I think my juniper is dying or is already dead. I have had this juniper for about a month now and it started to look a little on the bad side. I was ruluctant to put it on my porch. I live in a high rise apt. on the 24th floor. it gets strait sunlight from around 3pm until sunset and its all concrete. so I kept it on a book shelf with just a little less sunlight then it would have had outside. but after having it inside for almost a month and following the instructions I read online, it was still looking pretty bad.I thought I should at least try to put it onto my porch, but its even worse now. about an eigth of the needles are turning brown and falling off and the rest are turing a pale green. I'm afraid to try anything else for fear of killing it if I have not already done so.
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is there anything I can do?
any advice would be helpful
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- Location: Western PA USDA Zone 6A
druiden,
Welcome to the Helpful Gardener. Juniper is poor choice for indoor culture. Low levels of light and humidity are causes for concern. Although it has not effected you yet, the lack of the required dormancy is another.
The condition of your soil may be part of the problem but even if it is I would not attempt to do anything with it now. Is the soil coarse and gritty or finely textured and peaty?
Norm
Welcome to the Helpful Gardener. Juniper is poor choice for indoor culture. Low levels of light and humidity are causes for concern. Although it has not effected you yet, the lack of the required dormancy is another.
I keep mine outside in direct sunlight for as many hours I can manage, although as the sun is lower in the sky this time of year that is lessening somewhat.I was ruluctant to put it on my porch...it gets strait sunlight from around 3pm until sunset
Not surprising, this level of light is much less than is necessary.so I kept it on a book shelf with just a little less sunlight then it would have had outside. but after having it inside for almost a month and following the instructions I read online, it was still looking pretty bad.
It may appear to be worse but it was the right thing to do. Unfortunately Junipers are known for appearing healthy even after they are dead. By the time they begin to show problems it is often too late for them to make a recovery. You can try this; scratch the trunk a bit and look for green, living tissue. Any other color is bad news.I thought I should at least try to put it onto my porch, but its even worse now.
You have not described your watering practices, please read the "general tips" sticky at the top of the forum for information on watering, make sure to follow the links as well. You may be over-watering, Junipers don't like to be kept soggy but just moist. You can try misting it, Junipers can absorb moisture through their needles and this might help.I'm afraid to try anything else for fear of killing it if I have not already done so. is there anything I can do?
The condition of your soil may be part of the problem but even if it is I would not attempt to do anything with it now. Is the soil coarse and gritty or finely textured and peaty?
Norm
mine started to look like that as well.. but I put it outside with good early morning sunlight and I mist it a few times a day when I am home. I find that the chopstick method of watering is a good way to tell when it needs to be watered. so with the change in my habits I have been seeing a steady change in its health. the color has came back and the brown needles haven't returned. I agree with norm 100%. put it outside and practice good watering habits. good luck.