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G'day Vero...

Welcome to the world of bonsai...

You wrote "...hello i was on a live chat and they told me that u may be able to help me with my tree. i think it's dying. i live in the desert 1 hr away from yuma az and i believe my tree is a juniper i have kept it inside and now it's turning brown and brittle i don't know what to do, can i save it?? please any help would be greatly appreciated. 1 other thing i'm new to this so i get a little confused u think u could write back at my personal email?? vero..."

Let's see if we can help...one step at a time...

I BELIEVE MY TREE IS A JUNIPER...
It is important to know specifically what your tree is since care requirements differ from one tree to another...even from one juniper to another...

I THINK IT'S DYING...IT'S TURNING BROWN AND BRITTLE...
"Brown and brittle" generally means that it's too late for the tree. If your tree is a Juniper... Junipers usually hold a healthy, green appearance 3-4 months before the "brown and brittle" takes over. However, here's one thing you can check...with a knife, scrape through the bark, and if there is a thin layer of green, under the bark, there is a chance that the tree can be saved.

I HAVE KEPT IT INSIDE...one of the first things that most beginners do wrong is to try to keep bonsai indoors. ALL plants are outdoor plants. There are however, some plants that adapt more readily to the indoor life...plants that are called "indoor plants" are mostly tropicals such as Ficus and Schefflera.

Now, assuming that your tree is a Juniper...It must be kept outdoors, and in the Yuma area, it should be kept under a shade screen (as long as high temps exceed 85-90F), and it needs protection from the hot desert winds. During hot weather (85-90F), if shade screen is not an option, your plants should never be exposed to direct sun light, except in the morning. And for our purposes, MORNING ENDS ABOUT 9:30AM.

Watering is another subject, but for starters, as a regular routine, you should not water on a fixed schedule like, once a day, or twice a day, every day. Each bonsai should be watered when water is needed. In general, the soil should not be allowed to dry out completely...it should not be kept constantly wet...damp, but not wet.

Please keep in mind, Vero, that I have no actual experience with bonsai in the desert EXCEPT at elevations over 3,000 feet.

I hope this is helpful...

Pat

__________________
BONSAI isn't about surviving in a storm, rather, how to dance in the rain.
THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life.

Pat Patterson...Bonsai in the Greater Bay Area, Northern California

23-May-2006	#5
PatArizona Bonsai Master, in my mind Join Date: Feb-2005 Location: Back Home in Northern California Country: USA Posts: 2,249	G'day Vero... Welcome to the world of bonsai... You wrote "...hello i was on a live chat and they told me that u may be able to help me with my tree. i think it's dying. i live in the desert 1 hr away from yuma az and i believe my tree is a juniper i have kept it inside and now it's turning brown and brittle i don't know what to do, can i save it?? please any help would be greatly appreciated. 1 other thing i'm new to this so i get a little confused u think u could write back at my personal email?? vero..." Let's see if we can help...one step at a time... I BELIEVE MY TREE IS A JUNIPER... It is important to know specifically what your tree is since care requirements differ from one tree to another...even from one juniper to another... I THINK IT'S DYING...IT'S TURNING BROWN AND BRITTLE... "Brown and brittle" generally means that it's too late for the tree. If your tree is a Juniper... Junipers usually hold a healthy, green appearance 3-4 months before the "brown and brittle" takes over. However, here's one thing you can check...with a knife, scrape through the bark, and if there is a thin layer of green, under the bark, there is a chance that the tree can be saved. I HAVE KEPT IT INSIDE...one of the first things that most beginners do wrong is to try to keep bonsai indoors. ALL plants are outdoor plants. There are however, some plants that adapt more readily to the indoor life...plants that are called "indoor plants" are mostly tropicals such as Ficus and Schefflera. Now, assuming that your tree is a Juniper...It must be kept outdoors, and in the Yuma area, it should be kept under a shade screen (as long as high temps exceed 85-90F), and it needs protection from the hot desert winds. During hot weather (85-90F), if shade screen is not an option, your plants should never be exposed to direct sun light, except in the morning. And for our purposes, MORNING ENDS ABOUT 9:30AM. Watering is another subject, but for starters, as a regular routine, you should not water on a fixed schedule like, once a day, or twice a day, every day. Each bonsai should be watered when water is needed. In general, the soil should not be allowed to dry out completely...it should not be kept constantly wet...damp, but not wet. Please keep in mind, Vero, that I have no actual experience with bonsai in the desert EXCEPT at elevations over 3,000 feet. I hope this is helpful... Pat __________________ BONSAI isn't about surviving in a storm, rather, how to dance in the rain. THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life. Pat Patterson...Bonsai in the Greater Bay Area, Northern California