Save the Mugo

[desu]

Im thinking its a goner but didnt want to toss it quite yet. Nursery stock bought in spring. It was a big bush of a mugo and I pruned some of the lower branches. As you can see it looks like its dying. Didnt touch the roots or soil hoping I wouldnt kill it. Any chance for survival? Any tips?

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

It looks drowned to me.
Not entirely dead yet though, so I would watch the watering and use a chopstick to probe whether or not it needs water.

If you have been watering this plant bonsai style, while it's in organic soil, it will stay too wet for too long.

 

[Shibui]

Any chance for survival? Any tips?

Where in the world? Pls add a location to your profile because so much of what we do is seasonal so it's important to know what your local climate is like and what part of the year you are in.

While there's some green there's still some hope. Probably a bit less hope because it's a pine which tend to be well dead before they start showing the signs.
You haven't given us any clues on how and where you've been keeping the tree so that makes it a bit harder to guess what is wrong.
Agree that it looks like the roots have been way too wet. Pines prefer plenty of sun and slightly drier roots. Does that sound possible?
Too dry can cause the same symptoms but less likely in such a big pot and dry tends to happen all over pretty quick where too wet causes roots to slowly die which results in branches slowly turning brown a few at a time.

Probably too late but you can try letting the soil get drier. Get the pot up off the ground a bit so air can circulate better. Only water when the soil at the drain holes seems to be dry. Don't be fooled by the surface of the soil which can seem dry while, deeper in the pot there's still lots of moisture.

Good luck.

 

[desu]

It looks drowned to me.
Not entirely dead yet though, so I would watch the watering and use a chopstick to probe whether or not it needs water.

If you have been watering this plant bonsai style, while it's in organic soil, it will stay too wet for too long.

Thanks guys. Im in zone 8a. Sorry about that. Ive been watering bonsai style. So Im thinking thats the culprit. Ive added to the problem keeping the tree in shade thinking I was protecting it but probably doing the opposite. Didnt want to touch the soil mix thinking Id do that next spring.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Thanks guys. Im in zone 8a. Sorry about that. Ive been watering bonsai style. So Im thinking thats the culprit. Ive added to the problem keeping the tree in shade thinking I was protecting it but probably doing the opposite. Didnt want to touch the soil mix thinking Id do that next spring.

I'd wait it out. Let it grow strong for at least a whole year before thinking of repotting. Mugo are tough but one in this state might not survive rootwork.

Poke some holes in that pot, all over the sides, and water it maybe once a week. Whatever is on the way out will continue to go, but it hopefully stops at the still healthy branches.

 

[desu]

I'd wait it out. Let it grow strong for at least a whole year before thinking of repotting. Mugo are tough but one in this state might not survive rootwork.

Poke some holes in that pot, all over the sides, and water it maybe once a week. Whatever is on the way out will continue to go, but it hopefully stops at the still healthy branches.

Sounds good. Thank you for the advice!