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Juniper Dying - Need Help!!

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Juniper Dying - Need Help!! was created by Black

Posted 6 years 11 months ago #32050
My wife got me a juniper Bonsai about a year ago. The bonsai is about 25 years old. A few months ago about half of it started turning brown. Now the other half is turning brown and I'm not sure what to do to bring it back to life. Any suggestions are welcome. I have tried to follow standard guidelines for watering, feeding, and sunlight, but have done something wrong along the way. I hope it's not to late to save it. I attached two pictures.
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  • tubaboy
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Replied by tubaboy on topic Juniper Dying - Need Help!!

Posted 6 years 11 months ago #32051
If the green needles are brittle, the tree is dead. It looks like they might be from the picture.
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Replied by Black on topic Juniper Dying - Need Help!!

Posted 6 years 11 months ago #32052
Thanks for replying. No they aren't brittle yet. At least most aren't.
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Replied by leatherback on topic Juniper Dying - Need Help!!

Posted 6 years 11 months ago #32054
maybe y9u can tell us what yu have done so far wit regards to trimming, repotting, wiring and overwintering.
Branches do not 'just die'
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Replied by tubaboy on topic Juniper Dying - Need Help!!

Posted 6 years 11 months ago #32056
is there any new growth? the tips of the green needles should be even brighter green if there is new growth. was the picture taken where you are keeping it?
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Replied by Black on topic Juniper Dying - Need Help!!

Posted 6 years 11 months ago #32057
There's not any new growth or at least hasn't been since spring started. Some of the brown leaves were turning back to green in March but have gone back to brown. I have been keeping it on my back deck but recently moved it to the front yard to increase the sunlight as the spring leaves on my trees have had too much shade in the back.
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Replied by tubaboy on topic Juniper Dying - Need Help!!

Posted 6 years 11 months ago #32058
how well does the soil drain? junipers don't like to stay damp. Have you done anything else with the plant other than move it from less to more sun? how quickly did you do that? did the browning start before that? is the plant root bound? i.e. do the roots take up the entire pot?
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Replied by Black on topic Juniper Dying - Need Help!!

Posted 6 years 11 months ago #32059
I haven't done any wiring to it yet. It was repotted at the bonsai nursery about 9 months ago. I twisted off some of the new growth that was growing on the underside of the branches. I live in Georgia where the winter was fairly mild this year. I put the bonsai in the garage on nights that went below freezing but otherwise kept it outside. Maybe that was the issue.
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Replied by tubaboy on topic Juniper Dying - Need Help!!

Posted 6 years 11 months ago #32060
do you have a picture of the soil? how much outside air can get into your garage? junipers also hate being inside.
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Replied by Black on topic Juniper Dying - Need Help!!

Posted 6 years 11 months ago #32061
The soil drains very well. No I haven't done anything besides moving it to more sunlight. The browning started before that though which makes me think that wasn't the issue. I haven't looked at the roots yet. Being new to this, do I just dig it up and take a look? And if it is root bound does it need a new pot?
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