Japanese Black Pine problem identification

[Maiden69]

Guys, I lost one JBP this month and I have a second one with the same symptoms. Flacid new year candles. Could this be over watering? I never had this issue before when I had my system, which was watered 2 times a day. Now since I'm in an apartment and the trees are in "pots" I think I may be overwatering. I had a few that were drying too quickly with watering every other day so I started watering everyday in the afternoon (around 4pm).

Below is a pic of what the candle looks like now on the second pine. They are dropping down and soft. There are 2 trees in this pot and this is the only one that is like that, but the other one is slightly week (needles feel soft). I swear not getting sun all day like before is weakening the crap out of all my trees, My wigela is losing branches, several Japanese quince died, my kishu died... blah. I guess I will wait till I'm at the house to buy replacements.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

What do the roots look like?

 

[River's Edge]

Guys, I lost one JBP this month and I have a second one with the same symptoms. Flacid new year candles. Could this be over watering? I never had this issue before when I had my system, which was watered 2 times a day. Now since I'm in an apartment and the trees are in "pots" I think I may be overwatering. I had a few that were drying too quickly with watering every other day so I started watering everyday in the afternoon (around 4pm).

Below is a pic of what the candle looks like now on the second pine. They are dropping down and soft. There are 2 trees in this pot and this is the only one that is like that, but the other one is slightly week (needles feel soft). I swear not getting sun all day like before is weakening the crap out of all my trees, My wigela is losing branches, several Japanese quince died, my kishu died... blah. I guess I will wait till I'm at the house to buy replacements.

View attachment 548923

PINES WITH LESS THAN 9 HOURS OF SUN PER DAY WILL WEAKEN. THEY NEED FULLE SUN. IF YOUR POTS ARE ON A BALCONY AS OPPOSED TOTHE GROUND OR BENCHES THEY MAY NOT DRAIN PROPERLY ON THE FLAT SURFACE. PARTICULARILY IF PLASTIC POTS! LOTS OF THINGS TO CONSIDER.
CHECKING THE ROOTS AS SUGGESTED IS A GOOD FIRST STEP.

 

[Srt8madness]

Just grind up a little blue bill and sprinkle over soil. Flaccid candles will be ramrod straight before you know it.

 

[Maiden69]

Just grind up a little blue bill

What is a blue bill?

@Brian Van Fleet @River's Edge will check the roots and report. Frank, now that you mention the plastic pots, I think this ones have the holes flat on the bottom, Will definitely check on that and if so, correct immediately.

 

[Srt8madness]

What is a blue bill?

@Brian Van Fleet @River's Edge will check the roots and report. Frank, now that you mention the plastic pots, I think this ones have the holes flat on the bottom, Will definitely check on that and if so, correct immediately.

Fckn auto correct. It was supposed to be a viagra joke. Failed attempt at a little levity

 

[Maiden69]

@Brian Van Fleet @River's Edge below are pics of the roots. There were no white tips anywhere, and the rootball was too wet while the top was dried out. The condition of the second tree deteriorated so I know it is a goner as well. I think something that probably may have contributed to this was that I sprayed them with Sevin because of the caterpillars eating some of my deciduous leaves.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Looks like you found the problem.

 

[Paradox]

Eh.. that sucks
At least you know why I guess

 

[River's Edge]

@Brian Van Fleet @River's Edge below are pics of the roots. There were no white tips anywhere, and the rootball was too wet while the top was dried out. The condition of the second tree deteriorated so I know it is a goner as well. I think something that probably may have contributed to this was that I sprayed them with Sevin because of the caterpillars eating some of my deciduous leaves.

View attachment 549144

View attachment 549145

View attachment 549146

Indicates that the problem started some time ago! Perhaps a winter issue. No white tips at all is the indicator along with the foliage dryness and discolouration. Can take months to get to that stage. Just for reference sake moving forward.

 

[Maiden69]

Indicates that the problem started some time ago! Perhaps a winter issue. No white tips at all is the indicator along with the foliage dryness and discolouration. Can take months to get to that stage. Just for reference sake moving forward.

I didn't think about this... I guess I am losing a few more since most of my yatsubusa JBP I got from MattO did get some frost damage. They did pushed candles rather vigorously, so I thought they were out of harm. The one that died first, pics of the roots, was one of those. Today I noticed another two trees that the candles are starting to bow down. They took much more when they were in my grow beds, but then the rootpouch where in the mulch, not in a pot-in-pot. Hopefully I won't lose more of them. MattO was out of yatubusa seedlings this year when I checked.

 

[NateDyk47]

Sorry to see that. How much sun are they getting on the balcony? When are you moving to a new house?

 

[Maiden69]

Sorry to see that. How much sun are they getting on the balcony? When are you moving to a new house?

not a lot, maybe 2-3 hours direct sun in the late afternoon. Supposed to be closing end of AUG. So pretty much a year of growth wasted.

 

[Maiden69]

I think I may have one more casualty to add on to this thread. It seems as if it is recuperating a little bit, but a lot of the lower branches dried out. If it pulls through I may plant it in the backyard as a niwaki unless I feel like grafting on the lower trunk. Only time will tell now. The one in the red rectangle, the other one don't look so great, but I think that one is due to the lack of sunlight.

 

[namnhi]

I think I may have one more casualty to add on to this thread. It seems as if it is recuperating a little bit, but a lot of the lower branches dried out. If it pulls through I may plant it in the backyard as a niwaki unless I feel like grafting on the lower trunk. Only time will tell now. The one in the red rectangle, the other one don't look so great, but I think that one is due to the lack of sunlight.

View attachment 566120

I am afraid the others also do not look very good. I lost a few after the needle droop like those after a few weeks. They turned brown and died on me. Fingers crossed they make it for you. Hopefully, they are drooping due to the length of it.