How long have you had it and is water getting to the rootball?

tj

What cultivar of Hinoki is it? Sparseness of interior branching is entirely common with many cultivars, as is the drooping top.

I think I've had it for 4 years now.

I'm not sure which cultivar it is, but the app I have on my phone says its a Chamaecyparis obtusa

As far as the water, I don't know. I just have it planted in the front of my house.

Hinoki cypress is the common name for any specimen of Chamaecyparis obtusa. However, there are at least 250 named cultivars, many of which are dwarf or very slow growing and have characteristics roughly like yours.

Again, depending on the cultivar, the appearance could be completely normal.

@nansus Did you recently move the plant for better sunlight conditions? It may well be the right thing to do, good luck!

It gets plenty of mid to late day sun. However the past month or so has been pretty dry which may be the cause for some of the browning. I just wish I knew how to encourage it to sprout some growth towards the middle of the plant. Not sure if I need to prune it, and what the best way to do so is. I suppose I need to stake that floppy top and pray that stengthens and establishes the top.

' However the past month or so has been pretty dry '

You most likely answered your own question right there, nansus.

Keeping a plant healthy, including correct moisture requirements, is the best way for a plant to achieve full, robust growth every season.

Next early spring, you could add a little soluble 'Evergreen Fertilizer', in case the soil is lacking but don't overdo it. Your plant in one that uses very small amounts of nutrients and one application in early spring, before the plant begins to grow, is sufficient.

Plants develop very slowly, so don't expect it to just snap out of this problem in a week or so. It will take patience and a season or so to fully develop and begin to look good again.

I don't know your growing zone but do not fertilize this Fall, that will keep the tree from shutting down for the winter and may even experience winterkill. Don't prune in Fall either, pruning now can cause new growth to appear, which at this time of year won't harden off enough the make it through most winters.

Wait until spring to do anything except keep the soil 'consistently moist' but not waterlogged either. Check the soil several days to a week after watering and water again only when the top few inches appear dry.

I'm in Zone 6, and was about to put evergreen fertilizer spikes in. Good I read your comment! What do suggest about the droopy top?

' What do suggest about the droopy top? '

Some people go out of their way to have unusual looking plants, the weirder the better.

But the tree will continue to grow, extending branches in all direction, which will fill in with other branches, over time and with correct care. Right now, you're focused on that bend top which over time will be 'absorbed' in the full form of the tree over time.

A couple of options:

You could put a bamboo stake next to it and loosely tie the bent part of the tree to the stake, so it's upright, it may then lignify over the next season or two and stay upright so you then can remove the stake.

Next option is wait until the tree recovers, sometime during the next season or two, then re-evaluate the appearance and decide then if you want to cut off the bent part (in the spring) or if it looks good the way it is.

Right now, every piece of green growth on that tree is photosynthesizing and making food for the roots. So right now, the more you leave the plant alone, the better off it is.

You can wait until spring to stake it or cut it; there's just no hurry right now to do anything at all until next season or two.

Again, proper care and siting is the biggest factor in having success with a planting.

Thank you so much ! Great advice! :)

You can stake the top for a season or two to achieve more upward growth. But a drooping leader/top may simply be characteristic of your variety of Hinoki.

Back budding may help to fill the center but IME, Chamaecyparis obtusa (and most other conifers) do not respond very positively to this process. Loss of interior foliage is quite typical - it is just the way many Hinokis grow.

Lack of adequate water would produce sparse and dry looking tip foliage. I don't see that so assume tree is getting what it needs. Keeping the plant well watered tends to encourage more vigorous growth but make sure soil drains well before applying too much.

And finally, as just a FYI, fertilizer spikes are the least efficient and effective means of providing any considered fertilizer or nutrients. If you must use them, crush them or grind them up and apply to the soil surface as a granular fert. Water in well. As noted, Hinokis do not require much in the way of fertilization, so use a very light hand.

Good info! Looks like I need to wait it out a bit and be happy with my treasure :)

I think I'll embrace the eccentricity

I think it’ss Fernspray Gold Hinoki