Help

rusty

I purchased a juniper about three months ago. they told me I couldn't over water it but I think I have. One branch is dead and I see yellow tips on other folage. under the tree the roots seem to be dry however around the outside of the 14" pot the soil is quit moist. After reading some of the forums I realize it has probably not been keep outside enough. The people I bought it from said about 4 hours a day all year long. I do live in a cold winter climate. can you tell me what to do to save this tree?

Advertisement

Jay

Rusty, you bring up several issues, I will try and give you my take on a couple.

"Outside for 4 hours a day"...INCORRECT... Junipers are outdoor trees, all year around. During the winter, depending on your climate, it will need a little or a lot of protection... but not indoors. It is OK to bring it in for a day now and then for display, but not everyday or even everyother. Plus use some logic, how do you think it will do going from a warm house to a freezing outdoors daily......

"Couldn't over water it"... you can and you may have... water when the Bonsai soil is just dry. It might be daily or every other day or twice a day or twice a week. You can not water by schedule.

"I live in a cold weather climate"... This is relative. Some who live in USDA zone 7 think of there climate as cold, but it is different than zone 6 or 5 or 4...or.... Please fill out your user profile so we can see where you are. It will not tell us your address just your general location.

As for the tree... Junipers are not unlike Christmas trees. You buy or cut the tree bring it indoors and keep it wet... some people buy commercial cut trees that are three months from the ground... they look good and they are green.. in other words the tree is dead for a long time before it shows it. I'm not saying your tree is dead, but it could be. A favorite saying of mine is 'You can't kill a dead tree' so nothing you do will make it worse. Try scratching a branch or the trunk to see if you see green, if you do there is still hope.

I would also think about what your were told from the place you obtained the tree from. The advise of 4 hours aday outside and you can not overwater does not sound correct. Did they really say... 4 hours a day of direct sunlight and when you water, you can not overwater?

just my 2 cents
Jay

__________________
A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49...
Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing