Old Shimpaku

[DaveV]

Does anyone know why sometimes the tips on shimpaku turn brown? The brown only extends down on the foliage about 5mm and then breaks off. Anybody have a reason for this ?

Dave

 

[TimD]

You check for mites?

 

[DaveV]

yes, No mites

 

[TheSteve]

You trim with scissors?

 

[DaveV]

Yes and no. I use a scissors for cutting off heavier branchs and pinch the younger foliage. I don't think it was from scissors. These brown tips started soon after I transplanted (minimal root pruning) into a larger pot in early spring (3rd week in March). They were green all winter long. There were many new shoots that developed and continued to grow out. The tree appears to be doing well. I just pinch off the brown tips.

 

[shohin kid]

Do you have other shinpakus that do this or is it just this one?

 

[greerhw]

It is better to trim the foliage back at the stem with scissors, than to pinch, you will be happier with the result even if it takes a little longer.

Ciao,
Harry

 

[Bonsai Nut]

If you rub your hand over the top, does the foliage break off? I agree with those folks who are saying it is probably due to pinching. I trim my shimpakus with scissors and don't have this issue.

 

[buddhamonk]

I wonder if it isn't the "male" or "female" version that makes pollen instead of little white flower. Some of my shimpaku make tiny white buds that eventually turn into berries. I also have other shimpakus that make brown tips that eventually release pollen.

anybody else has experienced this?

 

[Dav4]

I wonder if it isn't the "male" or "female" version that makes pollen instead of little white flower. Some of my shimpaku make tiny white buds that eventually turn into berries. I also have other shimpakus that make brown tips that eventually release pollen.

anybody else has experienced this?

That's the first thing I thought of. I can't say I recall seeing this with a shimpaku, but I have two male Rocky Mountain Junipers that flower sort of like that. The tips of the foliage turns a light brown, then swell and turn a more yellowish color as they start to release pollen, then fall away and start growing normally.

Dave

 

[DaveV]

To me it sounds like what duddhamonk and Dav4 are suggesting. I did notice early in the spring soon after repotting that there were many, very small white flower like structures at many of the tips as well as the tips gradually going from a light brown/bronz, swelling, and then turning more brown as shown on the photo. I noted too that these were last years foliage only. There were many new shoots that did not do this. To mention again, the tree was nice and green all winter long, only doing this in late March/early April after repotting.

 

[discusmike]

Nice shimpaku Dave,hope you can figure this out,the tree looks healthy to me from the photo,wish it was mine.

 

[Walter Pall]

Dave,

this is definitely a male juniper. All the brown things are male seeds. This is a good sign. Concerning styling you probably know that you should get rid of 80 (eighty) % of the foliage on this one.

 

[waltr1]

My first thought from seeing the close up picture is that the tips are male pollen flowers.

 

[DaveV]

Thanks for everyones replys. Walter, I have recently thinned out about 40% of the foliage mass - after the photo was taken. As you can see the shape is more of a fluffy poodle look. Any suggestions on changing the appearance? It has been this style for many years. Thanks your input.

 

[Walter Pall]

Dave,

this is really impossible to do here. This tree would be a very good one for an advanced full-day workshop.