Any idea what this brown stuff forming on my tam juniper foilage is?

[treepee123]

I live in socal.

 

[SFDrake]

I've had the same looking issue with a shaded area on one of mine....try moving it so none of the plant is shaded, good luck!

 

[soulstare123]

this is on the sunny part of the plant tho

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Has it been recently repotted? Moved, etc?

 

[soulstare123]

Has it been recently repotted? Moved, etc?

styled and repotted two months ago, but this brown stuff only a week old

 

[Orion_metalhead]

When are you watering? Looks like soil is very dry.

 

[soulstare123]

When are you watering? Looks like soil is very dry

whenever the soil an inch under gets dry. it varies depending on weather

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Can you show full photo of the tree?

 

[soulstare123]

Can you show full photo of the tree?

 

[Shibui]

Junipers are very slow to show distress. Sometimes it is weeks after an event before we see the signs.
Add to that, junipers are infamous for branches dying after bending in Spring.
I note the wiring is somewhat haphazard so I'm guessing you are new to bonsai? That may also mean possible poor technique when making the initial bends while styling.

Is the browning limited to one branch or parts of a branch or is it showing on all parts of the tree?

Putting those possible clues together it may be some or all of the branches have been compromised in the styling. If that's the case, there's nothing you can do now to stop it. Just maintain care, cross fingers and hope some of it survives.

Some pests can cause browning juniper foliage so check carefully for mites and tiny scale insects.

Good luck.

 

[soulstare123]

Yes this was my first plant actually lolol. I think its sun burning or something, the branches that r brown all are new growth after the styling and just started browning and all the browning is on the sun side, the shade underside is green. The new growth looks healthy and plant is still vigorous.

 

[Shibui]

Yes this was my first plant actually lolol. I think its sun burning or something, the branches that r brown all are new growth after the styling and just started browning and all the browning is on the sun side, the shade underside is green. The new growth looks healthy and plant is still vigorous.

Now you face the hardest part of bonsai - waiting and doing very little.
Your tree needs to recover from the first assault before you go inflicting further damage so maintain care- water, sun and occasional fertiliser - and see what happens. Whatever damage has been done has been done so no going back. Let the tree sort out what is still viable and what's not. We can then work with whatever is left in a few months or next year.