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18-Aug-2005
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#1 |
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bonsaiTALK Journeyman
Join Date: Aug-2005
Location: Riverside, California
Country: United States
Posts: 11
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Newly acquired bonsai turning brown
Hey everything this is my first post and i'm new to the world of mini tree's. I've always wanted one so i finally went out and bought one.
The man I bought the tree from instructed me to submerge the plant in water until bubbles stopped rising out from the plant and then to put it outside in the shade until the next morning. He said to do this every 3 days. I've been following his instructions to the 'T' but it seems i'm doing something wrong. i've got some pictures here that i will link so you guys can see my tree: http://myspace-686.vo.llnwd.net/001...194025686_l.jpg Area's that its browning. The vertical branches: http://myspace-389.vo.llnwd.net/001...194027389_l.jpg those branches werent brown when i bought the plant. thanks in advance for any input. |
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Newly acquired bonsai turning brown |
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18-Aug-2005
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#2 |
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The Cat's Apprentice
 
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Hi Kainen.
Welcome to the wonderful world of bonsai! Like the rest of the world, the bonsai world has some members who are interested in little more than a quick buck. Mr. Vendor here gave you bum advice. A tree (yours is a juniper) should be watered when it needs water -- not every three days, or every other day, or daily, or by any other schedule. A juniper's soil should get a liittle dry between waterings. You can tell with your finger. From your picture it looks like hte rocks are glued on -- take them off ASAP to let water and air into the soil. And your tree is an outdoor plant, regardless of Mr. Vendor's advice. As to the browning, are you referring to brown needles, or the brown (branch) under the needles? Because your "brown" picture shows lots of healthy green needles as far as I can see hope2help, pootsie |
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18-Aug-2005
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#3 |
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bonsaiTALK Journeyman
Join Date: Aug-2005
Location: Riverside, California
Country: United States
Posts: 11
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the rocks are not glued on.. they are just sitting ontop of the soil to make it look better... i guess but i dont really care what the soil looks like, i want a nice healthy green bonsai.
the brown branches are the ones extending from the main branch in the picture (the vertical (shorter branches) and the needles are brown aswell at the base of these branches. will these branches return to their once vibrant green color? |
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18-Aug-2005
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#4 |
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bonsaiTALK Master Craftsman
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I concur with Pootsie, the tree in pic 2 still looks pretty good. If your tree doesn't turn a uniform brown it's still alive, though Junipers can a while before looking obviously dead.
Junipers will also loose some of their old growth in summer. If your dead parts are occurring on the underside of the tree, this is normal. Looking at pic2 though I'm slightly getting the feeling you're not talking about the needles, but the branches themselves. If you have branches turning brown, while the needles are still a nice green this is also normal. It's a process called lignification, which is simply the new growth getting more woody. Stefan
__________________
Whenever you find that you are on the side of the majority, it is time to reform. - Mark Twain Never let your sense of morals get in the way of doing what's right. - Isaak Asimov The most savage controversies are those about matters as to which there is no good evidence either way. - Bertrand Russell |
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23-Aug-2005
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#5 |
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bonsaiTALK Journeyman
Join Date: Aug-2005
Location: Riverside, California
Country: United States
Posts: 11
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just an update... A lot of the smaller branches coming off two main branches are turning brown.. theres a few spots where the needles are also brown but its very few.
I checked underneath the bark at the base of the trunk and I don't see any green =( I live in riverside california and its about 90-105 degrees here this time of year. I've been watering it when the soil is slightly damp and have been spraying the needles daily. |
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24-Aug-2005
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#6 |
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Tips:5¢ Advice:Free
 
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The scale folage at the base of fresh twigs will turn brown as the branch begins to lignify. The growth, including buds and leaves at the distal end should remain turgid and green.
BTW, please be sure to keep your juniper outdoors where it can benefit from the sunshine and ventilation. Regards, Matt
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27-Aug-2005
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#7 |
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bonsaiTALK Journeyman
Join Date: Aug-2005
Location: Riverside, California
Country: United States
Posts: 11
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the temp is about 100 here daily.. still ok to keep it in this kind of heat?
I just checked the pot and its fairly hot to the touch. |
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27-Aug-2005
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#8 |
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Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Feb-2005
Location: Carlsbad, California..coastal desert
Country: United States
USDA Zone: 11
Posts: 5,432
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Is there a place in your yard that gets dappled shade? Or maybe morning sun and afternoon shade/dappled shade?
You can wrap a wet towel around the pot in the heat, rewet it when it dries. That would keep the roots from burning. Joanie |
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3-Sep-2005
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#9 |
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bonsaiTALK Journeyman
Join Date: Aug-2005
Location: Riverside, California
Country: United States
Posts: 11
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oh great now the needles are turning brown. I've been watering it when it needs watering. I check the soil with my finger. I keep it in the sun 1/2 of the day. (90-100 weather). I wrap a wet towel around the pot because it heats up pretty good in the sunlight. the roots near the "trunk" are becoming a little exposed, could this cause a problem?
I could take another picture if need be. |
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3-Sep-2005
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#10 |
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Intermediate
Join Date: Jun-2002
Location: Hudson, FL
Country: USA
Posts: 462
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commercially prepared bonsai
Greetings Kainen,
Please don't feel bad if you lose this plant..... it will not be your fault. Unfortunately, commercially prepared bonsai are not quality bonsai as a rule. We refer to them here as Mallsai, availible at malls and other outlets like Sam's club, flea markets, etc..... They are not much more than cuttings jammed into a pot and sold before they can die. Junipers as a rule can take hot, sunny climates. It is what they thrive in....even 100 degree weather. No one can say if this plant you bought was even established in the pot, or how long it has been a bonsai.. You have come to the right place to get information about bonsai. If this particular tree doesn't make it, you can find information on starting your own bonsai from scratch here and be fairly sure that you will have some success with it. You say that the stones on the soil of your tree are not glued on....then take them off... just to be sure. In that kind of heat, in full sun, the bonsai should be watered every day, if not more....but it should be fine. Just water it until the water runs out of the bottom of the pot. check to see if it is almost dry and if so, water. If still wet, do not water. Your juniper looks like a procumbens nana, the most common juniper used for bonsai or mallsai. It is a nice variety, one of the most forgiving of the junipers. So as I stated earlier, if it dies, not your fault. Probably wasn't well established before sold.The vendor is more interested in profit than in the plant doing well for you. Most of the vendors don't really know anything about bonsai and give faulty info on keeping them alive and healthy anyhow. Junipers grow in the desert and other harsh climates. They thrive in full sun in hot weather. Over watering and shade will kill them quicker than anything else. They need the same conditions whether they are bonsai or landscaping material. Good luck with your tree. Sincerely, susieq Last edited by susieq : 3-Sep-2005 at 11:36 PM. |
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