not giving up yet, please help!

konnichi wa, I recieved not one but two Bonsai for Christmas. *I had watched a few shows on tv about them but this was my first time raising one on my on. Now to help you the best I can I copied this question thingy. Hopefully this will clarify any questions you may have about my problem.

1. What kind of bonsai do you have and how long have you had it?

I have 2 Junipers one is a Procumbens Juniper the other is a Juniper but the exact type is unknown. The one is 1-3 years old the other stated to be 7-8.

2. Where did you get it, and what was its condition at the time you acquired it?

My family got both for me at a greenhouse type place that raises bonsai specifically. My grandmother told me it was a japanese man and his wife. She said they seemed quite knowledged in what they do since they eagerly told her what was needed to care for the bonsai.

3. When did you notice the problem?

After I had left them outside a few days. It was chilly here, most likely in the low to mid 30's. I had read that bonsai love the cold and need the air this is why i left them out, but perhaps that was a bad idea

4. How have you been watering it and how frequently?

I water them as directed once every two days (since it's winter) A few times when it got warm enough it rained and so i left them outside to get the rainwater.

5. What region are you located geographically and where are you keeping your tree, indoors or out, full sun, part sun, shade?

Well in the eastern US. It was kept in the sunoutside almost all the time. In extreme cold (20's low 30's) I'd bring them inside which was maybe 2-3 times a week. I understood that they needed to be outdoors so i took them out as much as possible, they had wonderful natural sunlight.

6. Does the soil have any unpleasant odor?

Not that I've noticed, I do however notice that my Junipers have a light citrus smell, which makes me believe they are not dead.

7. *When was the tree last repotted?

I don't know, but according to the man they wouldn't need repotting for about 2-3 years.

8. *Is there any discoloration of the foliage? *Would you describe it as turgid and green, dry and brown, wilting, mottled or partially eaten? *If you brush the foliage with a fingertip, does it fall off?

This is the strange part, (at least to me heh) *The one tree is still green perhaps a faded green the other tree is brown on the ends. When I go to touch the leaves they just shatter, literaly shatter like it was dipped in liquid nitrogen. It makes me feel like they need warmth, but that's just me. I water it and mist it but it doesn't seem to be helping.


9. Is there evidence of pests, like ants or aphids?

None that I can tell.

10. Can you post a picture of your tree to the forum?

I wanted to but when i tried my camera didn't work. I can reinstall the *program and try again if anyone feels the pictures would help them greatly.


Now i placed the trees outside when we had some unseasonably warm weather, it rained for about 3-4 days on and off and was very humid. This seemed to really revive my trees as the leaves became soft and seemed to show some life.

The one tree is almost completely dry (the leaves anyways) the funny thing is one tiny little branch has beautiful green leaves on it and they are nice and soft. It's like it's still alive. I certainly don't want to give up yet since they were presents for me and the one is 7-8 years old!

Any help is greatly _greatly_ appreciated! I have read many FAQs on this subject, but nothing really seems to give me an answer.

Thank you

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TreeBay

Thank you for the details. the photos may help. I am trying to understand if your tree has dead foliage just at the tips or all over.

If it's only the tips, it's possible that some of the tender foliage that developed during the indoor period didn't have time to harden off and died when the plant was outdoors.

As to the other tree, some junipers change color in response to cold. We get everything from a purplish green to a reddish green. They mostly still green though.

The important thing now is to be sure you aren't overwatering.

Usually a juniper will not show any sign of distress for a couple weeks after the plant is all but dead. This makes me think that it probably wasn't the exposure to cold.

Regards,

Matt

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