bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post

It doesn't look like it's too far gone but if you have a juniper that is shaded part of the day AND the foliage is too dense for lack of pinching or pruning, just those two problems alone create a situation that is ripe for disaster. Certain pests will thrive in these conditions. Spider mites just for starters. Get that tree out into full sun all day long if possible. Get into that foliage and thin it out a bit so that air and sunlight can get in there. I would spray it just to be on the safe side....something that kills mites amoung other pests. Some folks spray as needed but I am a firm believer in prevention.

As for the soil, I did a test with the "stay dry" stuff. I put some in a small amount of water to see how long it would take to break down....it only took a little over a day. If you can't find a kiln fired clay product to use in your soil, use the very small river rock from a garden shop or stone center.... It generally runs about $8 for a fifty pound bag and comes in several sizes. Get the smallest size...about the size of two pinheads, and use that.
Now is not the optimum time to repot so hopefully if you give it more sun, thin the foliage out and spray it, you can hold off until the right time for repotting in your area. Early spring.
Good luck with your tree.

16-Aug-2007	#10
susieq Intermediate Join Date: Jun-2002 Location: Hudson, FL Country: USA Posts: 487	dying juniper... It doesn't look like it's too far gone but if you have a juniper that is shaded part of the day AND the foliage is too dense for lack of pinching or pruning, just those two problems alone create a situation that is ripe for disaster. Certain pests will thrive in these conditions. Spider mites just for starters. Get that tree out into full sun all day long if possible. Get into that foliage and thin it out a bit so that air and sunlight can get in there. I would spray it just to be on the safe side....something that kills mites amoung other pests. Some folks spray as needed but I am a firm believer in prevention. As for the soil, I did a test with the "stay dry" stuff. I put some in a small amount of water to see how long it would take to break down....it only took a little over a day. If you can't find a kiln fired clay product to use in your soil, use the very small river rock from a garden shop or stone center.... It generally runs about $8 for a fifty pound bag and comes in several sizes. Get the smallest size...about the size of two pinheads, and use that. Now is not the optimum time to repot so hopefully if you give it more sun, thin the foliage out and spray it, you can hold off until the right time for repotting in your area. Early spring. Good luck with your tree.