AusBonsai

I have been given a Golden Mugo by a friend who moved from Canberra to the Central Coast two years ago. The tree, 55 cm. high and basically well developed, and which had been progressing beautifully in Canberra, had stopped growing completely and slowly deteriorated. It made no new growth, and all the owner could do in those two years was to remove the dead needles. Obviously, the borderline subtropical climate of the Central Coast didn’t suit the tree, and the last two years were especially bad, with a lot more rain than average. In the end my friend received the advice of moving the Golden Mugo back to temperate Canberra, in the hope to save it. The only thing I have done in the 3 days since I got it was to remove the old black soil and replace it with a much more aerated potting mix, disturbing the roots as little as possible and not cutting any. I saw some new roots, but not many.
My questions are: is there a chance that this move of the Golden Mugo to a suitable climate will be sufficient to save it? What else could I do?
Lisa

Long and short only time will tell. They tend to shut down over winter and go their golden yellow. So you won’t know much until spring if it will survive as you won’t see much till then. I suggest when watering use some Seasol. You may still see more needle loss, but hopefully not too much and it does survive. Sorry can’t give you more than that at this time of year.
Cheers
Kirky

Thanks, Kirky, that sounds most logical.

Lisa

I would suggest this problem is far more about the roots and soil than about climate.
The change of soil is what I would have suggested.
Now it just depends how far gone it is and whether it still has strength to recover.

I would say it’s 100 percent climate related. Mucosa just wont tolerate the climate. Just like a Scots pine. It just goes “Och , noo laddy, I’m out of here”

Thank you, shibui and Grant. I'll keep the Goldie in a sunny spot, but under cover, so as to make sure it gets hand watered exactly right. Note taken about the Seasol, Kirky.
Grant, I forgot to ask: is there a chance that some of the 'gold' is due to a lack of magnesium? Thanks also for your comment about the Scotties ; Indeed, my friend said that his Scots pine had stopped growing as well. I hope he has it re-climatized before it is too late.

Lisa

With mine the gold is due to drop in temps, but it is a healthy plant. Won’t see it colour up green until November, December.
Don’t mess with yours it too much as plants that aren’t doing well don’t take to being mucked about with in most cases it just tips them over the edge. anything that is beyond recovery won’t survive, however mucking about with it can push weaker growth to decline even more. Leave it to recover then see what is left to work with.
Cheers
Kirky.

I quite agree with you, Kirky. And it's getting too bl....dy cold here to muck about much with trees. Still, I had a JBP a couple of months ago that benefitted from foliage spray with Epsom Salt -- or was it my imagination? Anyway, it's looking fine now. Looking at that Goldie, I thought "You never know".

Lisa

That looks like winter colouration to me, on melb my mugo has turned colour as well. Fingers crossed it survives. Only one suggestion is to keep the area around the pot also moist so there is humidity.

I first saw a golden Mugo in production nurseries Dow in Victoria about 20 years ago. They a golden variety, not sick or lacking, as far as I know.

Thank you, Grant. No Epsom salt... just patience.

Lisa

Thank you, Akhi and Grant. No Epsom salt... just patience.

Lisa