I got this little guy bc it was going to get tossed during an aspen planting I did on a residence. It seemed fine until now. Maybe I didn't have it ready fo winter? Maybe my soil is shitty? Its the soil it was already in. But it's drying out and presumably dying. Was thinking of replanting it into composted soil and using Hygrozyme to try and get it lively again. What's you're thoughts folks? Sw Colorado.
Young juniper or cedar isnt doing well.
- Thread starter bonsaiTyr
- Start date
Eckhoffw
Masterpiece
Sorry, but I think it’s a dead juniper.
pandacular
Masterpiece
Looks like it’s being kept inside. If that’s the case, it’s likely the main cause of death.
Don’t be discouraged though, get another tree or two and try again!
Don’t be discouraged though, get another tree or two and try again!
I just brought it in a week ago.
Orion_metalhead
Masterpiece
Juniper will not do well inside. I would get it outside into a sheltered position. Surround the pot with mulch or woodchips to keep the root ball warmish. Dormant junipers often change colors in winter so it might not be apparent that the tree is still alive until next year when it grows again.
It is difficult to water field soil in a container because the easiest route for the water is to simply go around the hard soil and out the pot. Might need to submerge it to get water penetration into the field soil. If you know it needs water... water it.
It is difficult to water field soil in a container because the easiest route for the water is to simply go around the hard soil and out the pot. Might need to submerge it to get water penetration into the field soil. If you know it needs water... water it.
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
I'm guessing this was part of a Christmas sale display when you bought it?
Looks like it hasnt been watered enough and was probably on its way out when you bought it.
Box stores in particular will have things this time of year and not water them enough due to cold temperatures and their watering equipment is put away or they have stuff inside that they dont water enough.
Unfortunately juniper can stay green for a while as they are dying/dead and by the time they show any kind of color change its already too late.
I agree with Orion though, put it outside along the foundation of the house and hope for the best come spring
Looks like it hasnt been watered enough and was probably on its way out when you bought it.
Box stores in particular will have things this time of year and not water them enough due to cold temperatures and their watering equipment is put away or they have stuff inside that they dont water enough.
Unfortunately juniper can stay green for a while as they are dying/dead and by the time they show any kind of color change its already too late.
I agree with Orion though, put it outside along the foundation of the house and hope for the best come spring
Orion_metalhead
Masterpiece
He said he collected it during a landscaping job.
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
Thanks I somehow missed or didnt recall that
Thank you Orion. It won't shock it too much to set it back outside then you think. My plan is new soil, and do as you recommend. While it's out of the pot I will soak the roots in water w some hygrozyme. And hope for the best.
Orion_metalhead
Masterpiece
I wouldnt repot... just get it moist somehow and outside. It might croak, honestly. Repot in spring. Any idea what type of juniper it is?
A SW Colorado variant. It's definitely got moisture. Possible too much. The soil has been thoroughly saturated and seems to be part of the problem. It's back outside. It dies, oh well. I'll be digging up more in about 2 months or so.
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
Does that mean you're in SW Colorado?
Adding a general location and growing zone to your profile helps in situations like these.
If it was in someone's yard it could be anything.
Adding a general location and growing zone to your profile helps in situations like these.
If it was in someone's yard it could be anything.
Do you have any advice I can use?
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
Nothing that hasn't been said. I'm in Cañon City, part of why I was curious.
Doesn't look quite like the foliage of one seed or Utah juniper. Maybe a Rocky Mountain juniper.
Sometimes a tree is just sulking from the stress we put it through, but junipers don't really do that. With junipers, if you're seeing it you're either losing the branch or losing the whole tree.
Don't feel bad. I've had rotten luck with conifers of all sorts, and can't keep gardenias alive to keep myself alive. Keep trying though.
Digging up trees vs ones that came in a pot is its own sort of learning curve, too, especially conifers. Junipers are the most forgiving, but most conifers hate their roots being touched, pines most of all.
When did you dig it up?
Doesn't look quite like the foliage of one seed or Utah juniper. Maybe a Rocky Mountain juniper.
Sometimes a tree is just sulking from the stress we put it through, but junipers don't really do that. With junipers, if you're seeing it you're either losing the branch or losing the whole tree.
Don't feel bad. I've had rotten luck with conifers of all sorts, and can't keep gardenias alive to keep myself alive. Keep trying though.
Digging up trees vs ones that came in a pot is its own sort of learning curve, too, especially conifers. Junipers are the most forgiving, but most conifers hate their roots being touched, pines most of all.
When did you dig it up?
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
Cool. If you click on the menu button in the top left corner, then on your username, you'll get to your profile.
Do your research on here first, or you might have the same problem. You can use the search function in the top right hand corner.
Generally, the best time to dig collected material is late winter/early spring, right when the tree starts to wake up from winter.
That rule for planting trees - $10 tree, $100 hole; dig a hole at least twice the dimensions of the pot it came in - think the same way while digging one up. Have a container ready. Many of us build custom boxes out of scrap 2x for this purpose. Just don't build it so tight that water can't drain out of bottom. I've also seen bus tubs, buckets, feed bowls, etc., with drainage holes drilled in the bottom. Whatever works.
Get as much of the root ball as humanly possible. Not always easy in our geology. Native trees have adapted to send long running roots a good distance in search of water. This makes digging piñon pines especially sketchy. Junipers aren't quite as bad. Avoid cutting big roots if at all possible.
Once you have your tree, and you have it in a nice oversized container, fill in with a coarse soil medium, and place out of direct sun for at least a year. Seriously, you collect a tree, and then forget about it. Just watering and feeding. You don't want to work a newly collected tree. Wait until next year when it's recovered, then wait until you see it growing supper healthy before doing anything at all.
This is a good time of year to find nursery stock on clearance, and you get to know folks around BNut you'll find them very willing to share.
BTW, I have also used my trees as Christmas trees, even killed some doing it. So, I wouldn't say you're in good company, but you're not alone.
Do your research on here first, or you might have the same problem. You can use the search function in the top right hand corner.
Generally, the best time to dig collected material is late winter/early spring, right when the tree starts to wake up from winter.
That rule for planting trees - $10 tree, $100 hole; dig a hole at least twice the dimensions of the pot it came in - think the same way while digging one up. Have a container ready. Many of us build custom boxes out of scrap 2x for this purpose. Just don't build it so tight that water can't drain out of bottom. I've also seen bus tubs, buckets, feed bowls, etc., with drainage holes drilled in the bottom. Whatever works.
Get as much of the root ball as humanly possible. Not always easy in our geology. Native trees have adapted to send long running roots a good distance in search of water. This makes digging piñon pines especially sketchy. Junipers aren't quite as bad. Avoid cutting big roots if at all possible.
Once you have your tree, and you have it in a nice oversized container, fill in with a coarse soil medium, and place out of direct sun for at least a year. Seriously, you collect a tree, and then forget about it. Just watering and feeding. You don't want to work a newly collected tree. Wait until next year when it's recovered, then wait until you see it growing supper healthy before doing anything at all.
This is a good time of year to find nursery stock on clearance, and you get to know folks around BNut you'll find them very willing to share.
BTW, I have also used my trees as Christmas trees, even killed some doing it. So, I wouldn't say you're in good company, but you're not alone.
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
Oh, so NOW we do the big reveal.
