Recently repotted JBP has browning needles

[Bonsaidoodle]

Recently (3/24/25) I removed my 2 1/2 year old black pine from its pot to trim roots. I replanted in same pot with fresh soil. About 2-3 days after repotting, I pulled a good amount of needles and trimmed remaining ones. Some of the top needles on the most mature growth started to brown and now tips of needles I trimmed are beginning to brown as well.

Just wanted to get some thoughts and suggestions from you all. Am I doing anything wrong?
Any advice or comments are greatly appreciated
Thanks!

 

[namnhi]

dead in 3 weeks. Prove me wrong. That happens even when you did everything right.

 

[Bonsaidoodle]

dead in 3 weeks. Prove me wrong. That happens even when you did everything right.

Jeez, thanks a lot for the help…

 

[Cadillactaste]

I don't see the new candles. Were they moving? I was told not to repot my JBP until candles were moving.

 

[mrcasey]

If you're a beginner and you're going to repot and root prune a pine, you don't want to be doing any additional work to it until a season has passed and it's showing vigor. That means no needle plucking, pruning, bending, or anything. Also, where are the terminal buds? It almost looks like they were cut off.

Pines are really, really persnickety about having their roots messed with. Unless the tree was rootbound and/or you had root rot, it would have been a bad idea to cut roots.

 

[Wulfskaar]

It does look like the candles have been cut, but not recently. Did you do that? If not, maybe a squirrel or some kind of insect?

I think the only thing you can do at this point is to wait and see what happens.

Last year, one of mine fell in a windstorm and the roots were exposed to hot wind and hot sun for a whole day while I was at work. It turned yellow and died within a couple weeks. If yours remains alive, it will probably try to push buds from needles or from near the candles by June or so. I wish you luck!

 

[namnhi]

All the needles are dropping. If it has not been on the dry side and extremely hot then the root is compromised. You be lucky if it live.

 

[Bonsaidoodle]

It does look like the candles have been cut, but not recently. Did you do that? If not, maybe a squirrel or some kind of insect?

I think the only thing you can do at this point is to wait and see what happens.

Last year, one of mine fell in a windstorm and the roots were exposed to hot wind and hot sun for a whole day while I was at work. It turned yellow and died within a couple weeks. If yours remains alive, it will probably try to push buds from needles or from near the candles by June or so. I wish you luck!

I watched videos and read articles about timing but failed to check forums like this. Only growth at top of branches were small and brown which I thought were baby pinecones. I read that I should remove them from most mature branches by twisting with fingers and it would promote candle growth. I removed them that after the repot when I pulled needles. There was no candles on pine at time of repot/root trim.

I guess I screwed the timing and method up royally. I will pray to the bonsai gods that it survives the shock.

 

[Bonsaidoodle]

If you're a beginner and you're going to repot and root prune a pine, you don't want to be doing any additional work to it until a season has passed and it's showing vigor. That means no needle plucking, pruning, bending, or anything. Also, where are the terminal buds? It almost looks like they were cut off.

Pines are really, really persnickety about having their roots messed with. Unless the tree was rootbound and/or you had root rot, it would have been a bad idea to cut roots.

I am definitely a beginner lol. I’ve been trying to do research by watching YouTube vids and reading articles but had not joined a forum until I saw signs of decline and was scrambling for answers.

The pine only had small brown buds at time of repot. I thought they were pinecones and I read that if I removed them, it would promote candle growth during the spring.

I was unaware of all your information and I’m thankful you shared it. I wish I joined this forum prior to messing with my tree. If it dies, I have learned an invaluable lesson that will make me a more knowledgeable grower in the future

I appreciate your reply. Hopefully my little buddy has the strength to endure my idiocy lol

 

[Bonsaidoodle]

I don't see the new candles. Were they moving? I was told not to repot my JBP until candles were moving.

No candle movement. I wasn’t aware of that fact.
I probably didn’t even need to repot and trim roots and was trying to be proactive before weather warmed.

I’m such a noob and my ignorance will most likely result in the downfall of my favorite tree lol. Thanks for the reply!

 

[Cadillactaste]

No candle movement. I wasn’t aware of that fact.
I probably didn’t even need to repot and trim roots and was trying to be proactive before weather warmed.

I’m such a noob and my ignorance will most likely result in the downfall of my favorite tree lol. Thanks for the reply!

