Root Rot?

[FallinTree]

Can anyone confirm? I'm new to this, but I have 5 Nanas like this. I am assuming I watered too much, and they have root rot. This is why I havent bought another Bonsai yet. My mission is to learn how to keep plants alive first.

 

[Jrmcmich]

You keep them inside or outside?

 

[FallinTree]

You keep them inside or outside?

Outside. They get direct morning sun for about 2 hours and direct evening sun for about an hour. They are kept off the ground on a shelf.

 

[nuttiest]

Just look at the roots, if they are black and comes off in a hollow tube when you pull on one it is, if not something else happened.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Unless there is a golden nana juniper cultivar, these are no longer with us.

Sadly,
DSD sends

 

[leatherback]

How do you water these? What has the care regime been?

Rotting roots is not a cause, but a result of something you did.
Most likely let them dry out too much and then watered again.

 

[Shibui]

Without checking the roots it's not possible to know the cause of death. Symptoms of over watering are exactly the same as under watering because both end up dehydrating the branches and foliage.
It is probably a bit late to check the roots on these trees as they have been dead for some time now. In both cases the roots will probably be brown or black now.
Did death happen slowly or quickly?
Do you feel you over watered? That means keeping soil soggy for more than 6 weeks.
Is it more likely you under watered because you were frightened of overwatering? Those are relatively large plants in small pots so it would only take a day to get too dry in Summer conditions.

 

[FallinTree]

I've only had them for 4 weeks. They were purchased online. I would water them nearly daily (it's summer here in NC) as temperatures range from mid-80s to 90. I would water either in the early morning or before sunset. When watering, I would water till the water ran its course through the medium. They turned rather quickly, considering the duration of time I've had them.

 

[rockm]

I've only had them for 4 weeks. They were purchased online. I would water them nearly daily (it's summer here in NC) as temperatures range from mid-80s to 90. I would water either in the early morning or before sunset. When watering, I would water till the water ran its course through the medium. They turned rather quickly, considering the duration of time I've had them.

If you e had them a month it is possible they were damaged in transit to you or just before shipping junipers can take weeks to show damage or dead tissue.

Might not be the case. Worth trying to remember what the temperatures were like the week you got them and the conditions they faced in shipping ( sitting in a metal cargo container in 100 F heat in a runway waiting for loading isn’t a great situation)

 

[FallinTree]

Here are what the roots look like. The soil was a bit soggy but not slimy. The roots seem strong and didn't break easily when I was disturbing the soil or lightly pulling on them. There is no smell. I don't know if these can help determine if it is root rot, or possible underwatering due to the small pots and heat. I just don't know enough. I have two Kishu and three Itoigawa junipers that sit near them and follow the same watering schedule, and they appear to be doing just fine. They are in a different substrate and came from a different place, though.

 

[stubmle]

Given how quickly they turned brown, I suspect they were already dead when you got them. Root rot takes a long time to kill in my experience. May have got cooked in transit like Rockm said. Junipers are pretty drought-tolerant, but enough heat will kill anything.

Would you be willing to name the vendor you got them from?

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Your soil looks to be a heavy peat nursery mix, correct? If so then that is the likely cause, stays too wet. Here in Asheville I water my nana every morning as I have done for years and it keeps chugging along. However my soil is a mix of pumice and permatil plus about 10-15% pine bark. It drains so well I am not sure I,cpuld over water it. BTW nanas need 6 hours or so of direct sunlight not 3 as you’re giving them. Check your local Lowes or Walmart or nursery as you’re likely to find the same plants there for less and you can see them before you buy them.

 

[Attmos]

Without checking the roots it's not possible to know the cause of death. Symptoms of over watering are exactly the same as under watering because both end up dehydrating the branches and foliage.
It is probably a bit late to check the roots on these trees as they have been dead for some time now. In both cases the roots will probably be brown or black now.
Did death happen slowly or quickly?
Do you feel you over watered? That means keeping soil soggy for more than 6 weeks.
Is it more likely you under watered because you were frightened of overwatering? Those are relatively large plants in small pots so it would only take a day to get too dry in Summer conditions.

Over watering takes that long to have an effect? I dunno, that sounds like a long time to me.

 

[Attmos]

If you e had them a month it is possible they were damaged in transit to you or just before shipping junipers can take weeks to show damage or dead tissue.

Might not be the case. Worth trying to remember what the temperatures were like the week you got them and the conditions they faced in shipping ( sitting in a metal cargo container in 100 F heat in a runway waiting for loading isn’t a great situation)

I had a juniper a while ago. They aren't beginner bonsai are they?

 

[Attmos]

If you e had them a month it is possible they were damaged in transit to you or just before shipping junipers can take weeks to show damage or dead tissue.

Might not be the case. Worth trying to remember what the temperatures were like the week you got them and the conditions they faced in shipping ( sitting in a metal cargo container in 100 F heat in a runway waiting for loading isn’t a great situation)

If I get you right, the time of year that you order a tree has a direct affect on it's survival during transport. Good to know.

 

[rockm]

If I get you right, the time of year that you order a tree has a direct affect on it's survival during transport. Good to know.

Yup. Any vendor who is sending you stuff in the hottest part of the summer or the coldest part of the winter should be avoided. Many good online vendors will hold material you’ve bought until the weather allows or simply says you’ll have to wait to get it.

Btw junipers are not really the best beginner trees as beginners tend to overwater. Overtrim and overcare for their trees“loving” them to death. Beginners get jumpers because they want a “pine” like in the movies. Also BTW every bonsai in film tv etc are fantasy.

Best beginner trees are Chinese elm and ficus. Tough resilient

 

[Attmos]

Yup. Any vendor who is sending you stuff in the hottest part of the summer or the coldest part of the winter should be avoided. Many good online vendors will hold material you’ve bought until the weather allows or simply says you’ll have to wait to get it.

Btw junipers are not really the best beginner trees as beginners tend to overwater. Overtrim and overcare for their trees“loving” them to death. Beginners get jumpers because they want a “pine” like in the movies. Also BTW every bonsai in film tv etc are fantasy.

Best beginner trees are Chinese elm and ficus. Tough resilient

All good to know.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

@FallinTree Root rot takes a while, with the tree gradually dying and drying out as the roots die. The foliage goes from a soft dark green to a stiffer grayish green, to eventually becoming bone dry, while often maintaining some of its greenish pigment. This happens over the course of weeks if not months. It is not something that happens overnight or in a couple days. Just looking at your tree I would suspect complete drying out, or heat, or both.