ras0046
Newly Registered
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Mar 13, 2006 12:20 pm

Please help my Browning Cyprus...

[url=https://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cypressbonsai0ms.jpg][img]https://img84.imageshack.us/img84/4619/cypressbonsai0ms.th.jpg[/img][/url]

Hello to all. Above you will see my small Cypress bonsai. As of lately, it has seen better days. I have it in an office that get sunlight but I am afraid that it may not be getting enough UV rays because the glass is very reflective.

Also, I think I may have managed to fry it with too much fertilizer becasue it is slightly browning, leaves are falling off and the moss around the tree seems to be seperatingfrom the soil below.

After looking at several other posts, I realized the fertilizer may have been what was hurting it because I was using time release pellets and since it was inside it was needing ample watering, thus over fertilizing it.

I am posting here because I would like to see if anyone knows what would be best to bring my Cyprus back to healthy previous state.

Its symptoms are:

-Browning leaves
-Drying out
-Dying moss

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Rich

Joseph
Full Member
Posts: 52
Joined: Sun Mar 12, 2006 12:30 pm
Location: Milwaukee, WI

I think (just a guess based on the picture) that is a Hinoki or false cypress.

I which case I would say that your problem is not enough light. All cypress, true and false cypress are outdoor plants that need full sun year round. The true Bald cypress and Pond cypress also need massive amounts of water, as they are native to swamps and rivers.

My recommendation would be to get it outside.

What zone are you in?

Here are some good care sheets on cypress.

https://www.bonsai-bci.com/species/hinoki.html

https://www.bonsai-bci.com/species/taxodium.html

opabinia51
Super Green Thumb
Posts: 4659
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2004 5:58 pm
Location: Victoria, BC

Instead of using (what I think to be) synthetic fertilzer pellets, try using organic fertilizer like liquid seaweed or liquid fish fertilizer. Liquid fish fertilizer is a bit smelly and should only be applied when the tree is outside.

In my opinion, a cypress tree should be kept outside (if you are able to do so) most of the time. If you live North of the Equator, now should be the end of the dormancy period of the tree and (if it was kept outside) now would not be the time to fertilize.
In fact, trees should only be fertilzed in the spring and summer. I would say that to help your tree, it would be best best to stop with the fertilizer for now and just continue to water your tree.
If you simply move your tree outside now, it will probably die of shock. It should be moved outside on fair days when temperatures are above 70 F and moved inside at night to harden the tree off. Do, this for about a month and if day and night time temperatures are high enough, you can move your tree outside after that.

Good luck!!

Hey Joseph, appreciate all your comments. :)

ras0046
Newly Registered
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Mar 13, 2006 12:20 pm

I have removed all of the pellets, and run water through the soil to attempt at removing the chemicals.

I am in the Dallas, Texas, and it looks like our high today is 68 and windy, so I am not going to put my tree outside today, but most likely later this week will be ok.

Thank you for all the feedback.

Rich

opabinia51
Super Green Thumb
Posts: 4659
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2004 5:58 pm
Location: Victoria, BC

You are most welcome. That's what we are here for. :)

The Helpful Gardener
Mod
Posts: 7491
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2004 9:17 pm
Location: Colchester, CT

Fertilizer seems to be part of the problem, but the inside of the tree is shading out; you need to do some pruning to allow light and air circulation on the inside (dried brown foliage is an invite to mites, and you don't want that).

Scott



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