Conifer curse

[rarubow]

I live in central Arkansas and I've been having trouble with conifers in general. I have had Japanese black pine, white pine, red pine, Boznian pine, hinoki cypress, oculus draconus, shimpaku junipur, etc. All do well for a number of years, I've actually had a couple for up to 5 years. But, then the needles begin to brown from the branch outward towards the tip and within a week or less the plant is dead. I've lost several really nice trees, but insist on continuing to try. I've taken trees when ailing to a local nurseryman who said that since the needles are browning in this manner that it is indeed a fungus. He did not identify the fungus by name, but recommended I treat with "Rescue" weekly. Well, as already noted the trees are usually dead within a week. I tried Rescue and the trees lived longer, by a couple of days, but ultimately still died. My trees sit under some large hackberry trees that have some kind of leaf bacteria/larva, which I have sent to the county offices for accessment. They reported that there shouldn't be a problem. All my deciduous trees are doing well and sit under these same trees with no signs the problems from the larger trees. It is only my conifers that see to be cursed. Currently, I have 3 white pines that I've had for 5 years that are doing well and some small junipur that I inherited that is also doing well. I would like to have some additional pines and junipur, but fear investing money, time and energy only to watch them perish as before. I'm open to any suggestions.

[MatsuBonsai]

Soil? Watering habits? Repotting, how often? Placement in your yard? Under a tree? Even in Arkansas JBP can (prefer?) full sun. What does the county extension office have to say about the affected conifers?

[rarubow]

Pines are in the section receiving the most sunlight. Approximately, receiving sun from 8 a.m. til 2 p.m. in the summer months. Soil for the JBP is a 25% humus to 75% acadama mix. I check for watering needs most days, most pines get watered alternate days. I haven't been able to get one of the living pines into the county extension offices.

[MatsuBonsai]

Sounds like your soil doesn't drain quickly enough if you're only having to water JBP on alternate days. In the heat of summer I have to water 3 times a day or more! Poorly draining soil can lead to root rot and any number of other problems.

What grade akadama? What exactly are you calling humus? Particle size? Do you sift? How often do you repot? Any pictures?

[dbrock]

A lot of good questions John! I recently got to have Ryan Neil at my home and he set me straight on many issues. First how do we know if a tree is healthy? Resistance to disease and pest is one of those big clues. So something is not quite right. The placement issue is huge! Full Sun, don't baby them. You are probably weakening them with too much shade over time. Soil is also huge. Ryan said Acadama only on conifers. Made me uncomfortable at first because that doesn't feel like what I think of as soil. After Ryan explain transmission of water, nutrients and AIR, it made me feel more comfortable. I also was experiencing fungus issues on my Kishu Junipers because of our humidity down near Houston. I had been treating with an antifungal but to no improvement. Ryan recommended "Mancozeb" to treat and all I can say is that it is increadible stuff. Another of my big mistakes with the fungus was that I was watering overhead and watering the foilage that had fungus on it. Water only allowed the fungus to spread faster. Ryan said it was like pouring acid on the tree. Two treatments of Mancozeb and no watering of the foliage, I can't see any spread.

[shipsquartersfarm]

Where do you get the Mancozeb?

[dbrock]

I found the Mancozeb on the internet. Just plug the name into a search engine.

[rarubow]

Here is my confusion; all the trees thrive well in black plastic nursery pots, the same soil mix and sun light until I put them into a bonsai tray. This is when I get into trouble. If they are receiving the same treatment before being planted in a bonsai tray as they do after seems like they should thrive equally as well, but, they aren't. I rarely water from the top, though on really hot days I will mist the trees to bring down their temperature. I'm willing to try a looser soil, since I've just invested in a number of red and black japanese pine. I currently have several white japanese pines that I've had for 5 years and a couple of junipur (shimpaku) that I've had for equally as long. But, all these trees are in the black nursery pots. Is my confusion and frustration showing?

[MatsuBonsai]

Can you answer my questions above? In addition to soil, I'll add watering to the list of problems. Rarely water from the top? How are you watering?

Boon has a really good DVD on repotting, if you're having trouble.

[wtdavis]

From what you have mentioned, your pines and junipers seem to die from the trunk out. I too have a couple of questions. Do you use any fungicides for any purpose? And if repotting after a few years of ownership, do you bare-root before hand?
There is a symbiotic relationship with a necessary fungi, mycorrhiza, and the root system. The mycorrhiza helps the roots take in nourishment. If you are dipping your pines in water, instead of watering them from the top, and you have used an anti-fungal treatment in your water source to keep algae in check, it is very possible that you have killed off the necessary mycorrhiza and the tree slowly dies because it can't get what it needs, no matter how much you water it. Also if you bare-root, do you remove the soil, containing the necessary mycorrhiza as well.
I live in hot Southern California, zone 9, and for all of my JBP and junipers I use a mix of acadama, Turface and red lava, with very little organic matter if any. When replanting, I add some mycorrhiza (which can be purchased at most plant centers) to the soil before I put the tree in the pot. I keep my JBP bonsai in full sun, except in the 100 degree temps of Summer (Then I use 30% shade cloth.)
Boon recommends that all bonsai be watered from the top, as happens in nature. All of Boon's videos are terrific and a great source to return to as needed. Best of luck!