New Plant Advice!

[Juic3dup]

Still new to Bonsi I have had Juniper for some time now and seeing some brown on the Branch?
Waters good, Soils good, Sunlight Most the morning then in the window for indirect rest of the day.
Is the Brown bad or just growing?
Any advice would be cool! TY

 

[Paradox]

Still new to Bonsi I have had Juniper for some time now and seeing some brown on the Branch?
Waters good, Soils good, Sunlight Most the morning then in the window for indirect rest of the day.
Is the Brown bad or just growing?
Any advice would be cool! TY

Are you keeping it inside?
Despite what the person that sold it to you might have told you, juniper are outside plants and need to be outside.
They will not survive long term inside unless you have a very elaborate light setup and provide cooler temperatures in the winter.
There is like one person known in the bonsai community that managed to keep juniper alive for years inside.

I made the same mistake when I started bonsai and it almost killed my juniper before I learned better.

 

[ShimpakuBonsai]

As said by Paradox put it outside and leave it there the whole year around.
This is not an indoor species.

 

[Shibui]

The most likely reason for brown on the branches is older leaves dying. Each leaf has a finite life span then dies. Deciduous leaves obviously only live for 6-8 months but conifer needles last 2-5 years before turning brown and eventually falling off.
While you have healthy green tips there's usually no cause for concern.

It is important to learn about pruning conifers in order to maintain live foliage on branches and limit growth extension otherwise you'll eventually end up with a tree with very long, bare branches with tufts of foliage right at the ends.

 

[rockm]

Likely browning because it isn't getting enough light, possibly has a mite infestation--but it's likely more light/water related. THis is common with junipers indoors. The tree should be outside 24/7/365.

Inside conditions are extremely hostile to plants and trees in particular. Junipers need A LOT of light. Indoors, even on a window sill, they can't get it. Indoors, air circulation and humidity are also extremely low (your air conditioning dries out the circulated air pretty thoroughly). Air circulation is also extremely low compared to outside where wind and breezes push air through foliage. Indoors, low air circulation sets up conditions that promote insect and fungal growth.

The biggest issue, indoors is lighting, however. Un-supplemented, Indoor light on a windowsill in direct sun is half what it would be outside. If the plant is not in a window, that light halves again. Lower light will initially force the plant to drop interior leaves since it can't support them with the low light conditions. Add in a lot of water at the roots (if you're watering on a schedule, or more than the tree requires, this will accelerate), you get yellowing dying foliage.

This condition typically gets worse, not better, since the plant weakens and it is gradually unable to continue. This can take a while with junipers, since they are extremely tough plants (in their outside elements).

If I were you, I would get this tree outside ASAP.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

The tree looks mostly ok... but you have some localized damage that is probably due to some sort of insect/mite. I see a couple of small round shapes in your photos that could be tiny beetles... or could just be dirt or debris. Check the branches very carefully for anything really small that moves Yes, inner growth in junipers will age and brown, but it is the old interior growth that will brown - not young buds and outer growth.

Otherwise I agree with the other comments about this plant needing full sun.

 

[Juic3dup]

Are you keeping it inside?
Despite what the person that sold it to you might have told you, juniper are outside plants and need to be outside.
They will not survive long term inside unless you have a very elaborate light setup and provide cooler temperatures in the winter.
There is like one person known in the bonsai community that managed to keep juniper alive for years inside.

I made the same mistake when I started bonsai and it almost killed my juniper before I learned better.

It is outside most the Day.. I live in Florida and it tends to get extremely dry and hot! I keep it shaded and bring it indoors in the afternoon till the next morning. Giving it Allot of direct sunlight then indirect inside where the temp in 75 ish and it’s sun is threw the window and shade.. feed it every three months..
just wondering if the browning was normal? During growth?

 

[penumbra]

The concern for your plants health has led you to an act that will backfire on you. It does not want to be shuttled back and forth. Please leave it outside.

 

[Srt8madness]

It is outside most the Day.. I live in Florida and it tends to get extremely dry and hot! I keep it shaded and bring it indoors in the afternoon till the next morning. Giving it Allot of direct sunlight then indirect inside where the temp in 75 ish and it’s sun is threw the window and shade.. feed it every three months..
just wondering if the browning was normal? During growth?