Know this... you are not the first and won't be the last. For years I was scared of pine. One actually told me to be prepared to kill my first 8 pine. That... I chose to just be a deciduous gal. It was years before I finally added a JBP. But I had seen many make similar mistakes. Adair Martin actually told me I knew the biggest factor going in. Common mistakes...and wouldn't make them. So I had an upper advantage.

I also don't believe a mistake is that...if a lesson is learned. You truly seem to have learned a lesson here. You won't make that mistake again.

Now, not that I've lost many trees over the years. But when I have...I use it as a culling of sorts. I replace it with something much nicer. With that in mind. It comes easier knowing the replacement will he nicer. So think that way... lesson learned...and be determined to find a tad nicer one in some way. When you find it replacement... they also don't like their roots overly worked. Partial bare root is the way to go as well. This is an amazing hobby don't let this experience ruin it for ya. Keep at it... you'll get there.

 

[Shibui]

I'm always an optimist so please continue care until the tree recovers or is obviously dead. Most trees do not give up easily so, while there's still green, there's still some hope.

Mostly the needles look OK. There's just a few at the top of a couple of upper branches that appear to be starting to brown off so, overall not too bad at this stage. Fingers crossed.
Pines are quite capable of making new buds from the needles in they need to so there's a good chance of seeing new buds in a month or 2 -if it gets over the current setbacks.
You still have healthy buds on the smaller, lower branches so even if the upper branches fail to make new shoots it could grow from those shoots.

 

[SeanS]

Only growth at top of branches were small and brown which I thought were baby pinecones. I read that I should remove them from most mature branches by twisting with fingers and it would promote candle growth. I removed them that after the repot when I pulled needles. There was no candles on pine at time of repot/root trim.

Sounds like you removed all of the new terminal buds. Cones don’t form until the spring candles have elongated after which time they form on the ends of the extended candles. You may have mistakenly identified the small, brownish terminal buds for what you thought were cones forming.

Did the things you removed look anything like this?

 

[Bonsaidoodle]

Sounds like you removed all of the new terminal buds. Cones don’t form until the spring candles have elongated after which time they form on the ends of the extended candles. You may have mistakenly identified the small, brownish terminal buds for what you thought were cones forming.

Did the things you removed look anything like this?

View attachment 590752

That’s super zoomed in but does look similar. I only removed them from my most mature branches. I have not touched needles or buds on younger branches

 

[SeanS]

That’s super zoomed in but does look similar. I only removed them from my most mature branches. I have not touched needles or buds on younger branches

Those are terminal buds, not cones. If you removed those then you made a mistake.

 

[Bonsaidoodle]

Those are terminal buds, not cones. If you removed those then you made a mistake.

One of many lol. Thanks for replying brodie

 

[Bonsaidoodle]

Those are terminal buds, not cones. If you removed those then you made a mistake.

These are terminal buds?

 

[SeanS]

These are terminal buds?

Yes 100% terminal buds, the buds on the end of existing shoots that will start growing in spring and make the tree get bigger. Once it starts warming up you’ll see them start getting bigger and some green starting to appear as the bud stretches out a bit. Then needles will start to form on the new shoot as it extends.

 

[Bonsaidoodle]

Yes 100% terminal buds, the buds on the end of existing shoots that will start growing in spring and make the tree get bigger. Once it starts warming up you’ll see them start getting bigger and some green starting to appear as the bud stretches out a bit. Then needles will start to form on the new shoot as it extends.

6 of the 9 branches still have buds. I only removed them from 3 most mature branches.

I took the pictures from original post on Wednesday. No visible signs of further decline since then

 

[Bonsaidoodle]

I'm always an optimist so please continue care until the tree recovers or is obviously dead. Most trees do not give up easily so, while there's still green, there's still some hope.

Mostly the needles look OK. There's just a few at the top of a couple of upper branches that appear to be starting to brown off so, overall not too bad at this stage. Fingers crossed.
Pines are quite capable of making new buds from the needles in they need to so there's a good chance of seeing new buds in a month or 2 -if it gets over the current setbacks.
You still have healthy buds on the smaller, lower branches so even if the upper branches fail to make new shoots it could grow from those shoots.

I am an optimist as well so I will keep glass half full. The pictures were from Wednesday earlier this week and I haven’t noticed any further browning since then. Hopefully it stays that way