Uh oh, it's yellowing, what do I do?

[Mellenoire]

I'm getting this weird yellowing pattern on my juniper. A couple of shoots have fallen off, and it's stopped putting out new shoots. I'm a bit worried I've overwatered or overfertilised, or it has root rot

New shoots, plus yellow needles

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Another pic

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Base (poor nebari, I know)

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Are these new roots?

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[daiviet_nguyen]

Hi there, I would check for how well drainage is. If drainage is not good, it can cause root rot and that leads to bad health for the tree.

It is hard to say from just the pictures, if you have any local clubs around, you could bring there, and you can get better advice.

Good luck with this tree.

[Brian]

Usually the very end growing tips of the branches are the best indicator to a tree's health. looks like you don't have any major problems from the photo.

[Pup]

Looks like old needles to me, evergreens do shed old leaves and needles. This looks like natural attrition, just pick them off with tweezers so the twigs do not get too long, with foliage only on the ends of them.

Cheers Pup

[Mellenoire]

Aaaaannnnd exhale.

Daiviet_nguyen it has good drainage, water always runs freely out of it. It's a mostly non-organic mix with plenty of sand, and there was at one point decorative pebbles on top

Thanks so much guys - I was so worried about it! Forgot to mention, but I did that test where a little patch of bark is scraped away - underneath is all green. Hopefully she'll be right.

[Boics]

Thought I'd extend this relevant thread rather than starting a new one....

So I've had this little guy (juniperus sargentii) for a number of years now..
It's just some basic nursery stock that got into a Bonsai pot somehow ( ) a bit too early..
Nevertheless it's been relatively happy for a number of years and has never really missed a beat.

BUT.

I've noticed a week or so ago that many little branches are browning.....
See pics...

1. How the tree looked 3 months ago (No brown bits).
2. How the tree looks now. (Note brown foliage).
3. Closeup.
4. Roots.
5. Closeup of roots (There are noticeably some white tips on the roots)

The tree (if you could call it that) received a minor re-pot a few months ago and has been well watered and fed.
Now I know it's a little pot bound but I'm not 100% convinced this is the cause of the symptoms..
Is it just natural attrition of some unwanted branches with no reason for concern?
Could it be root rot? I've purposely reduced the watering on this tree in the event this is the case..
I do believe the mix is draining reasonably well.

Overreaction? Potentially.
Keen for advise regardless.

Cheers,

[Trent McKenzie]

Hi Boics,
yeah mate i would put that down to attrition, looks as though the energy is moving to the ends of the branches thus causing the growth closer to the trunk to die off. Sometimes caused by lack of nutrition or lack of light, but is usually unavoidable if growth is left to grow too long and not replaced by backbudding branches. Don't know about removing it from the pot at this time of year, although the roots looks very healthy so it should be ok.

My advice is first make sure to give some seasol -always- after repotting, dont feed for 2-3 weeks after repot, seasol is a tonic and not a fert. Also remove about 20% of the growth from the end of each branch to promote some backbudding, you don't want to take off too much and stall the tree photosynthesis but 20% is usually safe.

Hope this helps. Trent.

[Boics]

Thanks for the reply and advise Trent.

Just to be clear I didn't re-pot today.
I simply plucked it out of the pot for a couple of quick pics and popped it back in.
I always have a peak at whats going on underneath the soil especially if what's on top doesn't look too flash!
Always helps with potential diagnosis too.

I'd be near on 100% sure that it was attrition if it weren't for a couple of decent looking little branches getting yellow bases.
As I said I've had this tree for quite some time and do not recall a year where it has lost this amount of growth.
Perhaps it is the fact that with my increased feeding regime it has grown more this year than any others?
Nevertheless I'm comforted by the fact the roots still appear to be growing and all growth at the branch tips are as well..

Admittedly I do overreact a little but generally speaking if you don't act soon it can often be too late.

Any others with a view here?

[Boics]

Took a couple of pics of this one again tonight.
Appears it didn't die on me and was just a bit of natural attrition.

The tree is filling out a little more and some recent assistance in wiring I feel has helped with the style too.
Still needs a lot more growth to fill out some empty spaces and some more handy branching would be nice.

Also the pot is horrible and I have a new home for it in mind and hope to update when it makes the move next spring.

[Boics]

So after reading and commenting on Squizzy's thread re. his Pinus and then having a look around online I'm concerned (paranoid) once again about my little Shimpaku Juniper.
The pics don't show it well but it has a bronze tinge to the foliage all over and just doesn't look too flash.

Is this just natural winter colour change or something I should be more worried about?

It's interesting as some of the pics in the thread above are not that far away timewise and I can certainly see how much more vibrant the tree is looking.

To be honest I am worried about root rot on this tree as it is most dark near the base and roots and often remains wet.
I'm actually looking forward to getting a chance to re-pot this little guy this year into a new mix.
Which should help but I hope it gets their first!

[squizzy]

Hmm,

Us novices hey Boics. Im not sure where you are but the white pine I mentioned prefers a much colder climate im told. I would not have thought the same for your shimpaku. Id love to give you some guidance but it would really just be dribble from someone who knows nothing about the species. Maybe wet feet?

Good luck

Squizz

[Boics]

Well in regards to my post above..
I'm near on convinced the tree is in trouble.

Unless anyone has some better ideas I'm going to...
1. lift the tree tomorrow to see what is happening in there root wise?
2. Carefully tease out the roots very carefully and repot into a nicer mix.
3. Cut all the wire off.
4. Be careful not to overwater the tree.
5. Cross my fingers and hope.

I'm thinking there is a chance that she might be too wet and rotting in there.
What convinced me is that I have another little juni (different species admittedly) and it is bright green and looks much more healthy..
As a note I've scratched the trunk in spots and it's still green.

My fear is to do nothing..

[kcpoole]

How often are you watering?

Repot but do not take off much root if you can.
Leave the wire on unless time to take it off. less stress and movement.

I had one the died right off and looked sick as for ages. Repotted into fresh diatomite mix, and it has taken about 2 years to regain vigour. Dunno what started the decline originally with mine tho

Ken

[Boics]

Thanks Ken.

I've been watering as often as needed really.
Last year I tried to hold off a bit and it would appear the tree improved a bit as the thread shows.

In saying this it seems clear that over winter the tree has declined again.
During the past 6 or so months I must say that I have not focussed on watering this tree less.
I don't think the tree has been repotted for a couple of years or more now.

I actually just stumbled on this page here: http://peterteabonsai.wordpress.com/201 ... ku-health/

Which sounds promising and helpful.

I'm going to go for re-pot into a slightly larger pot with a new free draining mix.
I won't be cutting ANY roots at all through this process only gently teasing a bit of the old soil from the root ball to make room for the new open mix.

I use a mix of Cacti mix and diatomite these days.

[Neli]

I had a problem with a tree that was root bound and the soil was higher in the center. Water was not going to the center part of the root ball. Check for that when repotting.