It will die if you keep doing that. I promise you. The internet is a big place, but I doubt you'll find my reputable sources claiming junipers should be grown in shade and inside.

 

[Juic3dup]

Great information! I will definitely be keeping it outside and it watered on schedule, I’ll definitely have to prune those dead buds I didn’t notice! Thanks!
you pointed out somthing saying what’s this? That’s the brown in the middle of the branch but as you see the buds on the end are new and young. Definitely don’t see any mites or bugs..
Thanks for the tips again! All useful!! Learning Allot as I go!

 

[rockm]

It is outside most the Day.. I live in Florida and it tends to get extremely dry and hot! I keep it shaded and bring it indoors in the afternoon till the next morning. Giving it Allot of direct sunlight then indirect inside where the temp in 75 ish and it’s sun is threw the window and shade.. feed it every three months..
just wondering if the browning was normal? During growth?

Plants don't like to move around;-) By constantly moving it inside and outside, you're changing environments constantly. The plant can't keep up. Leave it outside, provide afternoon shade--put it in a place that has morning sun and afternoon shade (although it will likely do fine without shade--shading the pot with a white towel will help keep the roots cooler.

Junipers are not delicate hothouse trees. They are extremely hardy outside and grow in areas that are extremely rough climate wise.

 

[Juic3dup]

Any advice on these? I’m doing the same pattern, I know there a Succulent type and can go longer without water, I also have some clippings I’ve planted that are doing well.. from the new leaves… tips? Tricks? TY

 

[Srt8madness]

Same. Your windowsills looks like my used to. P Afra can take anything you can throw at it. They will grow inside but will get a bit leggy. No big deal if kept as a succulent. If wanted to style as bonsai, same advice as Juni, full sun. Below is healthy growth on one. Trimmed back after this pic.

 

[Crazy Diamond]

View attachment 454769

The tree looks mostly ok... but you have some localized damage that is probably due to some sort of insect/mite. I see a couple of small round shapes in your photos that could be tiny beetles... or could just be dirt or debris. Check the branches very carefully for anything really small that moves Yes, inner growth in junipers will age and brown, but it is the old interior growth that will brown - not young buds and outer growth.

Otherwise I agree with the other comments about this plant needing full sun.

Hope that post dont start another disscusion about procumbens nana needle and scale foliage xD

 

[Juic3dup]

Same. Your windowsills looks like my used to. P Afra can take anything you can throw at it. They will grow inside but will get a bit leggy. No big deal if kept as a succulent. If wanted to style as bonsai, same advice as Juni, full sun. Below is healthy growth on one. Trimmed back after this pic.

Mine is growing off to the side and way to get it growing up like the picture you have or does the shape take its own course for the most part? Or I have to cut the one going off to the side off?

 

[rockm]

Any advice on these? I’m doing the same pattern, I know there a Succulent type and can go longer without water, I also have some clippings I’ve planted that are doing well.. from the new leaves… tips? Tricks? TY

Would do better outside. Full sun.

 

[Srt8madness]

Mine is growing off to the side and way to get it growing up like the picture you have or does the shape take its own course for the most part? Or I have to cut the one going off to the side off?

When in full sun they will grow up to reach the light. Anywhere you cut you will typically get two new buds there.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I know there a Succulent type and can go longer without water

Once established in landscape, they can go at least eight months without a drop of water. I say "at least" because I'm not sure at what point they will die from not having water. A year? Two? I don't honestly know - I just know eight months doesn't bother them.

In 100% pumice I would water my P. afra once per week in the summer.

 

[Paradox]

It is outside most the Day.. I live in Florida and it tends to get extremely dry and hot! I keep it shaded and bring it indoors in the afternoon till the next morning. Giving it Allot of direct sunlight then indirect inside where the temp in 75 ish and it’s sun is threw the window and shade.. feed it every three months..
just wondering if the browning was normal? During growth?

Also 75 isn't that hot. I wouldn't start worrying about hot temperatures until 85+