One browning Italian cypress among 10 in a container

[Fml-wabisabi]

Had this under a year and have been following watering and green green additive advice from nursery. Seeing more significant browning lately on one specific tree that’s most southward facing (although the other trees get just as much sun). Any ideas to try and save? Or do I remove before others follow suit?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Where are you located/USDA zone? What soil is it in? Does it drain well when watered? Do you use fertilizer or spray a fungicide? Have you checked it for pests? Too much water or soil with poor drainage will cause the tree to turn brown and can also cause root rot. Too little water will also cause browning. After watering allow the soil to dry out before watering again.

 

[Fml-wabisabi]

Hello. I’m in Los Angeles (zone 9/10). Not sure what soil it’s in. It was a gift and came in the container pictured. The vendor said it didn’t need to be drained (although every where I have read indicates otherwise). No fertilizer of fungicide. Just the recommended green green liquid advise again by vendor. I haven’t noticed any particular pests aside from some thin wispy spider webs. The water seeps in as long as I spray with a mist or something similar. Previously the soil was covered in a moss but that has since died off. I have had other bonsai that I have replanted in proper soil with drainage and they died off due to some browning issues too (different species).

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Hello. I’m in Los Angeles (zone 9/10). Not sure what soil it’s in. It was a gift and came in the container pictured. The vendor said it didn’t need to be drained (although every where I have read indicates otherwise). No fertilizer of fungicide. Just the recommended green green liquid advise again by vendor. I haven’t noticed any particular pests aside from some thin wispy spider webs. The water seeps in as long as I spray with a mist or something similar. Previously the soil was covered in a moss but that has since died off. I have had other bonsai that I have replanted in proper soil with drainage and they died off due to some browning issues too (different species).

The damage and the presence of webs leads me to believe you may have spider mites. They're really small and hard to see with the naked eye. Spray the plant thoroughly with insecticidal soap to kill spider mites on contact and prevent new ones from invading for up to 30 days. Rinse off the soap after 15 minutes and follow up with plain water to remove any residue. You can buy insecticidal soap at garden stores and online.

Once the tree is healthy you should use a slow release granular fertilizer. Trees need nutrients, and once they're in a pot we need to feed them. I'd also repot that into better soil at the appropriate time, not sure if it's spring or fall with this species. Good luck.

 

[WNC Bonsai]

It sounds like you’ve had problems in the past with trees dying, what is your water quality? I would expect LA ground water to be high pH with a lot of dissolved solids. How frequently do you water and how deep? How do you know when to water?

 

[penumbra]

My take is either mites. as suggested above, or a watering condition. Of course they need to drain well, but these look very much like they are on the dry side.

 

[Fml-wabisabi]

It sounds like you’ve had problems in the past with trees dying, what is your water quality? I would expect LA ground water to be high pH with a lot of dissolved solids. How frequently do you water and how deep? How do you know when to water?

I have had problems however previous issue was gardeners didn’t know not to water and overwatered multiple Chinese juniper. I have no idea what water quality is. Any recs on how to test? I watered every 5 days unless rain or excessive heat. I try to mist until the basin is full (following advice from nursery).

 

[Fml-wabisabi]

The damage and the presence of webs leads me to believe you may have spider mites. They're really small and hard to see with the naked eye. Spray the plant thoroughly with insecticidal soap to kill spider mites on contact and prevent new ones from invading for up to 30 days. Rinse off the soap after 15 minutes and follow up with plain water to remove any residue. You can buy insecticidal soap at garden stores and online.

Once the tree is healthy you should use a slow release granular fertilizer. Trees need nutrients, and once they're in a pot we need to feed them. I'd also repot that into better soil at the appropriate time, not sure if it's spring or fall with this species. Good luck.

In regards to the insecticidal soap- do I rinse with plain water? And then follow up with plain water? And do I apply soap to standing tree as is? (As in I do not remove it) any risk of blowback onto other trees? Will spiders just jump to new tree? Sorry- this was a pretty sentimental gift and I really don’t want them to die.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

In regards to the insecticidal soap- do I rinse with plain water? And then follow up with plain water? And do I apply soap to standing tree as is? (As in I do not remove it) any risk of blowback onto other trees? Will spiders just jump to new tree? Sorry- this was a pretty sentimental gift and I really don’t want them to die.

The soap should kill the mites, and not harm the tree or anything else the spray touches, apply as tree is & since you have a forest I'd spray all of the trees, the pot, the soil, underneath the canopy, sideways, upside down, everything. (you can't see them so spray to be safe) wait 15 mins or so and rinse off with plain old water. The soap can be made at home, I've been doing it for 20 years with no adverse affects. The one I posted below I don't rinse off, and I've never had a problem.

Courtesy of the Milwaukee Bonsai Society Newsletter.

Pour 1-2 tablespoons of original Dawn dishwashing detergent and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a gallon jug.
Slowly add water to fill the jug.
Pour part of this solution into a spray bottle and add 2 capfuls of rubbing alcohol.

Use immediately.

If there is any solution left in the spray bottle, add 2 more capfuls of alcohol the next time you want to spray your trees.
It seems that the contents of the gallon jug (soap and vegetable oil solution) can be stored for months without it going bad.

Spray on plants covering all leaf and stem surfaces.
You may have to spray from 3 - 4 times with intervals of 3 days.
Almost any kind of pest, including scale, can be eliminated using this solution.
It is not necessary to wash off the spray as no adverse reactions have been found.