niper drying out

drhymans · White Belt Joined: 18 Jun 2005 Posts: 3

I have had this Juniper for 8 years. For the past 3 months it has been drying out. I keep it outside and keep the soil moist and have been fertilizing it every 2 to 4 weeks. It is not in direct sun. What do I need to do to green it up? Crying or Very sad

Stymie · Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 2:39 pm Post subject: Re: niper drying out

Where in the world are you DR? If its a northern hemisphere address, the Junipers are going into a resting state between the two annual spurts of growth. Keep doing as you are but drop the feeding for the moment. It should start to move again in August I think.

steve · Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 5:48 pm Post subject: Re: niper drying out

When was the last time it was repotted?

drhymans · White Belt Joined: 18 Jun 2005 Posts: 3

I re potted the Juniper about 1 1/2 months ago.

steve · Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 9:55 pm Post subject: Re: niper drying out

Feeding is bad right now as mentioned above. A small dose of epsom salts may be beneficial at the moment though. Your location would help so we knew what time of year and climate and such. Since you've had the tree for so long is there anything about it's lifestyle that has changed? Location, watering, etc. Look along the trunk for pinholes or sap draining from a place where it shouldn't (ie new pruning scars would leak, smooth trunk wouldn't).

drhymans · White Belt Joined: 18 Jun 2005 Posts: 3

I live in Northern California. I haven't changed locations nor have I changed the watering schedule. I re potted like I said about 3 months ago because the tree started looking dry and I thought maybe it had root rot. When I re potted the roots looked fine but the soil seemed too wet. Do you think I'm over watering? I will check the trunk.

I appreciate any help I can get.
Thanks

steve · Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 4:13 pm Post subject: Re: niper drying out

If your soil is mixed right you won't be able to overwater because the soil itself won't retain enough water to.

peanuts1gang · White Belt Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 30

i have a juniper (procumbens) also, and noticed that it is not as green as it was right before summer. i live in idaho (usa).
is this usual, or should i do something?

Stymie · Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 5:39 pm Post subject: Re: niper drying out

What Steve is referring to dr Is that the compost should be very free draining so that moisture will pass through it easily. About a third of the volume being grit is the way forward. With this formulation excess water is not held to cause root problems. We're getting things sorted and hopefully all will be well. Shade from direct sun is still desireable. Stay with it and with us.

Peanuts. Yours is probably between growth spurts as well. Wait for fresh growth before feeding any more.

sroche · White Belt Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 1

I have had the same problem. I have only had my tree for about 6 months. So I am very new at this. I received it as a gift from my father and would be devastated if it dies.

Mine is starting to turn brown, is that normal? I live in Connecticut, so right now it is warm and slightly humid. I just recently put the tree outside (not in direct sunlight), because I thought maybe it was drying out from being inside all winter. I have been watering it just about everyday, and spraying it with water also. But it has only gotten worse.

Should I let the soil dry out a little before continuing? Does it sound like it's dying?

Help, please!

Stymie · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 7:37 pm Post subject: Re: niper drying out

sroche hi.
If you are referring to a Juniper as well. Its surprising that it has lived for so long indoors. That is your main trouble, it should be outside. They do seem to take a long time to look dead, even when they are and I hope that is not the case. Leave it outside in semi shade as you have described and keep the compost just moderately moist. Don't feed it at all and keep your fingers crossed. It may return to health, I certainly hope so but the extended period indoors may have clobbered it.

Dick · Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 9:32 pm Post subject: Re: niper drying out

At this point, if the watering schedule is the same and if the soil is a porous free draining bonsai soil, I would check the roots. Two things could be happening. First it could be pot bound and the roots are repelling the water from the core of the root ball. Or it could have a bad case of root rot which is not permitting the water to be taken up from the soil. At any rate, the only way to tell would be to turn it over out of the pot.

In the summer, I water daily all of my tree because of the heat, and rate of evaporation. You might have to be more diligent about watering.

peanuts1gang · White Belt Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 30

steve · Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 12:32 pm Post subject: Re: niper drying out

He said August.