My Bonsai's Leaves are turning brown...Help!

[Caligirljn]

I have had a juniper Bonsai for about three months. It has been healthy until recently. It has exposed roots and some green moss growing around it. The Bonsai specialist I purchased the tree from instructed me to buy a mister and mist the tree from the tips to roots everyday. I have read that they like to dry out inbetween waterings and have taken this into account...but recently the leaves have started to change yellow or brown and are drying up. The tree lives outside in a mostly shaded area with full sun at parts of the day. This week I have tried soaking the roots and letting it dry out completely...will this help or hurt the tree? I don't think it is root rot...is it possible that it was underwatered?

[mikey012076]

Yellow leaves are from over watering, then if it gets sun the yellow leaves will turn brown, also under watering will turn the leaves brown, have you tryed feeding your tree? and is it in black top soil if it is not then add some to the top of the soil

[jasonlongboard]

mind if I cut in,whats the best food for them?Im asuming he has a juniper.If you can link me to a feeding thread or just explain breifly.

[mikey012076]

Evergreen trees and shrubs, including rhododendrons, camellias, azaleas, juniper cypress and broad-leaf evergreens, are fertilized with a rhododendron-type fertilizer.
Deciduous trees and shrubs, which includes fruit, flowering and shade trees, roses, lilacs, forsythia, etc. are all fed with a rose or general garden-type fertilizer. Deciduous refers to trees and shrubs that lose their leaves during the winter.
Perennials, annuals and vegetables are also fertilized with a rose or general garden fertilizer.

Or just use any all purpose fertilizer 10-10-10 or 20-20-20

[Kostyantyn]

i keep on watering my junniper like evry day but it looks like its geting worse i keep it inside my house what shold i do is it sopose to get direct sunlight?

[sam1]

You should not be watering your tree everyday unless it needs it. Use this method daily for determining your water needs:
Use a bamboo chopstick or skewer. Insert it well into the soil and leave it in for 3-5 mins.or longer. When you pull it out if it is wet or quite damp, don't water. If it is dry or barely damp, water.
When you do water, use a rain type method as with a watering can with fine holes.<br><br>Post edited by: sam1, at: 2008/05/04 04:35

[mikey012076]

Keep it out side your house, it will die living in your house, when you put it out side keep it in the shade so you do not burn the needles on your tree, put it out in the sun little by little, so it gets use to the sun maybe 1 to 2 hours a day until the needles harden off then you can give up to 5 hours a day but junipers like the shade also.

Mike....:O)

[sam1]

Couldn't have said it better myself!

[sk8erkyle2006]

I have a jupiter and the leaves are brown. Have been for several months. Is it dead? The trunk still seems strong but the leaves are brown. I'm thinking I need to put it in a bigger pot with fresh soil and put it outside. Any suggestions?

[mikey012076]

Yes your tree is dead, once the leaves turn brown the juniper will not come back to life, the juniper is an out door tree if you keep it in your house it will die i have only seen a juniper live indoors for only 4 months max, then it was dead but putting it out doors now will not help your juniper, best to keep the pot and find a small tropical tree to plant in it for a bonsai to live in your home...

Sorry for your loss....

Mike....:O)