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Juniper Problem #864037

Asked April 10, 2024, 10:33 PM EDT

We have had a Juniper (Probably blue star) growing inside for about 5-6 years- ever since we dug it up from our yard as a ~4in sapling. It was doing very well in our old house, it has started to be very unhappy. It is ~4ft tall potted in a 10in pot in regular potting soil and has been in there for a few years. In our old house, it was in a greenhousy window bay that extended 2 feet out of the south side house and had windows in all directions. We live in an urban area so there was a house pretty close to the window, but it was getting quite a bit of light. I'm not sure how much humidity was there but I assume slightly on the dry side. We watered on a pretty good schedule. In the process of moving, it stayed where it was but the watering was sporadic. Now that it was been transferred to the new house, it has been on a south facing window again, but this window does not get as much light. We then moved it to a different spot in a SW double window space (Away from a heat vent). However we do keep the blinds down most of the time, but not closed. The problem is that the tips of the leaves and needles are turning brown and gray. We thought that this might be because of low humidity, but the humidity is not noticeably drier than our old house. Our plan it to move it outside into the ground this summer after the threat of the frost has passed. Our plan is to check for root rot when we plant it outside, but that might be a month! We are also starting today going to set it outside on nicer days. Can you identify what might be the issue? There are no pests on the foliage. What should we do combat this, and what should we do to keep it in optimal health for the meantime? Also is it okay to go all in this summer and to plant it in the ground?

Hennepin County Minnesota

Expert Response

Your plant is probably just reacting to the change in level of light. The following website gives an explanation of this and other possibilities to look for. It will likely recover when placed outside this spring when the soil warms, the days length and there is adequate water.  It wouldn’t hurt to start putting it out during the days now.  Be sure to check for circling roots when you transplant as the pot is a little small for that size tree.
1.https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/sites/agscid7/files/horticulture/osu-nursery-greenhouse-and-christmas-trees/onn011001.pdf
2. https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/watering-newly-planted-trees-and-shrubs
Mary, Master Gardener, Tree Care Advisor Replied April 11, 2024, 12:47 PM EDT

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