Yellowing Juniper

[djrey]

Hello all. I’m aware this is an often discussed topic and the answers vary a lot but was hoping I can get some opinions on my tree.

This tree is planted in a mix of 80% perlite and 20% peat. Lives in about 8-10 hours of full sun everyday. I got this tree in March and repotted it the same month leaving all the roots but just removing some of the native soil for the free flow blend.

I noticed spider mites a few months ago and used the hose treatment of trying to blast them off. I cannot find anymore mites so I believe I corrected the issue but a lot of the foliage had that dull color pin pricked appearance where the mites sucked.

My tree has been gradually having more and more foliage turn yellow/brown and die off. Under the bark is still green if scratches and it does look to have new grow to but the yellowing is still scaring me. Wondering if it’s maybe the dialogue that was attacked by the mites dying off? Maybe overwatering?

Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks everyone!

 

[Shibui]

A couple of things from your post.
When you say 'remove native soil' does that imply this tree was collected from wild or a garden?
I note it has been wired and bent. What time of year was that bending done?
Where in the world are you keeping the tree? So many different climates and seasons vary so it is important we understand where you are.

 

[leatherback]

Looks a lot like wiring damage. Either twisting the foliage at the connection to the trunk, or the bark in the trunk slipping when wiring. Some of thes ebranches seem to show new growth.
I would just leave it alone, and allow the tree to decide what parts die-off further.

This is not what pest-related problems look like. This is more in the mechanical damage corner

 

[pmalelis]

Hello all. I’m aware this is an often discussed topic and the answers vary a lot but was hoping I can get some opinions on my tree.

This tree is planted in a mix of 80% perlite and 20% peat. Lives in about 8-10 hours of full sun everyday. I got this tree in March and repotted it the same month leaving all the roots but just removing some of the native soil for the free flow blend.

I noticed spider mites a few months ago and used the hose treatment of trying to blast them off. I cannot find anymore mites so I believe I corrected the issue but a lot of the foliage had that dull color pin pricked appearance where the mites sucked.

My tree has been gradually having more and more foliage turn yellow/brown and die off. Under the bark is still green if scratches and it does look to have new grow to but the yellowing is still scaring me. Wondering if it’s maybe the dialogue that was attacked by the mites dying off? Maybe overwatering?

Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks everyone!

Over watering is a long term chronic condition. Not acute like under watering. This looks like stress damage from repotting or wiring. Don't let the term damage scare you. It's fine let it grow.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Watering damage would be universal. This damage is very specific - with some branches showing both strong healthy growth and browning. If I had to guess, it's wiring damage. No worries - the tree itself looks healthy - just let it alone to recover.

 

[djrey]

Thank you everyone. So I wired this up in March. About a month ago I came back and tightened some bends as I wasn’t totally happy with the design. I didn’t go the opposite way or anything, just tightened. Sounds like that was the mistake then. Plan on leaving it alone to grow for a while now so hopefully it has a full recovery.

Growing this in southeast PA.

Thanks again!

 

[Shibui]

Wiring damage was my thought also, which was why I asked when it was shaped last.
All bending does some damage to the cambium layer under the bark. You won't notice at the time but damage is there.
Junipers are particularly prone to this damage, especially when bent while they are actively growing because the bark separates very easily. Much safer to do bending later in Summer and into Winter when the trees are not growing. The second bends may just have broken the few remaining threads of cambium and sapwood that were keeping those branches alive.

My experience is that section is now dead. You can probably trace the dying branch(es) back to the damaged section. Everything below is fine. Everything above is dead.
Whenever this has happened to me I just remove the dead section and restyle the tree with the live parts. Sometimes it's actually a bonus because the dead part was way too long and skinny anyway. Losing it makes the tree more compact.
Hope you can show us what you make of the live section that's left.

 

[djrey]

Wiring damage was my thought also, which was why I asked when it was shaped last.
All bending does some damage to the cambium layer under the bark. You won't notice at the time but damage is there.
Junipers are particularly prone to this damage, especially when bent while they are actively growing because the bark separates very easily. Much safer to do bending later in Summer and into Winter when the trees are not growing. The second bends may just have broken the few remaining threads of cambium and sapwood that were keeping those branches alive.

My experience is that section is now dead. You can probably trace the dying branch(es) back to the damaged section. Everything below is fine. Everything above is dead.
Whenever this has happened to me I just remove the dead section and restyle the tree with the live parts. Sometimes it's actually a bonus because the dead part was way too long and skinny anyway. Losing it makes the tree more compact.
Hope you can show us what you make of the live section that's left.

Thanks for the insight. Actually have 3 starter Kishus on the way from bonsaify now and was wondering if this fall would be the ideal time to style, so your advice is helpful.

Yes, bits that are dying off are overall small and wispy and would not be too detrimental to die off. Will certainly keep pics coming in as these continue their journey.