Juniper infection? Help

YaBoyMyth

Mame
Messages
118
Reaction score
54
Location
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
USDA Zone
10a
I went on vacation for a month and had my brother watching this little guy. Came back and it’s not looking good. Started treating with been oil a week ago showing no improvement. Anyone know what this is? Fungus? Blight? Insect? It’s all the little black dots everywhere. And some of the tips look like they are dying? Really wanna keep this guy. It was the first thing I ever got as far as bonsai and even though he’s small and not very nice he holds a special place in my heart.
 

Attachments

  • 3FD83193-D09E-4734-A1A2-EA011C9F7E31.jpeg
    3FD83193-D09E-4734-A1A2-EA011C9F7E31.jpeg
    138.9 KB · Views: 85
  • 262DA5C8-3738-4B5A-8D47-EFC4B1A03E55.jpeg
    262DA5C8-3738-4B5A-8D47-EFC4B1A03E55.jpeg
    185 KB · Views: 86
  • 64FA54B9-BAF9-4410-B7D0-7B2200466E53.jpeg
    64FA54B9-BAF9-4410-B7D0-7B2200466E53.jpeg
    204.6 KB · Views: 84
  • 9DD571A9-036E-4F87-8EAE-282064463789.jpeg
    9DD571A9-036E-4F87-8EAE-282064463789.jpeg
    169.7 KB · Views: 80
  • AB9DD545-E1E3-48FB-8A27-F1337ABD0CA1.jpeg
    AB9DD545-E1E3-48FB-8A27-F1337ABD0CA1.jpeg
    154.8 KB · Views: 83
What's the black stuff in the soil? Also, what's been oil?

I don't see any particular worrying signs.
 
Been oil is probably neem oil.
I also don't see anything shocking.
Probably, but I've seen my fair share of oil mishaps in the past.
Especially because some websites claim neem is antifungal, which it is just as much as linnseed oil, rapeseed oil or sunflower oil. And some of these websites don't mention dilutions or emulsions.
It (neem oil emulsion) is used against minor insect problems, once, maybe twice a month. Anything more than that isn't going to work and will hurt the plants.
It might help prevent mildew a little bit, but soap does that too. Could be either one of the ingredients.

I mentioned the black stuff in the soil because it could be the cause of the black dots everywhere.
A couple days ago I thought I found rust on a juniper but I forgot that I sprinkled sea weed on them a month prior. It was sea weed, not rust.
Then I found black spots, which were charcoal.. Because I've been filling bags with charcoal next to that plant.

We love making our own problems, even when they're not there ;-)
 
I‘d trade a little juniper like that for a month-long vaca any day of the week.😂

Seriously though, the specks look like scale or droppings from something else. Photos aren’t clear enough to tell, but the foliage color looks ok, so just keep an eye on it and see if anything changes over the next couple weeks. Scale and aphids leave behind a sticky residue. Fungal issues will likely be more sooty or slimy.
 
Looks like a few needles died but can't really see anything else....hope you didn't yell at your brother for it lol. I've heard many worse stories of caretaker disasters
 
I‘d trade a little juniper like that for a month-long vaca any day of the week.😂

Seriously though, the specks look like scale or droppings from something else. Photos aren’t clear enough to tell, but the foliage color looks ok, so just keep an eye on it and see if anything changes over the next couple weeks. Scale and aphids leave behind a sticky residue. Fungal issues will likely be more sooty or slimy.
if it is whats the best treatment?
 
Back
Top Bottom