That's not supposed to be yellow. Seems like a # of factors could provide an explanation:

Possibilities:
It's not/didn't receive the right amount of nutrients and if the foliage is still alive on the plant, it may be possible (I'd try pelleted sulphur, first...)

It's on it's way out. It may not have a chance at this point. It could be past the point of no return.

Herbicide damage.

Competitive weeds in the pot over an extended period of time.

The root system is not able to metabolize nutrients - the "uptake." In other words the roots may be damaged and you may not know.

Whatever it is, it doesn't sound good.
Your best bet is to ask for a replacement if things decline any further, a warranty.
Get it in the ground asap! Light 1/4 to 1/2 the recommended rates of miracle grow acid formula once a week to see if it can pick itself back up again. This and the pelleted sulphur (without a soil test) are the first things that you may consider. Or take it back, right now.

Dax

was it bronzy at purchase???

it might all be transplant shock ...

i wouldnt go investing a lot of money into it ...

ken

They have a bit of yellow on them at my local nursery, too. Let me see if I can take a pic later for comparison.

Josh

Thanks for your feedback everyone. Even if I got a replacement, they were all bronzy at the nursery. When I asked about it, they thought it might be that it had been pot bound too long, and it would perk up if I replanted.

Do cryptomerias grow new foliage continuously, or in one growth spurt per season?

thanks again.

My C.j. 'tansu' has two growth spurts per season.
It's in a pot, however, so that might change things.

Josh

Not familiar with the cultivar 'Black Dragon', but many cryptomeria varieties bronze in the winter, you can look into the interior of the plant which should still be green, this I would guess is an indication that your plant is still healthy, a photo would help ?

I thought some cryptomerias bronzed rather extensively. Is it possible your plant was mislabeled, isn't a black dragon, and is behaving normally for whatever it is?

'black dragon' has a pretty distinctive form, especially if it was grouped with others of similar form...

I'll try and get a pic from the nursery today....I think I'll be heading out in a bit.

Josh

Well, if bronzing is natural that would be a relief. The only green on the plant is in the very middle insides and bottom insides. I am pretty sure it is properly labeled as it looks just like the ones at my other local nursery, except they are a deep green. The question is, why wouldn't the other ones be bronze then?

Both nurseries are reputable, I bought the bronze one becasue it was a 1 gallon plant v.s. the other nursery had only 5 gallon plants.

Thats why I thought perhaps they might prefer part shade, I thought the bronzing might have been too much sun. Could that be the case?

Thanks again for your feedback everyone.

i doubt this means anything in z9 .. lol ... but here in z5 ... frost and cold weather trigger color change ... as well as other variables not pertinent to the discussion ...

anyway .. back to frost .... on my 5 acres.. i can have some hosta stay alive weeks longer than others ... simply on where the cold hits in the yard ...

in other words.. temperature variations vary wildly inside one yard.. let alone two nurseries.. let alone adding your garden to the mix ...

exterior bronzing is normal for crypto's .. interior green is perfect ... just pray the bronze doesnt turn to khaki or tan .. which is dead tissue ...

i question how you can be so sure of the proper name.. on a one gallon sized plant.. when the color.. according to your own research, indicates that BD isnt supposed to do that ....

unwinding and transplanting the thing is a horrible shock.. all and all ... so its entirely possible that that has something to do with the color change ...

good luck

ken

Ken,
'Black Dragon' has such a distinct form that I'd be surprised if it were misidentified among a group of other 'Black Dragons,' even in the one gallon size -- the tree is probably a foot and a half tall.

Josh

p.s.
still haven't made it to the nursery...
maybe tomorrow, since I'll be tutoring nearby.

During the winter months, my Black Dragon usually has a bronze tint. During the rest of the year, it is dark green.

This picture is from Winter 2008 prior to planting in my garden.

I'll try to get some pictures of this winters bronze hue.

This is a close up of my Black Dragon with winter yellow/bronze foilage. Sorry for the poor picture but the weather is bad here with low temps, rain, and ice.

Winter Jan 2009 Black Dragon

Good pics, Halo-
very helpful!

Thank you haloperidol! That is exactly how mine looks, but with less green, the green is only on the very centers, but it is a smaller plant.

So, do cryptomerias prefer full sun, or do they like a bit of shade?

Thanks again everyone for your feedback.