JBP Needles drying out? Concerned.

[Dav4]

I checked their roots...got new roots and growing a lot of them too.

For these trees to pull through, you need to be super careful with watering. With all that withered foliage, they will not be pulling a lot of water from the soil. Add in the fact that your soil looks to be too moisture retentive, and you run the real risk of drowning the roots. The soil needs to be kept moist but not sodden. Also, if the candles are truly extending, they are no longer dormant and need lots of sun. They'll need to be outside if it's above freezing and inside when it is. Good luck.

 

[Vance Wood]

For these trees to pull through, you need to be super careful with watering. With all that withered foliage, they will not be pulling a lot of water from the soil. Add in the fact that your soil looks to be too moisture retentive, and you run the real risk of drowning the roots. The soil needs to be kept moist but not sodden. Also, if the candles are truly extending, they are no longer dormant and need lots of sun. They'll need to be outside if it's above freezing and inside when it is. Good luck.

I sincerely hope I am wrong. I know it has been reported that the trees have produced new roots? I kind of question this. I would like to see those roots because I have my suspicions. As to extending candles I don't see them in the photos.

 

[october]

Sorry for the bad luck with your trees. Just a couple of note worthy things. As Vance said, there are no extending candles. There is only fully open needle clusters. Also, you mentioned about growing roots. The only way to tell if roots are growing is if you had the trees out of the pots last year and then a year later, had them out again and looked at the root ball. I suspect that one of the trees is definitely dead. The other one/ones, might survive. However, they are very stressed.

I have a feeling, not necessarily in this case, that some people might not be tending to their trees often enough in Winter. I overwinter my trees in a shed. I check them once, sometimes even twice a week. It is a simple task that can eliminate a lot of later regret.

Rob

 

[junmilo]

Hi all sorry for the confusion.

When I meant candles I thought the candles that r already on the trees.

When I meant new roots....I meant...when I lift most out of their pots...I see white fresh roots all at the bottom of the root balls...they looked like new roots to me.

I will try to lift them again and take photos
Sincerely,

J

 

[october]

Hi all sorry for the confusion.

When I meant candles I thought the candles that r already on the trees.

When I meant new roots....I meant...when I lift most out of their pots...I see white fresh roots all at the bottom of the root balls...they looked like new roots to me.

I will try to lift them again and take photos
Sincerely,

J

If you do, be careful. Lifting them out of the pots might stress them more. On the other hand, if you do and you smell something funny and some of the roots are soft/mushy, you will know it is root rot.

Rob

 

[Vance Wood]

If you do, be careful. Lifting them out of the pots might stress them more. On the other hand, if you do and you smell something funny and some of the roots are soft/mushy, you will know it is root rot.

Rob

You don't have to do that to amuse me.

 

[coh]

I have a feeling, not necessarily in this case, that some people might not be tending to their trees often enough in Winter. I overwinter my trees in a shed. I check them once, sometimes even twice a week. It is a simple task that can eliminate a lot of later regret.

Rob

I lost 2 trees last winter and I'm pretty sure the reason is I let them dry out too much during that time.

I've been more attentive this year, but with the prolonged deep cold, the plants have been frozen solid most of the past 3 months. Each time we've had a thaw I've checked and watered, so hopefully they'll all be OK.

Chris

 

[october]

I lost 2 trees last winter and I'm pretty sure the reason is I let them dry out too much during that time.

I've been more attentive this year, but with the prolonged deep cold, the plants have been frozen solid most of the past 3 months. Each time we've had a thaw I've checked and watered, so hopefully they'll all be OK.

Chris

Sounds good. Even though I don't have the capacity to really winter trees outside. I believe, if you have a capability, bonsai are best wintered inside a wintering structure. I like controlling when they get watered and that they protected from extreme cold snaps and especially winds.

Rob

 

[Vance Wood]

Sounds good. Even though I don't have the capacity to really winter trees outside. I believe, if you have a capability, bonsai are best wintered inside a wintering structure. I like controlling when they get watered and that they protected from extreme cold snaps and especially winds.

Rob

That's Ok if your space measures up to the quantity of your trees. I quickly drove myself outside years ago when I started developing trees for a commercial purpose. They have all been container grown because I don't have property for in ground cultivation.

 

[junmilo]

Here are some photos of the roots...I see new roots and those nice white fungus growing on the roots...so can someone tell me why is my pine needle looking that color?????

 

[Vance Wood]

Here are some photos of the roots...I see new roots and those nice white fungus growing on the roots...so can someone tell me why is my pine needle looking that color?????

You're right those look like new roots to me as well. I don't know what's going on but I don't think it's good.

 

[junmilo]

You're right those look like new roots to me as well. I don't know what's going on but I don't think it's good.

The Needles are crispy...when i break them. The outer cells are all dried out, but the inner cells (I still see like solid dark green color.) Do you think it's because of the air?

 

[Vance Wood]

The Needles are crispy...when i break them. The outer cells are all dried out, but the inner cells (I still see like solid dark green color.) Do you think it's because of the air?

It seems that all we can come up with are questions when all we really know is that there is not a thing we can do about what's going on. SO----all we can do is wait and see.

 

[junmilo]

I cut a small brach with the needles that has the weird color and took a photo of the cross section..it's green and moist...I also took a photo of the needle with its outer shell removed...its solid green inside.

 

[junmilo]

Do u guys think its because the tree was not fully dormant because they were in the garage and that no sun penetrated...so the needlesbstart dying....or is it some sort of bug that's cutting off the nutrients passing from the tree to the needles?

 

[Vance Wood]

Do u guys think its because the tree was not fully dormant because they were in the garage and that no sun penetrated...so the needlesbstart dying....or is it some sort of bug that's cutting off the nutrients passing from the tree to the needles?

Unknown to me, so if I were face with this problem I would simply start doing nothing and waiting to see if these trees' wills to survive over-come the indications they may be dying. JHMHO. I once had a Mugo Pine act like I had killed it during it's first repot. I kept the tree and realized that the tree looked like it was partially alive under most circumstances it would have been thrown out. It did not put on a sherd of growth for two complete growing seasons. It is now one of my shelf trees. I have been working on redesigning the tree. Needless to say I am not quite as aggressive as one might think with this trees history. Has a long way to go but I have learned as much from this tree as all the others combined.

http://www.bonsainut.com/forums/pho...go-where-i-learned-about-summer-repot/cat/500

 

[Bill S]

I think it dried out maybe not bone dry, but enough to damage the needles, and subsequent watering has made the roots look fine.
It will come down to if there is enough Ok needles to photosynthesis food to grow the new buds and candles, if not it will be apparent soon enough. The ones all browned, I don't think have any chance.

As far as the shed garage thing, it's like the rest of our conditions, each is different, some heat up more in the day depending on color, location of trees etc. Last year we had a milder winter and they were in the shed, and needed very regular watering. In a colder winter I think it would have been less. This year in my cold frame, they got well rained on in October, and have been frozen since then, so watering hasn't been needed. But the snow I put in will take care of it when needed. It's been frozen here since mid October with a few mild days here and there.

 

[Paradox]

I dont know when the last time you did water it. Those roots look pretty wet to me in the pictures. Its in a pretty deep pot so I would be very careful with watering.
Yea the needles arent completely dead. I think Bill might be right, it got dried out but not completely enough to totally desiccate the needles.
I have to agree its a wait and see thing at this point.


Vance, I sent you an email regarding my spruce and mugos.
Just FYI, I dont feel I have had any real problems with them. They all seem fairly healthy considering. In any case, any advice you can give would be appreciated.

Thanks