Is My Juniper Dead???

dedFROGZ

well earlier in the year i bought a juniper. it looked healthy when i bought it. and in all truthfullness it still looks pretty healthy.

here's the problem... i wired it when i first got it. and i've noticed that it hasn't grown at all since i got it. no new growths or anything. i'm starting to think the tree is dead...

any way i could find out for sure? or should i just keep on taking care of it as normal and wait it out...

sorry i don't have any pics...

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Jay

Junipers are like xmas trees, they look greart long after they are dead. Now that said this does not mean your tree is dead. It may be adjusting and possible doing poorly, but not dead.

There are two ways I know of checking it out. One that I learned from Horst Krackerler(may have his name incorrect) is to gentle (gentle) hold the foilage. if it gets cool after a bit it is healthy if it gets warm...not a good sign. You can also take a knife (even use your finger nail) and do a very small scratch to the bark. Go in a bit and see if you see green, if you do the tree is still alive...remember to do the scratch in a place that will not show.

Are you keeping this tree outside? If not get it there, it wants to be there all year around. If it came with glued on rocks on the surface of the soil, remove them gentle and replace with some bonsai soil.

good luck
Jay

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Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing

TreeBay

Maybe you mean Horst Heinzlreiter? In any case I am sure he would be amused

http://home.eduhi.at/user/bonsai/default.htm

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Jay

Thanks Matt but I tracked down the correct spelling it is Horst Krekeler, a German bonsai artist of international renown, I'm sure Walter will correct me if I got it incorrect. More importantly are you familiar with that touching technique?

Jay

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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

dedFROGZ

ok thanks guys. i guess it is still alive...

it is and has been outside since i got it. and i did cut a little into a branch i planned on removing later on anyways. and it was healthy...

i was just worried becase it hasn't grown at all. and alot of the green branches had hardened into bark already...

Tony

Jay, whats the idea behind the cool leaves, transpiration? That's a new one on me.

dedFROGZ, It's possible that your juniper is in a heat induced dormancy. They'll do that if you get a couple of weeks with temperatures in the 100's. Just guessing because I don't know where you live or what the weather has been like.

Tony

Jay

Tony, The cool leaf thing works..but why? I do not know. I was not quick enough to think to ask. Horst was doing a demo at my club. He picked the tree by this method, he was offered two trees. He said this one is healthier because of the cool leaves (actually I think he said that the other was less healthy because the leaves did not get cool). I do not think he gave a reason. Also I think it works just for conifers.
Jay

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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

FredL

In my days wandering around in the woods, I noticed that dead (dry) branches on deciduous trees also have a different feel from live branches. A sort of coolness, yes. I think it works for deciduous trees, too, but you have to have a pretty sensitive touch.

Fred

dedFROGZ

well i live in buffalo, ny so i highly doubt that its too hot here...

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