Lots of junipers around here, though none I see are planted in pots like mine.

The exposure is to the southwest, this time of year about 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. This winter has been very mild, 50-60 by day and 20s-30s at night. I've not been seeing any winterburn around.

Perhaps it has something to do with a light pruning I performed in the early fall?

thanks for the help!

Trees in containers are far more vulnerable to cold damage to their roots than are the same trees planted in the.ground. The typical caution to select a species hardy to at least 2 zones colder than your own does not always apply as some species have a minimum temperature their roots will endure regardless of inground hardiness.

Generally, temperatures into the low 20's (or below) sustained for more than just a day or two is sufficient to cause root death in most woody plants grown in containers. This can be exacerbated by dry potting soil. I'd be inclined to suspect your little tree just froze to death.

the actual stress could relate back to the potting ....

conifers can take a long time to 'show' the damage ... and its very common in cold places.. that the damage doesnt show until winter... or winter damage showing in spring ...

when you potted in summer.. did you immediately place it in the sun ...

fert is not going to help it ... probably easier to just replace it ..

ken

Hi you two,

I really appreciate the feedback. Had no idea potted conifers were so susceptible to seasonal changes. I'm quite sure we selected the most hardy variety available, but can't remember for which zone. Like I said, the other tree is fine.

let me know if you have any further advice!

thanks,

Tyler

Bloodystupidphone. that's my story and i'm sticking to it.

The problem is you put this in a container, and that's really what I mean to ask, how many similar plants in your areas are in planters.

It can be done. successfully, over many years. it's not a guaranteed thing, and as such, there may be a learning curve and some attrition.

Will this come out of this recover fine? well within the realm of possibility. could this be the beginning of a long spiral down? also in the realm of possibility.

There is nothing about this that goes back to summer.

Winterburn. and at this point, i'm just too tired to go on about how to successfully keep perennials in planters

Top of potting medium looks dust dry in picture so I am not sure moisture actually has been adequate. The whole time anyway, even if it might be now.

Also there look to be some fat brown things near the tip of the tree shown which might indicate it is actually an Italian cypress and not a juniper. If this is the case then the tree simply burned up due to the winter cold having been too much for it. The other tree seeming to not be visibly affected could perhaps be explained by it actually being something like a Rocky Mountain juniper cultivar, you having ended up with two different kinds instead of a matching pair.

A picture of the happy one would be interesting to see.

Also, a dark pot in sun can cook roots. And in winter, you now have a continual freeze-thaw cycle that is tough on any plant. You'd be better off overwintering it in shade.

I assume there is a drain hole in that pot?

tj

Tyler,

Humidity was 12% here yesterday and remember the high winds all last week? I'm a half hour east of you and we've had 0 precip. in the last month.

I'd get my fingers in the pot a few inches down and check moisture again. I'd not fertilize this time of year and I'd saturate that pot, provided it does have drainage holes. I think this may be fertilizer burn and drought stress.

In addition to appearing to have cypress cones on it tree looks dead to me.

I really appreciate all the feedback, goodly people! Yesterday I pulled the pot around to the NE corner of the house and saturated the pot. Will keep you posted.

thanks!

Yes. Regardless of the type of conifer it may be (and it looks more cypress-like than juniper-ish to me as well), they will seldom recover from that sort of appearance. If not completely dead, it is well on its way.