Brand new to Bonsai, bought a 25 year old tree, Pines turning brown, worried It might be dying

[dbiggs]

Brand new to Bonsai, I bought an already potted 25 year old Juniper Bonsai. I have been watering every 2-3 days. But the pines on the underside of my bonsai are turning brown, I am worried I am killing it somehow. I think I might be overwatering but am not sure. Please
Help with any advice, it has been raining a lot, the soil is semi dry.

Help

 

[ShadyStump]

If you add a general location to your profile, it'd help us know what conditions you're working with.

Looks like just a bit of foliage dying back from suboptimal conditions. Nothing panic worthy.
But let's go over the 1st stage checklist just to be sure.
1: Where has it been living?
2: What type of juniper is it?
3: Are there drainage holes in the bottom of the pot?
4: What sort of soil is it in?
5: Any sings of bugs or vermin living in it?

Regardless of soil and pot, the chopstick trick goes a long way.
Jab a wooden/bamboo chopstick/skewer into the soil near the center as deep as it will go, and leave it there. Use it as a dipstick to check soil moisture, and only water when it ALL BUT completely dry.

 

[Ruddigger]

The new growth is healthy and green. The old growth is being shaded out and turning brown. I dont see a problem with it from the pictures you’ve shown.

I do recommend cleaning the foliage by removing weak growth, bottom growth, and crotch growth where applicable.

 

[dbiggs]

If you add a general location to your profile, it'd help us know what conditions you're working with.

Looks like just a bit of foliage dying back from suboptimal conditions. Nothing panic worthy.
But let's go over the 1st stage checklist just to be sure.
1: Where has it been living?
2: What type of juniper is it?
3: Are there drainage holes in the bottom of the pot?
4: What sort of soil is it in?
5: Any sings of bugs or vermin living in it?

Regardless of soil and pot, the chopstick trick goes a long way.
Jab a wooden/bamboo chopstick/skewer into the soil near the center as deep as it will go, and leave it there. Use it as a dipstick to check soil moisture, and only water when it ALL BUT completely dry.

Thank you both so much for replying, @ShadyStump I really can't let this bonsai die.
@ShadyStump to answer your question: I live in Oklahoma
1: has been living outside for 2 weeks.
2:Shimpaku Juniper?
3:Yes drainage holes
4o not know.
5: No bugs that I can see currently

I did the bamboo trick and it was a bit dry so I watered it until the water came out of the bottom. Thank you again I will keep it updated

 

[dbiggs]

The new growth is healthy and green. The old growth is being shaded out and turning brown. I dont see a problem with it from the pictures you’ve shown.

I do recommend cleaning the foliage by removing weak growth, bottom growth, and crotch growth where applicable.

Thank you for your reply, I really appreciate it. I'll make sure to remove the foliage and continue to monitor, thanks again.

 

[Paradox]

Not a shimpaku
Probably procumbens

Agree with what others posted.

 

[ShadyStump]

Thank you both so much for replying, @ShadyStump I really can't let this bonsai die.
@ShadyStump to answer your question: I live in Oklahoma
1: has been living outside for 2 weeks.
2:Shimpaku Juniper?
3:Yes drainage holes
4o not know.
5: No bugs that I can see currently

I did the bamboo trick and it was a bit dry so I watered it until the water came out of the bottom. Thank you again I will keep it updated

Looks like regular potting soil in the pot. Not ideal for bonsai purposes, but if you pay attention to your watering and use the chopstick trick you'll be alright.

How long have you had it, and where did it live before this last two weeks?
I ask because even conifers need a dormancy period in winter. If it a procumbens, it's possible to keep them inside for winter under strong grow lights, but it's tricky and they don't do as well.

 

[rockm]

Please fill out the location information to the left under your avatar.



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Can't emphasize enough how valuable that information is for any advice. Posting it to the left allows us to know where you are, calibrate our responses without having to ask you over and over and over for it.

FWIW, this looks like its been planted in potting soil, which is pretty bad for bonsai applications, particularly with conifers such as junipers. At this point, the tree is doing just OK, but that will not continue in its current soil for longer than a couple of years.

Also, this tree should be outside all the time (even in winter) in full sun for eight hours or more. A little afternoon shade in the summer is good. Bringing it inside for more than two days in a row will weaken it. Longer can damage, full time inside will kill it. There are no "indoor" bonsai, only tree species that can tolerate being inside. Juniper isn't one of those.

You will have to learn to water your tree, which is the hardest part of bonsai. It will not appreciate your watering when it's convenient for you, or on a schedule. It will need water when it needs water. That can vary tremendously depending on growing season, humidity wind and sun exposure. A windy hot day in July it may require watering every day or even twice a day in the heat. In fall, it may only need watering every other day. You will have to determine first hand when the tree needs it.

 

[ShimpakuBonsai]

I think it is a Juniperus Procumbens and this tree doesn't look 25 years old to me.

 

[dbiggs]

Please fill out the location information to the left under your avatar.



<
<
<

Can't emphasize enough how valuable that information is for any advice. Posting it to the left allows us to know where you are, calibrate our responses without having to ask you over and over and over for it.

FWIW, this looks like its been planted in potting soil, which is pretty bad for bonsai applications, particularly with conifers such as junipers. At this point, the tree is doing just OK, but that will not continue in its current soil for longer than a couple of years.

