Sick Bonsai

cruella

Hello everyone. I have had a bonsai for about 4 years now. It was a gift, and I've been doing well with it (seeing as I did not know about all these little things you should do for it). While not being completely ignorant, I definately don't know half of the techniques and procedures needed to take care of the tree. Its a juniper, and like I mentioned, has been very healthy. I have kept it indoors, and have repotted it once. The problem is that out of nowhere, a section has turned brown and died basically. It is near the middle, but the other branches don't seem to be affected. Is my tree dying? Is there anything I can do to save it? Its very special to me, and I've had it a long time. I'd appreciate any feedback or tips. Thanks so much.

Cruella

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Here's some information on dieback

It would be great if you could post a picture. Interior branches can die off from lack of light or ventilation, while the exterior of the tree remains healthy.

As a juniper matures, older branches will change from succulent green to a smooth red bark and may go on to develop a shaggy brown bark. In the process the branches' lose their ability to photosynthesize. This process is sometimes confused with dieback, but in this case, the terminal ends of the branches would all remain green and continue growing while the process affects the older (usually lower) portions of the tree.

If you examine a branch of a tree beginning at the tip, you should see this entire sequence.

At the terminal tip, if the tree is actively growing, you'll see turgid, lime green growth. A little further down, you might see a darker green, less turgid with a spikier appearance, perhaps with a blush of blue-green topped with a cast of white. Further down, the growth becomes a bit thornier and less green. The leaves transition into what you might call scales, lining the surface of a branch. A bit lower on the tree the branch has shed these scales and appears smooth and brown or red-brown. The trunk itself may be glossy brown-red, knobby, or flaking scales of bark with the texture of brown wrapping paper.

In some junipers the texture of the mature foliage varies. Chinese juniper tends to keep its immature, spiky growth, but you may see patterns of growth in the mature foliage of other juniper cultivars that resemble the scale-like growth, without the spiky texture.

Occasionally some of my California Junipers bloom and go on to produce a fruit, which is a knobby, pale blue berry about 1 cm across.

Does anyone know how many Juniper berries must be collected to make a liter of gin?

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