruning is the practice to trace a branch back to its stem and make the cut there?

Take a wooden dowel or chopstick and stick it in the pot. Take it out once a day and look at it. Water the tree when it is almost dry but not totally dry.

All the brown foliage is dead and won't rejuvinate. You can carefully cut those shoots off where they come off the branch. There may be latent buds or new shoots emerging at the base of some so be careful

 

[mikeyleaf868]

Take a wooden dowel or chopstick and stick it in the pot. Take it out once a day and look at it. Water the tree when it is almost dry but not totally dry.

All the brown foliage is dead and won't rejuvinate. You can carefully cut those shoots off where they come off the branch. There may be latent buds or new shoots emerging at the base of some so be careful

Great advice thank you!

 

[mikeyleaf868]

Take a wooden dowel or chopstick and stick it in the pot. Take it out once a day and look at it. Water the tree when it is almost dry but not totally dry.

All the brown foliage is dead and won't rejuvinate. You can carefully cut those shoots off where they come off the branch. There may be latent buds or new shoots emerging at the base of some so be careful

some of these brown shoots are still showing bright green at the base, should I cut them completely off or just until the nearest green leaf?

 

[SeanS]

Does the pot have drainage holes?
Where do you keep the tree? As mentioned above if you’re keeping it inside you’re giving it a death sentence.

At this point don’t do any pruning, your goal at the moment is to try to stop it from dying. Making it look nice will come later once it isn’t dead.

 

[mikeyleaf868]

Does the pot have drainage holes?
Where do you keep the tree? As mentioned above if you’re keeping it inside you’re giving it a death sentence.

At this point don’t do any pruning, your goal at the moment is to try to stop it from dying. Making it look nice will come later once it isn’t dead.

Yes the pot has drainage holes, I keep it outside at all times but I am on a lower floor in my building so sunlight is tough sometimes. NO pruning got it!

 

[Paradox]

some of these brown shoots are still showing bright green at the base, should I cut them completely off or just until the nearest green leaf?

Leave the green. It's possible you could get growth restarting from those areas

 

[Paradox]

Meh got distracted and went past the edit limit.

You don't need to prune the brown foliage.
It will fall off on its own.

 

[mikeyleaf868]

Shouldn't I be cutting off the brown foliage to let in light for the growing latent buds?

 

[Paradox]

Shouldn't I be cutting off the brown foliage to let in light for the growing latent buds?

That was the thought when I told you that. But the foliage that is there doesnt look all that thick and probably isnt really blocking the light.
As I said before if you can do it carefully and not damage what green there is showing, you can cut off the brown foliage.
Use a very fine tipped pair of shears or scissors.

I did the same to a juniper that started declining in the same way years ago when I started bonsai.
Managed to save the tree in time and I still have it

 

[mikeyleaf868]

That was the thought when I told you that. But the foliage that is there doesnt look all that thick and probably isnt really blocking the light.
As I said before if you can do it carefully and not damage what green there is showing, you can cut off the brown foliage.
Use a very fine tipped pair of shears or scissors.

I did the same to a juniper that started declining in the same way years ago when I started bonsai.
Managed to save the tree in time and I still have it

Sounds good thank you

 

[mikeyleaf868]

So just to clarify and summarize overall.

1. I'm going to use a fine pair of shears to remove the brown foliage while paying close care to not cut off growing shoots.
2. I'm going to place a wooden chopstick into the soil in order to gauge the wetness of the soil and when to water (only water when the chopstick comes out dry), I'm guessing that's once every few days.
3. when I do water I'm going to do it in spaced out rounds until I see water flowing out the bottom of the pot.
4. I'm going to KEEP THE BONSAI OUTSIDE
5. Sparingly apply granule fertilizer once a month.

is there anything else you would add, any more advice? I love it all!!

 

[Paradox]

So just to clarify and summarize overall.

1. I'm going to use a fine pair of shears to remove the brown foliage while paying close care to not cut off growing shoots.
2. I'm going to place a wooden chopstick into the soil in order to gauge the wetness of the soil and when to water (only water when the chopstick comes out dry), I'm guessing that's once every few days.
3. when I do water I'm going to do it in spaced out rounds until I see water flowing out the bottom of the pot.
4. I'm going to KEEP THE BONSAI OUTSIDE
5. Sparingly apply granule fertilizer once a month.

is there anything else you would add, any more advice? I love it all!!

I would water when the chopstick is ALMOST dry but not totally dry

Water once till you see the water coming out the pot
Wait a minute and water again until you see the water coming out the pot
Make sure to cover the entire surface of the soil with water, not just one side or corner so you get the whole root mass wet

Granule fertilizer is slow release, what is the application rate on the package?

 

[mikeyleaf868]

I would water when the chopstick is ALMOST dry but not totally dry

Water once till you see the water coming out the pot
Wait a minute and water again until you see the water coming out the pot
Make sure to cover the entire surface of the soil with water, not just one side or corner so you get the whole root mass wet

Granule fertilizer is slow release, what is the application rate on the package?

Good Stuff! on the package it recommends applying once every month

 

[Paradox]

Good Stuff! on the package it recommends applying once every month

ok follow what the package says then