looks like white fungus with tiny bugs-help!

LittlePeach

Hi there,
I am trying to save a juniper. I think I dried it out by having it inside with air con and it started to go very pale and now it's knid of beige!Now after taking it outside (in shade), soaking it and being a bit more dililgent with watering I have noticed there is white fungus-looking bits at the base of the trunk and the tiniest white bug about 1mm long. I have only seen one or two and they hide under the bark and the moss. Any ideas what it could be?

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october

Hello Little peach..........Could be white juniper scale. I hate to have to say this, but with the symptoms you descibed for your juniper, it sounds like it might already be too late. If it is scale, that might be what is actually killing it or killed it. Keep in mind that evergreens take along time to show they are dying. Chances are, it was something that happened a couple of months ago or more that is actually killing it.

I would need some close ups of the insects in question. If it is scale and the tree is practically dead, there is nothing you can do. It is difficult to irradicate scale from a very healthy tree. Never mind a dead one.

LittlePeach

hmm... I have a bad feeling you are right about it being already gone. I can't even find the bug now, even when I peel back a bit of moss. It looks like the soil has come away from the roots as well. I had sprayed it with white oil thinking it may be a mite of some sort, is there anyhting I can try or do you think I should just start again? It would be a shame to lose it. My brother grew it and gave it to my husband for his birthday. I was dertermined to save it but...
How long have you been Bonsaiing for?

october

about 6 1/2 years. Junipers are my favorites, specifically Shimpaku. I beleive the one you have is a procumbens nana aka as japanese juniper. These can be fussy somtimes and when one section turns pale, it seems it just spreads very slowly until the tree is dead. Sometimes even after the first signs of stress, it lingers on for 6-8 months before it completely dies. I am somewhat going through this with one of my junipers.

I have heard , in rare, rare occasions of a nana coming back. However in your case, with a possible insect infestation and a possibal fugal problem, it may be best to start over. Also, if you have other trees or plants, I would defintely keep the sick tree away from them

October ( Rob )