AusBonsai

hey guys,

put some wire on this tree a couple of weeks ago. It was only my second go at it so in some places it looks like I put it on with my feet. Anyway, recently it has started to yellow off in the smaller branches close to the trunk.

Am I over watering it? Or is it just recovering from an initial wiring? In the photo some of the small branches have been compressed by my wiring and are turning yellow. but it is happening elsewhere on the plant where I have wired 'successfully'.
Despite this, the growing tips are flush and strong.

Appreciate any help guys.

I am a beginner, but to me it looks like you have not wired very carefully and the dying branches are a result of having wired directly over them tightly which I have found often kills the branches off with my junipers but i will wait for more experienced members to offer their advice.

k2bonsai wrote:I am a beginner, but to me it looks like you have not wired very carefully and the dying branches are a result of having wired directly over them tightly which I have found often kills the branches off with my junipers but i will wait for more experienced members to offer their advice.

yes. this is definately happening in some places. but only in about 20 % of the branches that are yellowing off.

You could have bent and or broken them while wiring. Most of them look happy and still green so not to worry too much. Wiring neatly without damaging leaves and small branches is a hard task to master and some casualties will occur

So long as you do not kill the intire tree, all is good.

I killed a Maple I have been working on due to being too overzealous with wiring and bending 0, so don't feel too bad losing some little shoots like you have

Ken

kcpoole wrote:You could have bent and or broken them while wiring.

I agree with Ken. Easily done.

Cheers,
Mojo

Interior shoots do die off on junipers when they get shaded or when the tips are growing strongly. They need to be pruned and thinned to preserve inner shoots. Your yellowing after wiring might be damage caused by the wiring but may just be natural dieback so not your fault but has coincided with your wiring. May also be a combination of factors.

thanks very much everyone who has commented and offered advice. Sooooo much to learn. and very thats exciting

So i'll just look after it with watering and careful fertilising and hopefully, I'll post a few pictures of the entire tree if/when it recovers.