Sick Tree

[WaterLily]

WHAT HAVE I DONE WRONG? I received this tree for Christmas. Over the past week it started losing candles. I have been holding off pruning and repotting as it is so early. It is so pot bound I cannot insert a moisture meter to the bottom of the soil. I have had the tree outdoors and brought indoors at night. I have sprayed the foliage and kept gravel moist. I watered it every other day. Have I watered too much. I was getting ready to repot this weekend. Is it too stressful for the tree. I downloaded a care sheet and it says to use coarse sand and and soil. Is this right? I thought the sand would compact. It also says it needs a deep pot (as I was advised on this site for my azalea). What do you recommend for soil and the pot. Photographs of my baby are here. I do not want to lose it. Please help!!

 

[Paradox]

First of all, what is it? Japanese Black Pine>
Why are you bringing it indoors at night. Trees are outside 24/7 you shouldnt be bringing it inside!
Do not repot now, it is weak and that could kill it

Get a wooden chopstick
or piece of dowel and stick it in the soil and leave it there
Take it out once a day and look at and feel it
Water the tree when the stick is almost dry, do not let it dry out completely
This will help you know when your tree needs to be watered

 

[Shibui]

Do not repot now, it is weak and that could kill it

This is generally true but if it's the roots and soil that's causing the problem then leaving as is is certain death. Repotting is only possible death. I know which one I choose.

It is so pot bound I cannot insert a moisture meter to the bottom of the soil. I have had the tree outdoors and brought indoors at night. I have sprayed the foliage and kept gravel moist. I watered it every other day. Have I watered too much.

First, thanks for supplying a location. I believe Az is dry and that may have some bearing on the problem.
Root bound trees are notoriously difficult to water properly. If there's no spaces in the soil for water then it won't matter how well, how much or how often you water, the pot just can't hold water for the tree through a dry day. Root bound trees occasionally stay too wet for some reason I don't understand and that can lead to overwatering.
The problem is symptoms of both are similar. Until you check the roots you can't tell whether it's underwatering or root rot from too much.
Spraying foliage is no substitute for proper watering IMHO. Probably does more harm than good.

The visible soil particles are very large. Is that just a surface layer or is that the soil it's planted in?

Considering you feel there is a problem with the soil I would probably go ahead with a proper repot (see my first point). If it is as pot bound as indicated it probably won't make it through summer anyway.

Good luck.

 

[WaterLily]

Hi. Thanks for your comments. The tree s a mugo pine. It is so compacted inside but I was recommended to not to repot until spring. I brought it inside at night because I was advised by someone on this site to not introduce a new tree to cold weather but can do it later this year. What medium should I put it in. The surface medium is when i tried to remove some of the solid roots and replaced a small amount with this mix. I couldn't remove all of it and I didn't want to hurt a new tree by repotting so early. It looks as though I am killing it with kindness.

 

[Paradox]

This is generally true but if it's the roots and soil that's causing the problem then leaving as is is certain death. Repotting is only possible death. I know which one I choose.

I agree but in this case, the tree is not in bad soil from the pictures. It might be pot bound but it looks to me that the tree isnt getting enough water.

@WaterLily You can try to get more water into the soil by GENTLY poking some holes into the soil to get more water penetration in there.
Pines like a open soil that drains well. It looks like it is in soil that is lava and pumice with some pine bark mixed in?

For one, I think the pot is too small and could use a bit bigger pot, particularly if it is very root bound.
You are in Arizona, it should be pretty close to repotting season for you now? Cam you tell if the branches with green needles have buds that are swelling?
The best option is to use a mix similar to that it is in and do a gentle repot into a bigger pot.
Take it out of the current pot and gently remove the soil around the outer edge of the current root ball. I wouldnt remove more than half an inch around.
Put it in the new pot, wire it in so it doesnt fall out and fill the gaps with the new soil. Water it well afterwards then use the chopstick method I described.

You are probably going to lose those branches with the dead foliage, they are probably dead already because I dont see any buds but it could just be the picture. Just leave them be for now and see what happens. There is still healthy looking needles so the rest of the root ball might be ok for now but a repot as I described above would be a good idea. After that you will want to protect the tree from frost and freezing. Putting inside a shed or a garage if that happens would be the best option, not in your house that is 65+ degrees.

Hope it pulls through for you, good luck