Originally Posted by kalima13

Hello all, I'm new and need some help with a diagnosis.

I was gifted a needle juniper last August and until about three weeks ago it seemed healthy. Unfortunately, I have to keep it indoors since I live in Boston; I realize that the juniper is an outdoor plant, and I've been doing my best to monitor the humidity and light levels despite the fact that outdoors would be preferable---I've only given it a bit more water over the summer to keep it from drying out. Over the last winter I kept it in a back room with no heat, weak light, and occasional watering. The window was open a bit as long as the temperature was in the double-digits. I'm worried that the tree has not wintered properly and is suffering as a result.

This, unfortunately for my inexperience, is no mallsai. It's a formidable windswept-cascade style that originated from a specialty nursery. The middle section of each large needle, on the outermost clouds, has turned gray. The trunk is still well alive, as are most of the branches; the scratch test turns green. There were red spider mites about six months ago, but the tree (one cloud) was treated and they haven't been seen since. I've taken the liberty of removing the wiring in case the sap flow was somehow restricted and checked the roots for pests (I can't find any).

Is this somehow a case of classic overwatering? Or is there another possible cause? Is it just going into dormancy early? And, most importantly, how can I help get the tree healthy again without the option of placing it outdoors?

Thank you very much for your help,
Sabrena