Several candles browned rapidly on JBP

[Matt3839]

several of the candles on my JBP turned brown within a few days. I cut them off and inspected but there’s no sign of borers or pine tip moths. Any one else have an idea what it could be?
It was repotted from nursery pot in Jan in 1:1:1 with some domestic soil, but watered regularly when needed. Not sure what this could be. So far it hasn’t seemed to affect any of the other candles and it’s been a week.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Investigate closely base of dead part for any sign of caterpillars or worms. Since not all are affected this seems a likely cause. Possibly they already matured and move on.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Could be pine blight too. It advances rapidly but I'd rule out insects first.

 

[Paradox]

several of the candles on my JBP turned brown within a few days. I cut them off and inspected but there’s no sign of borers or pine tip moths. Any one else have an idea what it could be?
It was repotted from nursery pot in Jan in 1:1:1 with some domestic soil, but watered regularly when needed. Not sure what this could be. So far it hasn’t seemed to affect any of the other candles and it’s been a week.

My first thought was tip moth but since you didn't find any:

How hot has it been there lately and how often are you watering? Although too little water should effect the whole tree not just one candle.

On expanding the picture, is there webbing on the brown candles? Spider mites?

 

[Matt3839]

I did a pretty thorough inspection and didn't find any insect signs. Nothing looks eaten, inside or out. The brown candles are bone dry and crispy.

a few of the 2nd year needle tips are brown so it could be tip blight.. but it seems mainly isolated to those couple of candles- which were removed.

its been pretty hot and it sits in all day sun. It does get watered when it needs it but maybe being in a colander I misjudged how dry it got.. it’s my first and only pine in a colander so it’s entirely possible.

I may treat with a copper fungicide just in case and try to up the watering a bit.

 

[Paradox]

its been pretty hot and it sits in all day sun. It does get watered when it needs it but maybe being in a colander I misjudged how dry it got.. it’s my first and only pine in a colander so it’s entirely possible.

LA area is hot and dry so fungus shouldnt be a problem......How often does it seem to need watering?
With that open soil, Id guess that if you are not watering at least once if its been over 70 degrees and twice if its over 90, its not enough

 

[Matt3839]

LA area is hot and dry so fungus shouldnt be a problem......How often does it seem to need watering?
With that open soil, Id guess that if you are not watering at least once if its been over 70 degrees and twice if its over 90, its not enough

It’s actually in the east bay, northern CA - Which is close to as hot.

Yeah I was doing once a day and it’s been in the 90s. So you’re probably right. I just dried it out too much with the open colander :/

 

[River's Edge]

It’s actually in the east bay, northern CA - Which is close to as hot.

Yeah I was doing once a day and it’s been in the 90s. So you’re probably right. I just dried it out too much with the open colander :/

In a colander i would be watering two to three times per day with temperatures in the 80's. When I first started with colanders I was amazed at how fast they would dry out particularly if it was windy at all. For peace of mind might I suggest using a second larger colander under the first for a plant that size. Will buffer the drying out and also allow for root pruning to keep a more compact root ball.

 

[Matt3839]

Ok good to know. Thanks for the advice I’ll be more diligent with it.
Would you fill the second colander with same substrate?

 

[River's Edge]

Ok good to know. Thanks for the advice I’ll be more diligent with it.
Would you fill the second colander with same substrate?

Yes same substrate and same particle size in the mix. could also use an Anderson flat if larger colander is not easily fit or obtained. The Anderson flat has great drainage and would provide a lt of extra substrate for moisture retention and insulation from the heat.

 

[vancehanna]

I'm in the East Bay and will say that the heat will dry out a pine or such in a small container very quickly. I'd consider larger container* or watch your watering. The only saving grace here is the breeze we get from the lake by 5PM...and on.
But watch your bonsai as the temps in straight 90's for days will take 'em out if not watered properly.

*Larger container or if possible I'd grow it in the ground unabated for a few years and see the growth!