Potted Blue Atlas Cedar troubles

4 years ago

Hello,
I have two blue atlas cedars in pots, one is the weeping variety the other I believe is horstmann. As you can see in the pictures, they are not doing so well.
I'm in zone 6a, I kept these in my shed over the winter, watering occasionally. A few weeks ago they still looked great, it was warming up so I brought them out along with some of my other relatively hardy potted plants.
Within a week or two, the weeping one started dropping needles like crazy. They didn't change colors or anything, they just started dropping. You can see how sparse it is now, those remaining needles are quite fragile.
The other one, shortly after, began losing colors on it's outermost needles and that discoloration is making it's way inward. The discolored needles are still holding on for now.
Not sure what the issue was? Too much sun too suddenly? Too cold at night? Weather has been pretty mild, and I've kept the soil appropriately watered.
Possible solutions? Heavy pruning? Extra fertilizer? Repot? Should I try to defoliate them? Will new needles grow back? I know it's only early spring but I quite like these little trees..
Any advice is greatly appreciated!

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Comments (4)

callirhoe123
4 years ago
Do you mean you kept them in darkness all winter? These are outdoor plants and would struggle indoors even with good lighting.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
4 years ago
unless the first one buds out in the next few weeks.. its dead ..

and it doesnt appear much of the other is alive ..

this looks

EXACTLY what mine looked like.. in the ground.. after a typical MI winter ... they do not grow... or i should say.. thrive in MI ... i dont think you mention where you are ... but the fact that you garaged them for winter tells me.. they are borderline in your zone..

where are you.. big city name ...

i also THINK ... they dont like pots long term.. i think its a wet roots thing ...

the solution.. most likely.. give them 3 more months.. with proper watering.. and then throw them out.. if they are still pissing you off ... just like i did ... i do note in the back of your pix.. nothing has leafed out.. so its not really time to do much else but to wait and see what spring brings ...

lastly.. let them near dry before the next watering ... they are trees.. not water loving perennials ...

ken
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Leo
Original Author
4 years ago
@ken

Thanks for your comment, I'm optimistic things will turn around after they get over the shock of moving outside. I'm right outside of Boston, zone 6a.

When I scratch under the bark with my fingernail, it's still bright green so I think there's still life there. Just want to help them recover.

@callirhoe

My shed actually has pretty good lighting, windows on two sides and skylights. Works nicely as an unheated greenhouse over the winter for my potted japanese maples, but I know these guys could do better with more sun. The issues only started when I took them out of the shed, at least as far as I could tell...

I'll provide updates as the season goes on, thank you!

however I can
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years ago
Brown needles on a conifer is never a good sign. Brown needles reflect an inability to photosynthesize. No photosynthesis and the plant dies. The lack of needles on the weeping form is also a concern....for the very same reason. Even in a very young plant, it should have a much denser growth of foliage.

I'd seriously question the long term viability of either of these. And they are of borderline hardiness for a zone 6a as well. if they do survive, they will need a somewhat sheltered location.