Pricea in trouble?

[ShadyStump]

Recently received this spruce - Norway spruce if I recall - from someone trimming down their collection. I've just now gotten around to giving it a close look, and discovered this.


There's a bit of new growth since I got it, but you can see in the pics that whatever this is it's fairly pervasive, on basses of much of the branches. I've had it a few weeks and never noticed before, but I've also been really busy with work and really only watering.

Any ideas what these gray bulged are? They're fairly hard, so I'm thinking it's internal, in or under the bark.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Looks like buds to me. The husks of the buds usually don't fall off until the branch swells and pushes them off. They can be a source of new buds too, because spruce tends to produce clusters like that.
That, or I'm missing the entire point of your post.

 

[ShadyStump]

I noticed them last night looking at some unhealthy branches as the light was fading, but this morning taking another look, they are on the base of almost every single node.
I think you're right. This is just my first spruce, and a gift, so I panicked a little.
Thank you! I'll get to researching more.

 

[penumbra]

I have never seen this condition on any of my spruce. I would be concerned. I would do a little exploratory surgery and be prepared to sterilize my tools afterward. It may be insect or fungus related.
I did have something like this spring up on a Scots pine. I cut it off and put it in the burn pile. That was a few years back and haven't seen any recurrence.

 

[rockm]

This looks like insects to me. I'd see if you can pop them or move them. Wooly adelgid could be a possibility...

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I would probably apply a systemic pesticide, one that is absorbed by the tree and spread through its vascular system. For example Imidacloprid is a systemic pesticide. It is highly toxic to bees, but because spruce are not flowering the bee hazard is minimal if you follow directions on the container label.

 

[AJL]

Hard to tell from the photos but these could be aborted buds .
If they were Adelgids they would be soft and woolly or waxey and would be squashable!
Has the tree had recent root work or been dried out / starved or neglected recently? it looks generally stressed from the parts you photod
Maybe its overdue for a repot and feeding?

 

[Colorado]

I will fess up to being the neglector of this spruce

I never really paid much attention to these mystery nodules. I always thought they were aborted buds. Tree was neglected when I got it from a nursery on clearance. Had been slowly bringing it back to health. Definitely could have dried out at some point.

hope this extra bit of information is helpful!

 

[ShadyStump]

I will fess up to being the neglector of this spruce

I never really paid much attention to these mystery nodules. I always thought they were aborted buds. Tree was neglected when I got it from a nursery on clearance. Had been slowly bringing it back to health. Definitely could have dried out at some point.

hope this extra bit of information is helpful!

Not holding it against anyone, buddy.

Hard to tell from the photos but these could be aborted buds .
If they were Adelgids they would be soft and woolly or waxey and would be squashable!
Has the tree had recent root work or been dried out / starved or neglected recently? it looks generally stressed from the parts you photod
Maybe its overdue for a repot and feeding?

It's probably dried out once or twice since I got it as I'm learning it's needs. In it's current placement it gets morning sun, followed by dappled shade, then full shade in the afternoon. The squirrels have halfheartedly attempted some root pruning, but nothing past the surface. I've not fed any of these new trees yet, but I figure it's about time. Just wanted to get a feel for them before doing anything that might change their state.

 

[Hartinez]

I will fess up to being the neglector of this spruce

I never really paid much attention to these mystery nodules. I always thought they were aborted buds. Tree was neglected when I got it from a nursery on clearance. Had been slowly bringing it back to health. Definitely could have dried out at some point.

hope this extra bit of information is helpful!

Massively disappointed in you TJ. MASSIVE.