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

[RJG2]

Thanks guys! I appreciate it! I'll work on repotting the plant!
Do I still need to trim it at all or do we think it's going to be okay?

Juniper's strength is in the foliage. Repot first, wait a few months and ensure it's healthy and actively growing before considering pruning.

Pruning away dead stuff is okay anytime.

If you want to wire it at all, wait until fall at least.

These are all relatively conservative time-lines; key point is we only work - ie: prune/wire - healthy; vigorous trees.

If you do decide you want to wire at some point - come back for more advice - there are specific times of year when it's better to do certain things.

 

[Gabler]

Thanks guys! I appreciate it! I'll work on repotting the plant!
Do I still need to trim it at all or do we think it's going to be okay?

I'd wait a year to trim it. Repot it and let it grow.

 

[dbiggs]

@ShadyStump @Paradox @RJG2 Hey Guys, long time no talk, wanted to give a quick update. Been a little over a year and no issues at all but in the last few weeks I have started to notice some browning on the bonsai!
Not sure what could be causing it . any thoughts?
Looks like the tips are just dying.

 

[rockm]

@ShadyStump @Paradox @RJG2 Hey Guys, long time no talk, wanted to give a quick update. Been a little over a year and no issues at all but in the last few weeks I have started to notice some browning on the bonsai!
Not sure what could be causing it . any thoughts?
Looks like the tips are just dying.

Your tree is dying or at least in decline. All that yellow and brown is dead foliage

If you still have the tree in the same soil that likely the problem your probably overwatering

 

[dbiggs]

@rockm yes it is still in the same soil.
Okay so I'll let it completely dry out before watering again. I have been using a meter to help with watering but maybe I have overindulged.
Can I cut the dead foliage off?

 

[rockm]

The problem with this kind of dense potting mix is that it stays soggy but let it dry out and it become hydrophobic and sheds water.

Skip the moisture meter. That is probably one of the factors contributing to the problem here. Rely on sight and feel of the soil. Simply inserting a chopstick halfway into the soil and using it like a car oil pan dipstick (wettish darker end mean there’s enough water -dry ish mean water) can help more than a moisture meter. Leave the stick inserted into the soil

Ultimately the solution to your problem is to repot the tree into new fast draining bonsai soil. AND learning how to water correctly ( which entails understanding when the tree needs water. )

 

[dbiggs]

@rockm okay thanks man, I'll work on getting it re-potted asap.
Can I cut the dead foliage off?
I do see new growth underneath

 

[rockm]

@rockm okay thanks man, I'll work on getting it re-potted asap.
Can I cut the dead foliage off?
I do see new growth underneath

Now is not a great time for repotting trees. It is usually done in the springtime. There is a recovery time after repotting that takes some time. Repot now and you risk even more stress with summer heat approaching.

Learn how to water what you have now until next spring. You can remove the dead foliage carefullly if you want. It will drop off on it own though

 

[Paradox]

@dbiggs
Rockm gave you good advice.
I would follow what he says

One thing I see is that it seems to be sitting a bit high in that pot. I see exposed roots. It probably would do better with a deeper pot and proper soil.

 

[SeanS]

Maybe try find a local club or a local real (not a man selling trees from his van on the side of the road) bonsai nursery who can help you. You’ve had the tree for 2 years and haven’t done anything to it to help it thrive/survive. A lot of valuable advice and guidance has been given in this thread so far.
The tree is declining likely due to poor soil and poor watering habits. Get it seen to or spend some time expanding your own bonsai knowledge to try to save it.
Is this your only bonsai?

 

[Ruddigger]

You’re learning the drawback of cheap organic soil mixes.

 

[dbiggs]

@SeanS this is my only Bonsai.
@Ruddigger it was the soil that he gave me when I bought the plant 2 years ago

 

[Ruddigger]

@SeanS this is my only Bonsai.
@Ruddigger it was the soil that he gave me when I bought the plant 2 years ago

I’m sure. Not blaming you at all, but it’s a good lesson on using the correct soil. When I get a new tree I change the soil at the first opportunity.

 

[rockm]

@SeanS this is my only Bonsai.
@Ruddigger it was the soil that he gave me when I bought the plant 2 years ago

There is a big difference between buying from a side-of-the-road or storefront vendor that sells mass produced bonsai and a ln established bonsai nursery (that is harder to find and more expensive—for a reason)

The storefront and roadside sellers generally don’t know how to care for what they’re selling. They don’t care. They only want to sell products. It might even be in their interest to have the tree they sold you die. They might get another tree sale out of you.

Good Bonsai nurseries help you because they want you to succeed. They know there’s a future in a bonsai grower who looks for all the after purchase stuff from soil to tool to more pots etc

The tree needs to be repotted to survive. That repotting should be done early next spring. Be patient and learn how to water your tree. Use the chopstick method mentioned before

If you continue on the path youre on and do nothing the tree will die.

 

[99 Mile Creek]

Can you show us a photo of the roots? It would be interesting to see.

You may need to pull it and check to see if it's rootbound. I agree with repotting in another bonsai substrate mix.

If it's your first time, it's probably going to be more stressful than it is difficult to repot. Plenty of videos to look up to study and build confidence.

Good luck! Keep us updated.

 

[ShadyStump]

Colorado- at least southern Colorado- is experiencing a very slow spring this year, so you may still be able to get away with a repot. I have several trees that haven't even broken dormancy yet. Life in pots often means trees wake up later because the average soil temperature for them stays lower, and we're still getting lows in the lower 40s here.

If you're uncertain about a full repot, you can try just doing the top half or a mending by picking/dumping out some of the soil and then filling in with a more appropriate substrate. The downside to this is you risk portions of the soil drying out while other spots are still saturated. This is a bigger problem when it's hot and dry weather. The upside is if you do it evenly enough you get more aeration of the soil and it's a step in the right direction. Don't do anything you're not comfortable with; just an option to consider.

Otherwise, @rockm is one of our top dogs around here, and won't ever give you bad advice. Listen.