brown needles on dragon's eye pine

15 years ago

I just noticed that my 5-foot Dragon's Eye Pine which I planted last year has gotten many brown needles. The last time I looked at it not too long ago (maybe a few weeks), it was fine. It's sited in full sun.

Anyone know what happened?

Oh yes, we did have 90-100 degrees for 3 days very recently -- weird weather. Could that have caused it?

thanks

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Comments (8)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
my GUESS.. without a picture..

winter damage.. that did not show until spring temps elevated..

are the buds extending???

how about a picture

ken
Jennifer Schwarz
15 years ago
My Oculus-draconis did the same thing and I suspect winter burn. It did the same thing last year and then suddenly the new growth covered up the burned needles and it looked beautiful again. Funny thing is my Burke's Red Variegated looks fine and it was in full sun and wind.
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two thoughts... first ... what impact did transplant.. and all the digging involved in moving it and planting it.. have on the plant ... in other words... compare growth on prior limbs.. and post transplant ... you don't mention how long its been in the ground in your garden ... and second.. i have been able to ID at least two types [for this discussion] of conifer collectors .... those who want every pine to look like an xmas tree.. perfectly sheared in a perfect cone shape ... and those who think the 'weirder the better' .... for retail .. many growers are the former.. then once transplanted .. the growth starts going wild again ... and the new owner has to decide which path they are going to follow ... my guess.. is that it was planted about two or three years ago .. and that is when the spindly growth occurred .... obviously .. there isn't all that much to shear at this point.. but if you have a plethora of growth next spring.. you might want to nip the new buds in June or so .. to force less extension and more lateral branching ... you will need better guidance on that from others who actually do it.. because i am of the weirder the better .. let it do its own thing club ... i have a bergmans var [drag eye]... bought very small .. that has refused to put up a leader for about 6 years .... no matter how i have tried to force it to do so ... no matter which branch i tie and stake...others go higher ... i think it spends evenings mocking me.. lol .. its a beautiful 6 foot globe ... and i think it is finally putting up a leader ... about 3 foot off center ... perhaps.. on the drag eyes.. with all that yellow .. and its propensity to winter burn .. maybe it has just taken this long to get fully established .. and decide 'survival' isn't an issue.. and it finally wants to grow up?? i surely wont ever know ... anyway .. its alive.. its growing roots.. sooner or later.. it will get its act together.... my best suggestion.. buy more conifers.. so you don't have to fixate on this one.. lol have a good day.. ken
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many of my yellow dragon eye.. totally denuded themselves the first 3 winters .. losing every single needle ... my OJ right now looks like heck.. with all the yellow burned off .... hey whass.. where is that post on burkes you asked me to post... gotta a quick link??? do NOT fert.. no medicine.. insure it is moist throughout the rootzone.. dig a small hole of 6 inches to insure such ... next to the ball of roots which were planted ... mulch properly.. etc.. life is in those buds at the branch tips.. as long as those buds remain hard.. and tannish brown.. you should be all set ... OJanome.. is one of the worst plants i have ever owned for vigor.. i wish you all the luck in the world with it.. ken
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
winter damage is much complicated by recent transplant... and occurs every year in varying degrees.. until the plant is fully established...

and it doesnt help.. that you transplanted a large plant.. which will take longer to get established...

but the key.. is that it is all in the buds.. they should be extending consistent with all other pines in your garden .. if so.. you are all set

ken
dgs9r
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks. The buds are clearly extending -- the candle things are there.

What exactly is winter damage? Why did it happen only toward the end of winter? It was fine all winter long -- it looked so beautiful among the brown and grey -- until just a couple of weeks ago.

Should it be sited in full sun? What will August weather do to it?

I don't know how to post pics, but will try to figure it out soon.

Thanks again.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
go to photobucket.com. its free. and pretty darn easy ...

IT HAPPENED IN WINTER .... it didnt SHOW until temps warmed ...

it is due to transplant .. truncation of all of its roots ... perhaps improper watering last summer and fall ... winter winds.. and winter sun ...

the leaves.. aka needles ... were not holding the proper amount of water ... and when the freeze drying effects of winter rolled thru .. they dried even more..

however.. being is a suspended state of animation .. and being EVERGREEN ... the damage didnt realy show in winter..

once the temps started warming... with improper water balance in the needles ... they just died ... perhaps sacrificing whatever was left.. to the buds ...

obviously.. much speculation ...

do you know how to water properly .. are they mulched... and if not.. ask.. and also tell us your soil type.

ken
dgs9r
Original Author
15 years ago
Ok, trying to post image here...

Watering -- as far as I remember, I watered it about once a week during the times it didn't rain.

Mulch -- yes

soil -- loamy garden; there were other plants growing there before...a rose bush, I think.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:735616}}
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
looks just like some of mine... nice long bud extension...

give it some time...

in photobucket.. copy the HTML.. and paste it right where you type .. and on preview.. if you see it.. we will ...

the pungens.. are much slower to show spring growth.. give the hoopsi more time ...

ken
dgs9r
Original Author
15 years ago
Ken,
Thanks a bundle!
If the hoopsii doesn't wake up in a few weeks, I'll post back. I hope we don't have to dig for root check.
Deepti

brown needles on dragon's eye pine

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brown needles on dragon's eye pine

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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