iant
Chumono
This JBP had a rough year last year as it was in a soil mix that was too water retentive (my bad (and won't do it again)) and it struggled. On repotting the roots weren't great and I got it in a mix that's very fast draining now and it's responded well. It had lots of new buds this spring and looks like it's on it's way to recovery. I water it daily. I don't water the foliage. It had some needle cast last year.
So I was looking at it closely today and I see that a few of this years buds have needles that are narrowed right at the takeoff and then drop straight down.
Also one of the long buds up at that top has a side without needles. I figured my 16 month old whacked it with one of his toys and took off a side of needles but now that I see the buds with the needles drooping down I wonder if it's part of the same process.
My guess is that this is a fungal issue.
I sprayed with copper a couple times in spring but haven't since as it really hasn't been very wet here in California.
I would appreciate any input here on what you think this is and if you think I should spray again with copper and if I should be more diligent in taking off the needles form last year that have brown tips or bands (I didn't before as the tree seemed on shaky ground and I didn't want to remove too much.)
Thanks,
Ian
So I was looking at it closely today and I see that a few of this years buds have needles that are narrowed right at the takeoff and then drop straight down.
Also one of the long buds up at that top has a side without needles. I figured my 16 month old whacked it with one of his toys and took off a side of needles but now that I see the buds with the needles drooping down I wonder if it's part of the same process.
My guess is that this is a fungal issue.
I sprayed with copper a couple times in spring but haven't since as it really hasn't been very wet here in California.
I would appreciate any input here on what you think this is and if you think I should spray again with copper and if I should be more diligent in taking off the needles form last year that have brown tips or bands (I didn't before as the tree seemed on shaky ground and I didn't want to remove too much.)
Thanks,
Ian