My nearly one year old jack pine recently underwent a darkening of its needles. They're not exactly turning brown, but rather becoming glossier, gray-ish green. This change coincided with significantly cooler winter weather, so I'm hoping it's a normal seasonal adaptation. That said, the last time I watered it, I noticed tiny white bugs in it's soil, and that worries me. I am aware pines are outdoor trees. While this one mostly lives indoors, it stays in a room that is only slightly warmer than the outdoor environment. I also use indoor lighting to supplement, and give it time outside when the wind permits. I have also decreased watering with the change in seasons.
Current picture with darker needles and one from 5-6 weeks earlier, before the change. Any, all advice greatly appreciated.
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I see a very unhappy pine, even before.
These extremely long needles are perhaps telling us it needs more sunlight. It's very, very difficult to keep pines indoors, if not impossible.
I do not like the looks of that soil either; it seems too moist and too organic.
In short: pines should be outside, in fast draining soil, and they hate to be overwatered. I think these are the clues.