White powdery mold

[esons]

So, I was given this Juniper. It's further along in development then I really feel comfortable with, and it's a species I haven't looked to deeply into much. Regardless, I've become quite attached to it, and probably over paranoid about it's health. I think it looks a bit pale, and it's yellowing in spots. It's mostly the more mature growth but some of the inside needles are drying up as well. A white powdery mold has started forming around the base of the trunk. My area doesn't get much sun this time of year, but it's been pretty dry and I've kept it in the brightest part. Is any of this cause for concern?

 

[coppice]

Um, that is not a juniper.

 

[Beng]

So, I was given this Juniper. It's further along in development then I really feel comfortable with, and it's a species I haven't looked to deeply into much. Regardless, I've become quite attached to it, and probably over paranoid about it's health. I think it looks a bit pale, and it's yellowing in spots. It's mostly the more mature growth but some of the inside needles are drying up as well. A white powdery mold has started forming around the base of the trunk. My area doesn't get much sun this time of year, but it's been pretty dry and I've kept it in the brightest part. Is any of this cause for concern?
/Users/carissafritts/Desktop/DSC00355.JPG

I think you have an olive there not a juniper looks like (Olea Europa.) It can take full sun, it likes to dry out between waterings. Sporadic Yellow leaves means its being overwatered usually. As for the white mold that may mean its not getting enough light and staying too wet. Olives are outdoor trees in most parts of california (down to 15 degrees) so if your keeping it indoors that's your biggest problem.

Also what's that circular tube off to the right?

 

[Mellow Mullet]

I think that the circular tube is a wine cork, maybe put in the picture for scale.

John

 

[esons]

Yeah, that's not the right tree at all. I'm not sure how that happened, I tried to put three completely different pictures in that post. I'll try again here.
http://bonsainut.com/forums/images/attach/jpg.gif

http://bonsainut.com/forums/images/attach/jpg.gif

http://bonsainut.com/forums/images/attach/jpg.gif

 

[toadmyster223]

that looks like hard water scale to me

 

[edprocoat]

Those brown things are nothing to worry about, I call them cones, not sure if thats what they are though. They usually happen on my junipers in the spring on years that I get lots of growth on the plant. Mine always turn brown and usually fall off after a while, I think of them as miniature pine/juniper cones. Either way when I get them I know its going to explode with growth.

ed

 

[discusmike]

Yes, looks like olive from what I can see.

 

[esons]

Hard water scale, I suppose that could be it. I haven't noticed it much on my other yard plants, but I do water them differently (hose as opposed to can). I suppose I should test my water, any suggestions for a good test? Could hard water be harmful to plants, perhaps causing the yellowing?

So those cones aren't a bad thing, good to know. I was wondering if I should pick them off or not. It's actually the yellowing of the leaves around them that had me worried though. It's hard to tell from my pictures but the tree has a drab look about it. Pale green with yellow creeping up some of the leaves. Mostly the mature foliage (or what I believe is mature, the less needle looking leaves), but some of the needles at the base of the branches have started dying off.

Thanks for the helpful information, and listening to an ignorant fool.

 

[esons]

One more question. It's finally started to rain here, thankfully. It may rain pretty hard for a while though. Could it be too much water for any of the plants?

 

[GrimLore]

Collect the rain as much as possible as it has none of the chemicals like public or well water. If your plants are draining well I don't think you will need to worry about it unless it is torrents day after day.

Grimmy

 

[toadmyster223]

Definitely don't pick all those things off, that will make your tree very sad I think


And hard water, unless its really bad, shouldn't harm your trees. I water my trees with a waterbottle with a pinhole in the lid, and when I use anything besides good distilled water, it builds up in about 3 days. I'd suggest just buying distilled water, at ~1 dollar a gallon, its a lot cheaper than any filter you're going to get into.