What's the webbing in my soil?

[Japonicus]

Pictured in the tweezers is one clump.
Pulling weeds in pots yestetday, I ran across some webbing in isolated areas of 2 pots. One pot has a JWP in it and is experiencing possibly brown tip blight. The other is a juniper not expressing any foliage issues.

For reference the soil particles are roughly 1/4". These white irregular shaped bits in the soil crush in your fingers like perilite which I do not use.


This is needles of the JWP with possible brown tip blight.
I am sending samples of needles to WVU plant diagnostics Monday.
Any idea what's going on in the soil?

 

[Paradox]

Possibly root aphids?
Would explain the decline in the trees

Root aphids: The underground pest on succulent plants

Greenhouse growers should check succulents for root aphids and make necessary treatments to eliminate this underground pest.

www.canr.msu.edu

Do You Have Root Aphids or Soil Mites? (with Comparison Table)

Learn how to tell the difference between root aphids and soil mites. Discover methods for getting rid of them from your plants and garden.

gardenbenchtop.com

 

[Scorpius]

Might as well soak the whole rootball in Bayer insecticide at this point.

 

[BonsaiDTLA]

I am sending samples of needles to WVU plant diagnostics Monday.

Does it cost $? If so, what's the damage?

 

[Japonicus]

Does it cost $? If so, what's the damage?

Good question. I first called another state MO or MT, forget now, but they came up
doing a search for needle cast. Their charge was $50, but gave me the same dept in WV.
So far there are no charges involved...but here's the directors reply.
"It is brown spot needle blight. You used the right product. However, you may change products to Mancozeb or Bordaeux mix to effectively control the disease. Can you send me a few infected needles? As Bonsai practice deprive plants from enough nutrients, they are more stressed to get the disease. Try to boost nutrient supply a little bit".

Thanks,
Mahfuz
----------------------
M. Mahfuz Rahman, PhD
Professor/Plant Pathology Extension Specialist
1194 Evansdale Drive, P. O. Box 6108
West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506
Tel. 304-293-8838
Director, WVU Plant Diagnostic Clinic

 

[BonsaiDTLA]

Good question. I first called another state MO or MT, forget now, but they came up
doing a search for needle cast. Their charge was $50, but gave me the same dept in WV.
So far there are no charges involved...but here's the directors reply.
"It is brown spot needle blight. You used the right product. However, you may change products to Mancozeb or Bordaeux mix to effectively control the disease. Can you send me a few infected needles? As Bonsai practice deprive plants from enough nutrients, they are more stressed to get the disease. Try to boost nutrient supply a little bit".

Thanks,
Mahfuz
----------------------
M. Mahfuz Rahman, PhD
Professor/Plant Pathology Extension Specialist
1194 Evansdale Drive, P. O. Box 6108
West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506
Tel. 304-293-8838
Director, WVU Plant Diagnostic Clinic

Nice. That's interesting that they suggest boosting the nutrient supply.
Keep us posted on what you attempt. Hoping it gets better for the pines sooner rather than later.

 

[Japonicus]

Possibly root aphids?
Would explain the decline in the trees

Root aphids: The underground pest on succulent plants

Greenhouse growers should check succulents for root aphids and make necessary treatments to eliminate this underground pest.

www.canr.msu.edu

Do You Have Root Aphids or Soil Mites? (with Comparison Table)

Learn how to tell the difference between root aphids and soil mites. Discover methods for getting rid of them from your plants and garden.

gardenbenchtop.com

Good grief, I hope not. Sounds tough to battle. Unfortunately the soak or drench is not elaborated on
in either article, other than reapplication. Of course this is concerning (soaking the soil with say insecticidal soap)
for the plants tolerance of a product.
I never knew, drainage water, can transfer the root aphids from one pot to another. That's cruel.

Nice. That's interesting that they suggest boosting the nutrient supply.
Keep us posted on what you attempt. Hoping it gets better for the pines sooner rather than later.

I told him I feed on a weekly rotation of fertilizers, except for JWP, which I've been told
to hold off on fertilizer till needles harden off. To be honest, mugo being single flush
I have in limited fashion, fertilized them. They are dealing with the needle blight or cast,
but my JBP I feed weekly, and it is one of the worst infected trees I have.

I have a JWP freely growing in my yard, and it too has the brown needle tips
It's probably 12-15 feet tall.

 

[Scorpius]

How often are you watering your JWP? I let mine get fairly dry before watering which means every other day currently even in the dry heat my area is currently in.

 

[Paradox]

FWIW I water mine every day once temperatures get around 80 degrees or I feel they need it.

 

[Japonicus]

How often are you watering your JWP? I let mine get fairly dry before watering which means every other day currently even in the dry heat my area is currently in.

When they need it. There’s too many variables from how much field soil is left, type of mix,
to when it was repotted and weather. Mine are in full Sun. Since I retired this year I’m able to wait till
noon if necessary.