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Sun, May 23, 10 at 11:23
| I got a nice Juniper bonsai for birthday last year (May 24th). For the last few weeks, I have started noticing it looking like it's fading, and perhaps turning brown. I scratched the bark and saw green, so I am convinced it is still alive. I also see new growth coming on the plant. It seems to be suffering in the areas nearest to the main branches more so than on the outer edges of the plant. It has been outside since I've had it, sitting on my patio in south facing light. I do not believe I have been over-watering since I am very cognizant of that, and try to feel for dryness in the soil before I water. I have also put water in the saucer the few hot days we have had. But, that has only been once or twice in 2010. It concerns me that there seems to be a secondary ball of exposed roots ( roots just thicker than heavy sewing thread) exposed just above the soil. I thought those roots might be drying out and causing the problem with the plant. I have noticed this same root configuration on some photos of the Juniper bonsai, however. The plant was a mail order from a Bonsai dealer. It was trained (it is not extremely trained), probably in a 7 or 8 inch pot, and is about 8 inches tall from the bottom of the pot to the top of the tallest part of the plant. It has loose gravel on top of the soil. It stayed outside through the winter blizzards this year where we got probably 40 inches of snow altogether. I left it out through all of this with the thought that it is a tree and should be able to survive. So, I think it made it through all of that just fine, but, I'm thinking now it may have a fungus/virus. Please help. It was growing very vigorusly, but, now it is fading and leaves are beginning to fall off when touched. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Hi -is it in regular soil, or grit (the gravel on top doesn't count unless it goes all the way through). BTW, before I forget, you always measure a plant from the top to where it enters the soil - you didn't say how tall the pot was after all. Also, never ever sit a pot in water (like the saucer) because the water wicks back in and rots the roots as yours probably did, though the worst problem has likely been watering much too often. Whether or not the soil on top is dry is not the point - junipers should be allowed to dry almost all the way in between waterings, but that is also confusing because the tree really should be in mostly grit, not any kind of 'soil', and therefore water should run right through it and be allowed to drain away, so even an extra watering won't kill it. The grit can be many types, look at the bonsaisite.com Soil Forum (under General Discussion) for what to use, and only add a little bit of organic components to the grit, all mixed together. Your tree may already be gone - they take a long time to show it, but if not, then give it what it needs and doesn't need... www.bonsai4me.com has basic information on junipers. |
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- Posted by simsedward (My Page) on Thu, May 27, 10 at 23:34
| Hey Larke - I have been reading your posts and checking the sites you recommended. I have learned a lot - you have great advice, thanks for sharing. |
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| Well, I took my bonsai to the nursery; they put it under the microscope and found it had mites. It is not dying at all--it's doing just fine. I sprayed it with neem oil, and can see it recovering already. Thanks for the help. |
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