Can anyone help me with a brand new, dying Cryptomeria japonica? About 1 month ago I purchased a 13 to 14 foot c.***. It appeared to being doing well for the first 10 days or so. However, the very top of the tree started turning brownish somewhere around the 9th or 10th day. Over the last 14 days, this brownish color has spread all the way down to the middle of the tree, on all sides. I have never owned a c.***. before. I believe I planted it correctly and in the correct place--Sun all day and near another evergreen. I believe evergreens cause soil to be acidic so I would think the c.***. would be happy! The nursery that sold the tree to me told me that my watering cycle (underground lawn sprinkler system which was activiated everyday for approximately 30 minutes every day) was not a sufficient amount of water. That the tree needs a good "soaking" about every other day. To top it off, we in New Jersey had a 2 week hot spell which occured during the planting of this tree. In response to his suggestions, I have soaked the roots for 15 minutes every other day for the last week. The change in watering doesn't seem to be helping. Have I killed this tree? I don't know what's worse, loosing the tree or loosing the money for the tree. It was very expensive. How do I get it back to the green color it should be? Everyday seems to be more brown than the day before! I would be grateful for any ideas that would explain the problem.
When was the tree dug? how careful were they with the root mass (I find them to be very intolerant of abuse)? When you say soaking, exactly how much water do you mean (garden hose, full out for fifteen minutes? or?)? How big was the root mass(root ball)? was it in the shade and is it now in full sun? what is there warranty policy? :) ps. try to take pictures of the progression for visible evidence if needed. cheers, Paul
Hi Judy: There are two things you will be best served to do and that is include some images of your tree for us to evaluate and tell us which form of Cryptomeria japonica you bought from the nursery. Sometime go over to the nursery and see if any of their Cryptomerias are doing the same thing as your tree is. There are several forms of Cryptomeria. If I knew which one you have I can rule out or confirm Red Spider Mite damage for example. Also, there are several forms that are susceptible to a needle rust disease. There are some forms that can be severely weakened by a Red Mite. Leaf spot is almost non-existent here but it can be problem where you are. Oyster scale and Cottony Cushion scale are other insects that can problematic for many Cryptomerias. I hope you did not fertilize your tree soon after you planted it. A weekly, deep watering is healthy but several short timed waterings a week is not what several forms of Cryptomerias will like much for established trees. For newly planted trees we have to water them well and often when the temperatures are warm. I would give your tree a good shower of water every two days from "head to toe" when the temps are warm in my anticipating that you have either a Red Spider Mite or a Red Mite problem, more so than your tree having a rust problem. < I don't know what's worse, loosing the tree or loosing the money for the tree. How do I get it back to the green color it should be? Everyday seems to be more brown than the day before! > Considering the size of your tree yes, you probably do have a considerable investment in it. The tree is more important than the money you may have lost. If you are lucky the tree will recover but it has been my experience, that with several forms of Cryptomeria that when they start to decline they do not come out if. Dealing with a rust issue is one thing as that can kill some needles and leaves a brownish coloration on the growth tips that does disfigure the tree but the tree can still live. New growth to arise from the deadened areas just does not happen on the dwarf forms that I have grown in the past and present. Even the larger forms such as the true Japanese form of the Sugi, 'Yoshino', just do not recover to being allover green in again very often at all. Once the Cryptomeria turns brown either allover of from the top down, as a general rule, the plant will perish. It is possible for the tree to make a remarkable comeback as I've seen it happen only in very rare situations, generally only on some of the dwarfs such as 'Tansu' and 'Tansu aurea' but I would not be hopeful of even a remote recovery. The last paragraph of this post was written almost a week apart from the other former sections. Since we have not heard back from you I am already sensing that the tree is either too far gone for much help or it has since perished. Jim
