is my juniper unwell?? SOS

[ben88]

Hi all

Simple question is my Juniper sick, have only had it a week. Had quite back cuttings into the branches from wire which wasnt too happy about but none the less i love it.

It has a white tinge to some of the leaves like someone has sprayed lightly with a white spray paint. Is this just the plant?

Photos arent great

[soda]

Bit hard to tell from the photos. Could be scale being a juniper. I've had a similar white scale on a juniper and also a garden xanthorea. Yes bad wire marks!

[Damian Bee]

Hi Ben,

The white tinge is probably part of the foliage, not too much to worry about there.
The wire marks may make for interesting character in time.
The dead foliage that I can see from the photos could be old foliage from before it was cut back, it is when the stuff crumbles off in your hand that you will have a problem.
I only have a few Junipers, there are plenty of others here with much more experience than me.

There are a couple of things that you could work on with your Juniper in terms of styling, if you would like some more help, don't be afraid to ask

[ben88]

Hi Damian Bee,

You have saved me a trip to the Bondai shop tomorrow. Cheers

I would love to here some styling tips for my newly acquired Bonsai. I have no idea where to go from here. I am tryin to trip the leaves kind of flat and get them all residing down if this makes senses?

Please do give advise though

[paddles]

The best advice I ever recieved when starting bonsai was, "Join a club" this allows for you to see people working on trees, see demos etc, as well as gain advice on how to progress with your tree! Most bonsaists are friendly helpful people. And although you will probably have to travel a bit to get to a club, it is worth it (I drive for an hr or so, and my more drive 3-!)

Also read the posts on wiring and watch this.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHdGpf9AfQc


you are going to need to wire regularly, and remember, if you want to avoid further scaring, you have to check the wire regularly, as scaring can occur suprisingly fast.

[Mitchell]

Styling wise, I would like to see the straight section out of the ground gone. This can be achieved by an angle change on next repot.

Here's a shoddy virt.

[ben88]

Thanks guys will keep you updated.

[Damian Bee]

Nothing like a shoddy Virt to get the creative juices flowing

[Tony Bebb]

Hi Ben

Bit hard to tell from the pics, but what you describe may not be so good. If it is on some but not all branches and is a small white/grey fleck at the base of the needle, it may be spider mite, which will need treating. This type of Juniper does not get scale and you should never spray Junipers with White Oil which treats scale and the foliage should be a nice even green. I notice you are on the Gold Coast and I would reccomend taking it to a nursery for closer examination. Look in the yellow pages for your closest as you have Red Dragon, Defined Garden or Bonsai World to choose from.

There is a great club on the Coast that meet at Elanora but only once a month as most do, so get to a nursery if possible just in case. Better to br safe.

Best Regards

Tony

[ben88]

Hi Tony

Going to get down to Bonsai shop tomorrow to make sure..

Im also interested to know more about the Bonsai Club at Elanora, if you have any more details that would be great.

Cheers

[Tony Bebb]

Hey Ben

Can't remember all the details but I know they meet on the first Sat of the month. Bonsai shop should have the details for you. If you can't get them let me know again and I can find out for you and PM you a contact.

Tony

[cuwire]

Hi Ben

Just another consideration.

I don't have a Juniper of the value of yours - mine are $25 max and if I had the worry that you are reporting
I would take them out of the pot and see what's going on down below.

Maybe you have a section of dry roots near those rocks if they are draining water out quicker than the rest of the pot.
Alternatively if the rocks are cemented in they could be forming a puddle at that point, depending on the pots floor and
where the drainage holes are. The rocks placement just looks a little unusual.

These are just chat room comments from my very short time in bonsai (6 months) and not advice.

Therefore getting quickly to the Bonsai shop is a certainly your best option IMHO.

Cheers David