Also, this tree should be outside all the time (even in winter) in full sun for eight hours or more. A little afternoon shade in the summer is good. Bringing it inside for more than two days in a row will weaken it. Longer can damage, full time inside will kill it. There are no "indoor" bonsai, only tree species that can tolerate being inside. Juniper isn't one of those.

You will have to learn to water your tree, which is the hardest part of bonsai. It will not appreciate your watering when it's convenient for you, or on a schedule. It will need water when it needs water. That can vary tremendously depending on growing season, humidity wind and sun exposure. A windy hot day in July it may require watering every day or even twice a day in the heat. In fall, it may only need watering every other day. You will have to determine first hand when the tree needs it.

I added my location information, Should I be watering from the bottom up? Or can I just pour water on it until it comes out the bottom?
If I should be watering from the bottom up how long should I be doing that for?
I feel like the foliage has gotten worse over the weekend. It looks more brown. To be fair I did have it indoor for about a week and a half before I learned it was supposed to be outside.

 

[dbiggs]

Looks like regular potting soil in the pot. Not ideal for bonsai purposes, but if you pay attention to your watering and use the chopstick trick you'll be alright.

How long have you had it, and where did it live before this last two weeks?
I ask because even conifers need a dormancy period in winter. If it a procumbens, it's possible to keep them inside for winter under strong grow lights, but it's tricky and they don't do as well.

I've had it since April 22nd, I had it inside for about a week and a half and then moved it outside.

 

[ShadyStump]

I think what you're looking at is normal inner foliage dying back. Lack of light, or unsatisfactory watering. It's possible that 1 week indoors triggered it, but it's hard to be certain.
Anyways, the tree itself doesn't look to be dying, so you should be safe.

 

[dbiggs]

Update @ShadyStump & @rockm :
Bonsai dead inner foliage looks to be spreading more throughout the tree. It's in direct sunlight for 6 hours, is that okay? I've been watering from the bottom up and waiting until the soil on top is moist. Pictures below. Is it still just normal foliage decay?

 

[Dav4]

Update @ShadyStump & @rockm :
Bonsai dead inner foliage looks to be spreading more throughout the tree. It's in direct sunlight for 6 hours, is that okay? I've been watering from the bottom up and waiting until the soil on top is moist. Pictures below. Is it still just normal foliage decay?

Could be normal... but some of the foliage I see looks grey/blanched and I'd check for spider mites. Get a white piece of paper and hold it under a branch while tapping the foliage. If you see very, very small dots that might be moving, you may have spider mites. The confirmatory test is to attempt to smear any dots, moving or stationary. If they are smearable, leaving a small reddish brown streak, you've got mites. Also, water with a hose and wand until water drains through the drainage holes.

 

[Dogestoevsky]

It doesn’t look terminal, my guess is some scattered dieback due to the early mishandling. Could be spider mites as @Dav4 mentioned, so check when you can. Usually trees with pests are also weakened in some other way. Stress from the week inside, poor soil quality, lack of proper drainage, etc. Where did you get it, by the way?

Don’t worry too much, just try to dial in the watering and keep it in a nice sunny location outside.

 

[dbiggs]

It doesn’t look terminal, my guess is some scattered dieback due to the early mishandling. Could be spider mites as @Dav4 mentioned, so check when you can. Usually trees with pests are also weakened in some other way. Stress from the week inside, poor soil quality, lack of proper drainage, etc. Where did you get it, by the way?

Don’t worry too much, just try to dial in the watering and keep it in a nice sunny location outside.

Got it from a street vendor.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Tree looks fine. Dont kill it with love.

Follow the above recommendations from RockM. Itll be ok. Id repot it at next window into more free draining bonsai specific soil.

 

[ShadyStump]

Until you can repot with better soil use the chopstick trick. Jab a wooden or bamboo chopstick or skewer into the soil all the way to the bottom, and leave it there. Use it as a dipstick to check soil moisture. Water when the stick is all but dry.

 

[rockm]

Update @ShadyStump & @rockm :
Bonsai dead inner foliage looks to be spreading more throughout the tree. It's in direct sunlight for 6 hours, is that okay? I've been watering from the bottom up and waiting until the soil on top is moist. Pictures below. Is it still just normal foliage decay?

My guess is that you're keeping it too wet. Immersion watering (if that's what you mean by "bottom up" watering)--dunking the pot in a container of water--soaks the roots through. Doing it repeatedly keeps the interior roots wet. That's a bad thing for junipers. The soil this tree is in looks to retain a lot of water. It's deceptive, since the top may look dry or dry-ish, but down inside the root mass, things remain constantly wet.

Watering from the top is preferable to immersion watering since it allows water to drain more effectively and keeps things a bit drier. Many folks use a chopstick inserted into the top of the soil, down into lower levels of the soil. Pull the chopstick out to see if the end is wet. If it is, you don't need to water...etc.

 

[Weaponman]

Brand new to Bonsai, I bought an already potted 25 year old Juniper Bonsai. I have been watering every 2-3 days. But the pines on the underside of my bonsai are turning brown, I am worried I am killing it somehow. I think I might be overwatering but am not sure. Please
Help with any advice, it has been raining a lot, the soil is semi dry.

HelpView attachment 488857View attachment 488858View attachment 488859

Procumbens nana has a tendency to drop older growth ahead of a spring flush, especially older growth underneath that is getting more shade. Try pruning top growth earlier in spring to prevent this and give lower branches more sun. Otherwise this is normal behavior for the species. The plant itself looks a bit leggy and should be harder trimmed back to budding nodes