Root Rot or What?

Ml_work · 12-30-2008, 11:50 AM

I have moved all my tropical trees inside for the winter. They are in a sun room that gets direct sun most of the day. I have the central heat vents closed in this room, but there are no doors to close. I know the heat dries them out just as it drops the level in the fish tank daily. So this year I have been trying something new. Instead of taking the trees out in the cold every 3 days for a good soaking. I have been watering just a small amount to the root ball each day and giving them a good soaking each Saturday. So far it seemed to be good, they have not lost many leaves and some continue produce new growth. I noticed the other day my Burning Bush had a dark look on the roots. With a closer look I could see small bugs, looked like white or silver back or wings. Too small to really tell. I sprayed a small amount of Spectricide on it. Now today I am off and can see good in the daylight. I see my Fukie Tea and BRain Tree have the same look on the root ball, no bugs though. If I touch it, I get a film of black/brown on my finger. All of these have new growth coming out, so I don't think (Hope Not) they are dieing. Any ideas?
Pictures are Burning Bush, Fukie Tea, BRain Tree

Thanks,
Michael

Good to see some new post on here. I will upload a pic of my Christmas presents later tonight.

tombeur · 12-30-2008, 02:34 PM

From the look and sound of things I would guess that you are over watering .... only water when needed - not on a schedule. How warm is the sun room? Cheers, Steve

centaura · 01-01-2009, 10:37 AM

You might be overwatering - its hard to tell. The other problem might be algae growth - that's a problem I get with my city water, but it also only shows up when things are too moist. Its hard to water trees on a schedule, especially tropicals in the winter - they are growing and transpiring water at different speeds, therefor needing different amounts of water at different times.

-Centaura

Ml_work · 01-09-2009, 12:11 AM

Thanks for the reply. I have cut back on the water, the trunk is still black but the trees are doing good.

ML

Rick Moquin · 01-09-2009, 08:28 AM

... the burning bush should have stayed outside to overwinter.

It sounds like you might be over watering and the presence of fungus gnats are also an indication that the soil is held to moist and has far to much organic decomposition taken place. Reduce the watering to almost dry and then water. We have a tendency to place our trees on our schedule.

Ml_work · 01-10-2009, 02:18 AM

Thanks Rick, I agree I / We do tend to water on Our schedule. In the Hot summer it is easy as I must water daily outside and most days inside. I did a good soak outside last Saturday and a very small amount of water mid week. I plan to take them outside tomorrow for good soaking.

I thought the burning bush was to come inside in winter? Maybe I am giving the incorrect name..the name on the tag when I purchased it is ...Dwarft Brush Cherry / Eugenia Unifolia.

Have A Great Day!
ML

Rick Moquin · 01-10-2009, 11:30 AM

Soaking is a rescue practice that should be avoided on healthy trees. Roots need oxygen and the only way this oxygen is drawn in is through top watering. Soaking trees expels the majority of oxygen available for the roots, which may result in an unwanted anaerobic reaction. Therefore we should always water from the top.

Brush cherrys can indeed come indoors but they also benefit from remaining outdoors. I have no experience with this species nor its tolerance etc...

Ml_work · 01-11-2009, 12:20 AM

Rick, thanks for the advice, I value your opinion highly. I used the word "soak" incorrect. What I was talking about was a good watering. When the trees are inside I just add a very small amount of water. some do not even go all the way through. when I take them outside I water from above and let the soil get a good soaking. I do not put them into a pan of water. We had a good slow rain today with temp around 67F. I was able to leave the trees outside all day. Temp is going back down to 39 tonight so they are all inside. I think I may have cut back too much on the water over the past week, I noticed my Fukie Teas are dropping more leaves than they have since they came in from this summer.
Have A Great Day!
ML

01-09-2009, 08:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
Rick Moquin Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Dartmouth, NS Zone 5a/b Posts: 186	... the burning bush should have stayed outside to overwinter. It sounds like you might be over watering and the presence of fungus gnats are also an indication that the soil is held to moist and has far to much organic decomposition taken place. Reduce the watering to almost dry and then water. We have a tendency to place our trees on our schedule. __________________ Bonsai is the journey, not the destination Bonsai Wonders

01-10-2009, 11:30 AM	#7 (permalink)
Rick Moquin Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Dartmouth, NS Zone 5a/b Posts: 186	Soaking is a rescue practice that should be avoided on healthy trees. Roots need oxygen and the only way this oxygen is drawn in is through top watering. Soaking trees expels the majority of oxygen available for the roots, which may result in an unwanted anaerobic reaction. Therefore we should always water from the top. Brush cherrys can indeed come indoors but they also benefit from remaining outdoors. I have no experience with this species nor its tolerance etc... __________________ Bonsai is the journey, not the destination Bonsai Wonders

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12-30-2008, 02:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
tombeur Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ottawa, Canada Zone: 5a Posts: 7	From the look and sound of things I would guess that you are over watering .... only water when needed - not on a schedule. How warm is the sun room? Cheers, Steve

01-01-2009, 10:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
centaura Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South Bend, IN Posts: 334	You might be overwatering - its hard to tell. The other problem might be algae growth - that's a problem I get with my city water, but it also only shows up when things are too moist. Its hard to water trees on a schedule, especially tropicals in the winter - they are growing and transpiring water at different speeds, therefor needing different amounts of water at different times. -Centaura

01-09-2009, 12:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
Ml_work Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 277	Thanks for the reply. I have cut back on the water, the trunk is still black but the trees are doing good. ML

01-10-2009, 02:18 AM	#6 (permalink)
Ml_work Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 277	Thanks Rick, I agree I / We do tend to water on Our schedule. In the Hot summer it is easy as I must water daily outside and most days inside. I did a good soak outside last Saturday and a very small amount of water mid week. I plan to take them outside tomorrow for good soaking. I thought the burning bush was to come inside in winter? Maybe I am giving the incorrect name..the name on the tag when I purchased it is ...Dwarft Brush Cherry / Eugenia Unifolia. Have A Great Day! ML

01-11-2009, 12:20 AM	#8 (permalink)
Ml_work Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 277	Rick, thanks for the advice, I value your opinion highly. I used the word "soak" incorrect. What I was talking about was a good watering. When the trees are inside I just add a very small amount of water. some do not even go all the way through. when I take them outside I water from above and let the soil get a good soaking. I do not put them into a pan of water. We had a good slow rain today with temp around 67F. I was able to leave the trees outside all day. Temp is going back down to 39 tonight so they are all inside. I think I may have cut back too much on the water over the past week, I noticed my Fukie Teas are dropping more leaves than they have since they came in from this summer. Have A Great Day! ML

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