HELP my juniper needs advice ASAP

[Aaronj_27]

Hi guys my juniper had been travelling really well but recently it has started turning brown .... Only thing I can think of that has changed is that I have been watering possibly a bit more ... Do these guys not like too much water?

I keep it damp mostly but I can't think should I let it dry out ? Any advice would be great please i don't wanna loose it !

[DustyRusty]

Sounds bad. Sounds like overwatering or underwatering. What mix is it planted in?

[Aaronj_27]

The soil mix I'm unsure of as it' was given to me but it appears to drain well and I believe is due to repot in august can over watering cause this ?

[shibui]

Yes Aaron, over watering can cause this but so can a number of other things such as not enough water, not enough light, keeping it inside the house, etc.

Some junipers can turn a bit brown in cold weather but from your picture I don't think that is the case for you. Sorry to say but I think you have an ex juniper. Usually by the time they get to that stage they are already well dead so nothing you can do to revive it. However I always keep the ones that look dead for a while because occasionally one will surprise you by coming back.

Now is the time to assure you that all of us have had trees die and, as my friend Bill says, 'you have not really been a bonsai grower until you have killed a few'

[Aaronj_27]

The soil has been quite damp for some time and it gets plenty of light approx 6-8 hrs a day as it lives out doors ... Should I fertilise ? Should I let it dry out ?

Cheers for the help,guys I thought I was looking after it so we'll until now ....

[Drac0]

The soil has been quite damp for some time

Junipers need to pretty much dry out between watering. Being too wet will kill them, I lost a few when starting out because of this. You can let it dry out & pray, but as shibui says, this may well be an ex-juniper.

Cheers

[Brian]

that tree is dead. Sorry but try growing a fig, they are bullet proof.

[toohey]

Sorry, but I agree - this tree needs the last rites. Try to go through the soil to see if there is any thing in there that caused it. Otherwise, I think you may have drowned it through overwatering. This could be multiplied if the planting mixture didn't allow enough drainage.
Regards,
Michael

[kcpoole]

Junipers take a long time to show signs of distress or death, and as such this one probably suffered 2 - 3 months ago
Possibly dried out as that only takes a day and is terminal for a Juni. Sorry but it is what is called, a "finished tree"

Ken

[Aaronj_27]

Cheers for the input guys I will def be taking a look into the soil mix and working towards a lighter watering regime..

Thanks for the info

[shibui]

Everyone should reread Ken's last post.

Junipers take a long time to show signs of distress or death, and as such this one probably suffered 2 - 3 months ago
Possibly dried out as that only takes a day and is terminal for a Juni. Sorry but it is what is called, a "finished tree"

Ken

more trees die from DRY than from over watering. With conifers you just don't notice at the time but Ken is correct - it only takes one day and can be terminal even though it does not show up for weeks after.

The other thing Ken said -

Sorry but it is what is called, a "finished tree"

has me a bit concerned. I have been working towards having 'finished' trees for years. Will have to rethink that ambition now, thanks Ken

[Ray M]

Hi Aaronj_27,
I agree with the other guys. When a Juniper looks like that it is already dead.
When you check the soil have a look for the following.

• Is there any Curl grubs?
  If the large drainage holes have mesh over them. Is the mesh fly screen mesh, or does it have larger holes?
  Are there any pockets of dry soil in the mix?
  Is there any muddy looking areas in the mix?

Regards Ray

[AndyLo]

Ray

What difference does it make regarding the type of mesh used over the drainage holes?

Thanks

Andy


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[Ray M]

Ray

What difference does it make regarding the type of mesh used over the drainage holes?

Thanks

Andy


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

HI Andy,
The holes in fly screen mess are far to small. They can block up very easily and of course the pot won't drain properly.

IMG_7366 -1.jpg

This courser mesh is available from nurseries etc.

Regards Ray

[AndyLo]

Thanks Ray, luckily i have courser holes in mine. On a lot of youtube videos they look to use fly wire, so I was a little worried when you highlighted that it matters.

great news. thanks mate