Sick JBP - Should I repot it now?

[kvan64]

Hi guys,
I did some work on this pine in Oct 2010. See thread below:
viewtopic.php?f=104&t=6347&hilit=+jbp+chop
It powered up very well and had thick and green foliage. The trunk was thicken up considerably as well. then BOOM! Since the start of Jan this year, the tree went down hill, needles became pale in colour and young needles died before they harden and matured. The symptoms initially appeared to be similar to lack of nutrients but I know this can't be true as I fed the tree well during the growing season. I found a lot of back ants at the bottom of the pot and tried to soak the tree a few times to rid of them. The tree didn't get better.
I found the a lot of my other pots got infested with grubs and the condition of the soil in those pots were not great and I repotted them. I did not repot this pine as I thought it was sick and too weak to go through that. However, now I fear that it may get worse if I don't. The needles keep dying (candles still developing) and bark scratch test showed that the trunk is fine. I am very unsure of what to do now.
My dilemma now is:
1- should I leave it and just keep looking after it with seasol + ST regime.
2- should I repot it to check on the roots?
3- if I repot it then when should I do it (in Brisbane)?
3- if repotting is to be done, should I remove more needles?
Thanks guys
Dk

[shibui]

I think i would repot it to see if there is any problem in the roots. I like to repot bought trees as soon as possible to get them into a mix I am familiar with. There is a real risk of over/under watering, etc when you do not know the proerties of the mix. Curl grubs are a real possibility with pines.
Repotting does not need to be really stressful - If you think the tree is at risk try not to remove too many viable roots, just replace the mix.
I'm not familiar with Qld timing but I can't see any problems with repotting now - and possibly more problem with NOT repotting now.

I would cut back a lot of the foliage. You have typical pine 'pompoms' at the moment. It is desirable to have shoots all along the branches to make a good silhouette. Pruning might get some buds to sprout along the branches.

[The Specimen]

I agree to repot.

I bought a large spruce and neglected to repot it. Roots were circling and i delayed n delayed.

Had no idea the affect this had.. hopefully not too late

[daiviet_nguyen]

Hi kvan64,

I cannot offer anything. One of my pine experiences a similar thing. It has gone so well, then slowly it got yellow like yours. I did an emergency report right in mid-June last year. It got stronger and grew very well during last Spring -- and since February/2012 or so it has gone down hill again.

The leader has gone.

I have no water clogged problem, not grubs, no overfeeding, no underfeeding.

I just can't explain it. Mine is an old one as well.

Good luck with yours one.

[kvan64]

Hi Shibui and Specimen,
Thanks for suggestions. I probably will give repotting a go.
Datviet, Sorry about you pine. I hope it'll pull through. Finger crossed with mine too.
DK

[Andrew Legg]

Hi Shibui and Specimen,
Thanks for suggestions. I probably will give repotting a go.
Datviet, Sorry about you pine. I hope it'll pull through. Finger crossed with mine too.
DK

Aftercare aftercare aftercare!!!!

I feel your pain! I'm going through nursing a pine at the moment as well!

[Tony Bebb]

Hi DK

Unless you think the soil is absolute rubbish, I would not repot or prune it now. The tree is weak and taking needles off it now would weaken it more. The fact that some of the needles are browning from the base is not a good sign sorry. I think treating the cause and letting the tree regain strength first would be a better option.

It appears you have potted it up from its original pot. How long ago was that Did you put the stake in recently to hold the tree stable, or was it put in at time of potting up Is the tree loose in the pot now
There are a couple of black spots there, but there doesn't appear to be pest or fungal problems. The tree appears to be losing supply from the roots. If it was repotted soon that could be an issue if you pruned too many roots and/or not enogh foliage. Curl grubs could be an issue, but I would treat it to kill the grubs rather than repot it, as the little buggers eat the roots, and that is what makes it unstable. To repot makes them more unstable as the soil tends to fall away and you can be left with a very small amount of roots. If you leave them and kill the grubs, the roots remain undisturbed and can regrow easier.

Hope it goes well

Tony