Needle Issue - Help Identify and Treat

[TeensyTrees]

Hi folks. I have been having this needle issue with most of my Bald Cypress since mid summer this year and am not sure what it is or how to treat it. The needles take on this rusted look then end up drying up and falling off.

Are any of you familiar with this needle problem and a solution for it? I realize that it is likely late in the season for mitigation, but I planned to address this issue in a more permanent fashion in the upcoming season.

 

[akillas]

They do shed needles naturally around autumn. Is it getting cold there?

If temps are still hot i would say its root/soil issue.

 

[Mikea454]

i just emailed someone the exact same question, my BC also looks the same

 

[TeensyTrees]

They do shed needles naturally around autumn. Is it getting cold there?

If temps are still hot i would say its root/soil issue.

They do, but this issue has been ongoing since early summer. Temps are still in the mid to upper 80s in our area.

 

[akillas]

Did you take it out of the pot to check the roots? What soil is it in and when did you last repot? How often do you water?

 

[TeensyTrees]

Did you take it out of the pot to check the roots? What soil is it in and when did you last repot? How often do you water?

I haven’t removed it from the pot to check the roots. This one is in potting soil with about 15% compost. I have a few saplings I grew this year growing in lava rock and akadama, and a few growing in straight lava rock, akadama, and their native soil.

As far as watering schedules go, most are getting misted twice a day for a few minutes each cycle. The larger trees have radial drippers that thoroughly soak the root zone twice a day. I assumed they’d appreciate the water because Oklahoma summers can be so brutally hot.

The one pictured is one I bought from @Cajunrider, but the rest were either harvested or germinated by me locally.

 

[akillas]

Misting twice a day for minutes is unnatural for this species, its not a tropical, and it could cause Fungus issues. However, I dont see any fungal/bacterial signs. I would look at the soil, possibly its anaerobic by compaction . Its obvious the tree is trying to keep primarily new growth alive,but something is up in the roots and its water uptake/oxygen balance.

 

[TeensyTrees]

Misting twice a day for minutes is unnatural for this species, its not a tropical, and it could cause Fungus issues. However, I dont see any fungal/bacterial signs. I would look at the soil, possibly its anaerobic by compaction . Its obvious the tree is trying to keep primarily new growth alive,but something is up in the roots and its water uptake/oxygen balance.

Roger that! Thank you for taking the time to look at this issue and talk through it. I was primarily misting to reduce the air temps on hot days because so much of what I’ve tried to grow suffers scorch, but what you said about them not being tropical plants makes perfect sense.

I am a bit baffled about each BC exhibiting similar symptoms given the different mediums in which they’re planted. The BCs in inert media are experiencing more of a hydroponic flood/drain cycle than anything.

 

[Mikea454]

For mine the color change started in mid to late summer, got progressively worse for a month and has seemingly stabilized the last few weeks. Mine is also planted in a compost soil mix in a dish tray without bottom drainage as Cajun rider recommended (mine also from him). I do not mist leaves ever, but obviously it's outside and they get wet in the rain.

Teensy, i think we are both looking at Bald cypress summer exhaustion, but was hoping to hear confirmation it wasn't rust mites or some needle.blight.

 

[akillas]

For mine the color change started in mid to late summer, got progressively worse for a month and has seemingly stabilized the last few weeks. Mine is also planted in a compost soil mix in a dish tray without bottom drainage as Cajun rider recommended (mine also from him). I do not mist leaves ever, but obviously it's outside and they get wet in the rain.

Teensy, i think we are both looking at Bald cypress summer exhaustion, but was hoping to hear confirmation it wasn't rust mites or some needle.blight.

Could you elaborate on 'without bottom drainage' ? Im not familiar with this BC technique

 

[TeensyTrees]

Could you elaborate on 'without bottom drainage' ? Im not familiar with this BC technique

To clarify, my largest tree is planted in a bus tray with 25+ holes drilled through the bottom. The other BCs saplings are in nursery pots with ample drainage.

 

[Mikea454]

Could you elaborate on 'without bottom drainage' ? Im not familiar with this BC technique

mine is in a bus tray also, but no drill holes in bottom. I was told I only have to have drill holes in the sides near the top to prevent sucker roots from forming, but my tray is low sided and tree planted high so that hasn't been an issue.

since BC live in a swamp, to my understanding you either need a bucket with no holes (I think only wrll developed trees) or a tray underneath with extra water, as i do with my saplings

 

[DeepSouth]

I keep all of my BC saturated at all times when in development and I never intentionally wet the needles. I would get it into a bigger pot with soil that has a high proportion of organic substrate to keep the moisture up and I would stop misting the tree and water over the soil (or even just sit the entire thing into a water tray (except during winter).

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Hi folks. I have been having this needle issue with most of my Bald Cypress since mid summer this year and am not sure what it is or how to treat it. The needles take on this rusted look then end up drying up and falling off.

Are any of you familiar with this needle problem and a solution for it? I realize that it is likely late in the season for mitigation, but I planned to address this issue in a more permanent fashion in the upcoming season.

Since it's been happening since Mid Summer I'd say it's rust mites. I get the same thing on mine and treat with spinosad (results are undetermined) just realize the needles won't change back to green, but new growth should resume. .