Hinoki Cypress Browning foliage

[CapeFear盆景]

I collected this Hinoki Cypress from a landscaping that was being redone in March. I put it in a training pot with a mix of bonsai soil and peat moss. The tree did fine over the hottest parts of summer but now that temps are in the mid 70s I’ve started to notice the older needles are browning and becoming brittle. I pulled the tree up to check the roots and they looked good and I noticed It pushed a lot more that I expected. There are also new buds at the tips and there are a few back buds popping up on the trunk.

My question is, are the needles browning because of something I could be doing? Could it be fungle or a type of pest?

Any information would be really appreciated. I’m planning on repotting this winter.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Is it only inner branches? How much sun is it getting?

Hinokis will drop inner branches if the tree is healthy and expanding, and not enough sun is reaching the interior of the tree. You have to make sure that you selectively prune and wire to allow light to reach the interior because it is very difficult to get them to backbud.

 

[Kalebh]

I agree with Bonsai Nut^^^^. My hinoki does the same this time of year, it is preparing for the long winter nap.

 

[CapeFear盆景]

Is it only inner branches? How much sun is it getting?

Hinokis will drop inner branches if the tree is healthy and expanding, and not enough sun is reaching the interior of the tree. You have to make sure that you selectively prune and wire to allow light to reach the interior because it is very difficult to get them to backbud.

I removed all the interior branches and foliage when I collected it in March. So the interior is getting plenty of sun and I can see a few buds popping up.

Over the hottest part of summer I left it partial shade then about 3 weeks ago I put it back in full sun, but when the browning got more serious, I put it back in partial shade.

Also I might have placed it in a undersized container but I don’t know if that would contribute to the browning.