scotts pine soil staying too wet

[bonsaiDerek]

my scots pine was doing fine this summer, but with all the rain this fall, the soil is staying wet, and the needles are turning brown. should i repot it, or add some something to the soil to absorb moisture
whats a good soil mix for this tree?

 

[TomB]

I use one part Akadama, one part pumice, one part lava (or a similar mix with equivalent properties).
If it's still raining, you can try covering the pot surface with a tile or something.
I wouldn't repot right now, just try to keep it drier.
I would say that for the needles to turn brown, it would need to have been very wet for a very long time. If all the needles are browning this may be a sign of another underlying problem. You probably already know that they'll naturally drop some older needles around this time.

 

[Warpig]

Yea wait till spring for a repot. Any chance on a pic? And any idea on the soil that its potted in now?

 

[bonsaiDerek]

Yea wait till spring for a repot. Any chance on a pic? And any idea on the soil that its potted in now?

Planted in mix of turface and chicken grit
Here's a pic of a few needles

 

[cmeg1]

Could of been something else,though maybe turface too small

 

[TomB]

If they all look like that, then it's dead (and has been for some time).

 

[bonsaiDerek]

If they all look like that, then it's dead (and has been for some time).

no... less then a third of the needles are part brown

 

[cmeg1]

If growing out try grade 3 perlite

 

[just.wing.it]

no... less then a third of the needles are part brown

A pic of the whole tree may help.

Sounds like it may be just shedding old needles....are only the innermost needles brown?

 

[penumbra]

Gotta see the tree. The needles picture means nothing.

 

[0soyoung]

Planted in mix of turface and chicken grit

Turface is okay. I am in a cool rainy climate and grow everything (over 50 species) in nothing but MVP. It can be a problem for pines in shallow pots and when 'over-potted'.
I agree with TomB. Pines are really slow to tell you what is happening with them.

I would say that for the needles to turn brown, it would need to have been very wet for a very long time. If all the needles are browning this may be a sign of another underlying problem. You probably already know that they'll naturally drop some older needles around this time.

 

[bonsaiDerek]

A pic of the whole tree may help.

Sounds like it may be just shedding old needles....are only the innermost needles brown?

no mostly the outer branch needles

 

[just.wing.it]

Dead until further pics.

 

[gonzogg]

Is this the turface product that is used to mix with soil?

MVP | Turface Athletics

More groundskeepers use Turface MVP on their skinned infields and sport turf than any other brand of field conditioner. More groundskeepers use Turface MVP calcined clay on their skinned infields and sport turf than any other brand of field conditioner in America.

www.turface.com

 

[0soyoung]

That is the MVP to which I referred.

 

[PimGinseng]

Pines usually “die” months earlier before they actually show it, how many times was it repotted and what is it’s age?

 

[JeffS73]

Bit hard to tell but those black marks, banding and fact it's outermost needles suggests needle blight to me. Better photo would help. Any new pines in last 2 years? If it's needle blight, copper fungicide and a suitable systemic, look up other threads on the topic, some in the articles section.

 

[Paradox]

@PimGinseng and @JeffS73

You guys realize that this thread was originally posted a year and a half ago.
The tree is either dead or it the problem resolved (at least I hope so).

I know it gets boring in the winter because we cant work on trees.....

 

[JeffS73]

Haha, didn't notice that paradox!

 

[PimGinseng]

@Paradox

I’m an idiot, I did not notice at all.
reading topics late at night after a long day of work clouds the mind. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, lesson learned

And yes I guess winter time has this effect on people, we desperately want to “play” with our trees again.