Dying Juniper help!

[abqjoe]

can you recommend a recipe for soil or a brand? i guess i didn't know any better.

Go on ebay and get you some Bonsai Jack Inorganic mix.

 

[bonsai sue sd]

Go on ebay and get you some Bonsai Jack Inorganic mix.

thanks. ordered.

 

[bonsai sue sd]

thanks. ordered.

can i repot the juniper when i get the new soil? I repotted it over a year ago.

 

[abqjoe]

can i repot the juniper when i get the new soil? I repotted it over a year ago.

Well, normally re-potting is done in Spring but I'm sure someone from your neck of the woods will chime in soon.

 

[Lazylightningny]

The last image clearly shows it has Scale.

Bottom right foliage?

 

[Vin]

Bottom right foliage?

Yes, all that white stuff on each needle.

 

[Vin]

And this branch is covered as well but there's one little bit of green left.

 

[bonsai sue sd]

I have purchases better bonsai soil based on recommendations from some of you. Should I wait to re-pot the juniper until spring or do it now bc the soil its in is so bad?

 

[GrimLore]

Should I wait to re-pot the juniper until spring or do it now bc the soil its in is so bad?

Myself I would get the plant healthy first. You can monitor the water not letting it ever dry perhaps watering a very small amount twice a day. I am not familiar with your climate so although it might be a good time to repot I would not until health is established.

Grimmy

 

[bonsai sue sd]

Myself I would get the plant healthy first. You can monitor the water not letting it ever dry perhaps watering a very small amount twice a day. I am not familiar with your climate so although it might be a good time to repot I would not until health is established.

Grimmy

Thanks. I live in southern California where now it's a bit rainy, but generally is 60 during the day and 45 at night...

 

[abqjoe]

I have purchases better bonsai soil based on recommendations from some of you. Should I wait to re-pot the juniper until spring or do it now bc the soil its in is so bad?

I'm not the best bonsai guy by far! In fact, this is only my first year. But, I am really good at taking care of tree's and keeping them alive so here is my recommendation: Being that this tree has extra special sentimental value I would NOT re-pot until Spring. But, what I would do is take off the top 1 inch layer of the existing soil, very carefully as not to damage or greatly disturb any roots. Once it's off I would take a chop stick and very carefully I would use it to aerate the remaining soil which would also improve the drainage. After that is done, take some of the Bonsai Jack soil that you ordered and pour in on the top to replace what you removed. Take the chop stick and very lightly and carefully work the new soil into the old soil. IMO this will do fine in getting you through until next Spring. Until Spring arrives I would strongly recommend watching as many videos and reading as much literature as you can on re-potting Junipers. Said info should be Juniper specific and not just random Bonsai re-potting info because different types of tree's require different re-potting strategies.
Good luck with the tree

 

[bonsai sue sd]

I'm not the best bonsai guy by far! In fact, this is only my first year. But, I am really good at taking care of tree's and keeping them alive so here is my recommendation: Being that this tree has extra special sentimental value I would NOT re-pot until Spring. But, what I would do is take off the top 1 inch layer of the existing soil, very carefully as not to damage or greatly disturb any roots. Once it's off I would take a chop stick and very carefully I would use it to aerate the remaining soil which would also improve the drainage. After that is done, take some of the Bonsai Jack soil that you ordered and pour in on the top to replace what you removed. Take the chop stick and very lightly and carefully work the new soil into the old soil. IMO this will do fine in getting you through until next Spring. Until Spring arrives I would strongly recommend watching as many videos and reading as much literature as you can on re-potting Junipers. Said info should be Juniper specific and not just random Bonsai re-potting info because different types of tree's require different re-potting strategies.
Good luck with the tree

That's great info. Thx

 

[Dav4]

Thanks. I live in southern California where now it's a bit rainy, but generally is 60 during the day and 45 at night...

You need to reach out to local hobbyists...as far as I know, re-potting season where you live may actually start within the next 2-4 weeks. Does the temps ever fall below freezing in your yard? If the answer is no, I'm thinking a re-pot sometime in January would work.

 

[bonsai sue sd]

You need to reach out to local hobbyists...as far as I know, re-potting season where you live may actually start within the next 2-4 weeks. Does the temps ever fall below freezing in your yard? If the answer is no, I'm thinking a re-pot sometime in January would work.

nope never below freezing here...

 

[Dav4]

@Smoke and @Bonsai Nut may be able to help with timing.

 

[wlambeth]

My experience with these is what I'm seeing the plant is already dead.
Some parts just don't know it yet.

These trees need to be outside except in extreme cold (below freezing) and even then with the right kind of protection they will survive outdoors.

 

[Vin]

Unfortunately, if you ask a hundred people about what to do you'll get a couple dozen or more ways to handle the situation. I would stick with Grimmy's advice and work toward getting the tree healthy. Messing with the soil at this point is just going to add stress to the plant. I do see in one of the images what appears to be a humidity tray under it. I would not use a humidity tray with this tree/soil/time of year combination.

 

[bonsai sue sd]

Unfortunately, if you ask a hundred people about what to do you'll get a couple dozen or more ways to handle the situation. I would stick with Grimmy's advice and work toward getting the tree healthy. Messing with the soil at this point is just going to add stress to the plant. I do see in one of the images what appears to be a humidity tray under it. I would not use a humidity tray with this tree/soil/time of year combination.

thank u

 

[Dav4]

Getting a juniper happy that's in crappy soil that's contributing to its ill health can be tricky...the only time I ever lost junipers was due to using the wrong soil and not watering correctly. I still think doing a partial re-pot at the appropriate time is a good idea unless you can be perfect in your watering.