Hornbeams dry out open buds. How to help?

[proninyaroslav]

Last year, this Hornbeam seemed to have a problem with the roots, in the spring many leaves burned down and had dry edges.
This spring, I decided to repot it into a more air substrate, almost without touching the roots.
After the transplant, I treat it twice with a root former. Until now, it's buds hasn't opened to the end, at least this happens very slowly. On some of them I see signs of drying out. How to help it in this situation? Possibly cover with a bag?

 

[The Barber]

I don't see any signs of drying out in the photos.

 

[NashsMan]

Hornbeams LOVE water!
Give them a good day long soak in a pail.

 

[proninyaroslav]

Current state of the buds. Some has a dry tips.

 

[proninyaroslav]

@The Barber
On the last photo.

 

[AshleyMammal]

I’ve got a similar issue with one of my European hornbeams. It was taken from an air layer last year, potted up and was growing well. It got through winter and opened buds just like all my other European hornbeam. I went away for a week and left all my bonsai in the care of automatic irrigation, I think this particular tree of mine got too much water for its less than ideal root mass. I’m betting mine has root rot.

 

[Vali]

Current state of the buds. Some has a dry tips.

The dried parts of the buds seem to be the covers of the leaves. That is the exterior of the buds. That is normal, as I see it, because those are not leaves. You will know if everything is ok after the leaves open. I wouldn't worry.

 

[minkes]

I have same problem with one of my hornbeams. Two are now full of leaves and one looks exactly like your . So I understand what you are trying to describe here, but neither I have answer..

 

[proninyaroslav]

The dried parts of the buds seem to be the covers of the leaves. That is the exterior of the buds. That is normal, as I see it, because those are not leaves. You will know if everything is ok after the leaves open. I wouldn't worry.

The green parts are also dry in some places.

I think this particular tree of mine got too much water for its less than ideal root mass. I’m betting mine has root rot.

During the repotting of my Hornbeam I didn't observe rotten roots, but problems with leaves began last year. Definitely a problem with the roots, but the cause is not clear

 

[proninyaroslav]

Current state. I think it's barely alive, only ~ 10% of the buds opened

 

[The Barber]

When you repotted it, did you bare root it? How much root mass did you remove? How much sun have you kept it in?

 

[99 Mile Creek]

Current state. I think it's barely alive, only ~ 10% of the buds opened

The leaves that we can see are at least healthy. Looks like a few more are pushing through, too.

Keep doing what you're doing for the remainder of season and avoid doing anything to stress the tree (pruning, repotting, wiring, etc.). I think more buds will leaf out.

Keep us posted on the progress, and good luck.

 

[proninyaroslav]

When you repotted it, did you bare root it? How much root mass did you remove? How much sun have you kept it in?

Last year it already had problems with leaf burning. I decided to repot it in a more airy substrate and a slightly smaller container.
I cut off the end of one thick root, which didn't have so many thin roots, so that it would fit in the container.
In my opinion, there were enough roots left. I did not touch them, although most of the old substrate fell off. There were also no signs of root rot.

 

[The Barber]

The dry tips you mentioned that are in the photos are just the bud casings. The leaves show no signs of issues. Maybe it got too cold over the winter, or dried out a bit too much during the winter and that caused some die back on some branches and they didn't push because of that, hard to tell really. I think it will be fine.

 

[rockm]

The issue is likely NOT with the leaves. The leaf and bud issues are a symptom. Likely this a root problem. Providing photos of the leaves tells boy a third of the story. Pic of the soil, past care (overwintering, watering et ) are the other two thirds of the info needed to make an accurate guess