AusBonsai

So I've trawled throughout the forum using the search button , and came up with a couple of possibilities.
Recently my Shimpaku has not been doing so well and have came to a conclusion it could be because of a couple of reasons. Things were going fine up until about two weeks ago. I am getting brown needles growing all over my tree .

1. Repotting; about month ago I repotted it. I didn't remove or disturb mass mount of roots, probably 10-15%, just to encourage new growth. I have a feeling this might have caused stress.
OR
2. Wiring; shortly after repotting it I decided to go and wire some of the branches. I didn't hear any cracks and I have been gentle with my bends. Maybe the wiring was done wrongly?

Another reason could be because it is sick. If this is the case, can I use a product such as Confidor? I have been misting it 2-3 times a day, treated with a weekly soak and foliar spray of seasol.

I am indeed lost and looking for some advice. Much appreciated in advance.

In the long term it will be fine I think.
Always best to wire before the re-pot.
Your mix looks very wet. I would suggest be careful with the watering, especially just after a re-pot as the tree will take some weeks (or even months for junipers) for the roots to again do their job properly.
Put it in the sun and only water when its dry.

Watto wrote:In the long term it will be fine I think.
Always best to wire before the re-pot.
Your mix looks very wet. I would suggest be careful with the watering, especially just after a re-pot as the tree will take some weeks (or even months for junipers) for the roots to again do their job properly.
Put it in the sun and only water when its dry.

Thanks for the reply Watto.
Literally I just misted before taking the photo. I'm trying to increase the humidity to avoid pests.
but thanks, fingers cross it'll be fine.

Mate I don’t mean to scar ya, but I’ve had this on two of my trees and it spread all over like cancer. I should have burnt the tree. Treeman might have better advice

Daluke wrote:Mate I don’t mean to scar ya, but I’ve had this on two of my trees and it spread all over like cancer. I should have burnt the tree.

Were they Shimpaku's or other types of juniper.

Shimpaku. Not sure if itoigowa, kishu etc.

Thanks Daluke for the heads up. Do you know the cause of it?

I’ll quarantine it away from my other juniper as a precaution.

I had similar looking issues with a branch or two on my shimpaku this season, mine had not been repotted. Problems started last year with branches in the apex browning off. Past weekend I removed all infected growth and treated with Mancozeb, at same time fertilising to see if pushing new growth is going to help. Treated tools in between trees. Infuriating

Wait for other responses before making any decision.

I have been misting it 2-3 times a day, treated with a weekly soak and foliar spray of seasol.

So do I decipher this as meaning you only mist when you water except a once a week dunk ? If so this could be the issue.

Bougy Fan wrote:

I have been misting it 2-3 times a day, treated with a weekly soak and foliar spray of seasol.

So do I decipher this as meaning you only mist when you water except a once a week dunk ? If so this could be the issue.

Sorry, I should be more specific. I water during the week when the soil gets dry, every two days or so as well as mist with water 2/3 times a day.
I dunk the pot in seasol every weekend, as well as mist with seasol that day it self.

Have I been over watering?

I'm going to throw another option out there and say that this is potentially just natural attrition of foliage that the tree does not need to keep.
They might just rub off in a short while and do no harm to the tree.

I see plenty of other areas that are extending freely and healthily so believe this may not be anything too sinister at all.

Keep us posted and a few more photo's in the coming week or two will help.
Please also post if there is no problem as this helps to make good records / documentation.

Edit: Some good information regarding my hysterics in here viewtopic.php?f=131&t=10344&hilit=yellowing

In summary:

1. Some (if not all) Junipers will shed old / unwanted needles from time to time (usually around now).
2. Junipers will also generally lose their vibrant colour and go a bit darker or browner over winter months.
3. Both above observations appear to be normal

Hope this helps!

Another possibility;

Juniper male cones from the web Sounds like your watering is fine. It will probably grew quite fine without misting.

And an answer to an earlier question regarding Confidor. This is not medicine for sick plants, it is a systemic pesticide used to control large pest infestations or difficult to remove pests.

Thanks Boics and Dansai, at least my spirits are lifted for now.

I have had the same problem with Shimpaku, and agree with CraigM's treatment.
Have a look at this and check if your Shimpaku shows the same discoloration:
http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/p ... c2056.html
In your place I'd stop misting straight away, also stop overhead watering and keep the tree out of the rain.

And then I may be totally wrong.....

Lisa

A few people in my club have had similar issues. Some have advocated using a copper fungicide, others say white oil. I’ve tried both. I’m sure it’s not contagious - I’ve had infected trees next to healthy ones. The healthy stay healthy and the sick get worse. I hope you don’t have what mine had. The ones that went were a few years old and were not advanced by any means. I purchased about 20 from the same place. I wonder if trees have genetic dispositions to disease like humans.

Is spring the time that shedding of old leaves would occur? I’ve noticed needles brown in winter / autumn and drop some (not as much as deciduous).