white spots on larch tree

Hello everyone.
I have a larch tree that a few days ago (2-3) started getting white spots on the needles.
Does anyone know what this could be?

The tree stands in the shade. gets some sun over the top
It has not been fertilized this year.

See image below

Hope someone knows what this may be, and how i get rid of it.
Im from Sweden so my english is not the best.

https://i.servimg.com/u/f45/16/65/02/41/img_2415.jpg

Many thanks
Teddy

to me it looks like residue of something , is it under another tree or shading where it gets run off ? will it wipe off ?

okay.
its not under another tree, its sitting below a bench thats shade the lower part of the tree, yes it will wipe of.

there is however a couple of trees around it. You think, if its residue it may come from the other trees? I'll try to move it to a more separate area and see if it will help.
Thanks for the fast answer bye the way.

//Teddy

just wondering you have it in the shade ?

Larch go in full sun!
Iris

Okay I will moved it to a more sunny place.

You think that will help to get rid of the white spots on the needles?

bonsaisr wrote:Larch go in full sun!
Iris

I don't agrre at all, it's not a pine : first it depends on what kind of larch, then, when it's potted, it needs a lot of water. So if you can't spray the leaves and water the soil twice a day, the leaves will soon turn yellow.

For the white spots, it must be because your water is a bit hard and since it's been quite hot in Sweden recently (that's what my son who's just been back from a school trip to Stockholm said to me), they leave these traces.

Nothing to worry about.

But I would definitely not put it in full sun. Anyway, that's not the problem with these white spots. Having the roots in the shade and the top of the tree in the sun is the best exposure I think.

i have all my larches accept one in full sun , and thats the one with the least strong growth .

OK, maybe I'm wrong

If it's a tree in its "final" stage of development, it's true that the needles will be shorter if in full sun, but keeping the soil humid is very important. So where it is now seems the best conditions, and I repeat, to me it is obvious that the white spots have nothing to do with too much or not enough sun.

Okay thanks everyone for quick answers!
I will check the hardness of the water, and then continue whit that.
Its not a final tree its still in training.
As its stands now it will get full sun in the morning to about 12. and then shaded the rest of the day.

Thanks again
/Teddy

Hi Teddy

this might be irrelevant, but do you have any other bonsai? I mean nobody seems to ask if other bonsai trees in your garden gets the same spots?

Do you have space enough to keep rain/tap water in a large container? that might solve problems with the hard water, if this is the case.

However the leaves on your larch appears to be very healthy ;-)

BR

/Loke Emil

Hi Loke Emil.

Yes i have other trees and one more larch, it has also some white spot now when i checked but not much at all maybe a 5-6 needles have the same spot as the other one.

Thanks for that advice I will try that and see if it gets better

//Teddy

Hi Teddy

for comparison: one of my larches...maybe same white spots?...in my larch' case it is definately hard water stains (I live in one of the areas with the hardest water - 23% - in DK)



However, and all though I don't really suspect this, the white spots on your larch could perhabs be an early state of mildew...newly transplanted trees, new leafs - or trees with no access to lime (or hard water) - is prone to attacks of mildew. Some mildew has the same appearance as the spots on our larches in early stages. If the spots become larger or begin to cover all the needles with white fluff, you could look into cures for mildew.

BR
/Loke Emil

Here we go again, shouting at each other across the ocean. I grow American larch, which thrives in full sun. What do I know about European larch? Since there is a difference of opinion on sun exposure for Larix decidua, I checked a few sources.
Bonsai4me (England)
Place in a sunny position though ensure leaves don't scorch in full summer sun. Larches will also grow well in semi-shade.

Dayton Nurseries, Ohio
Full sun, partial sun, partial shade.

American Shohin Bonsai Association
Larches are pioneer trees and will not grow properly in the shade.
Semi-shade in summer, full sun otherwise.

The gist seems to be, as much sun as it will tolerate. I think this particular tree would do better in more sun.
Iris

PS. Why don't you feed it? Make the poor thing happy.
I use 0-10-10 in May & June on the needle conifers, to make the needles shorter.
Iris

Hi Loke Emil.

What i can see its the same sorts of spot. Then it should be hard water I will try to correct that and hope for the best.
I don't think its mildew, It doesn't look like that but I will keep a close look at it and see if it changes to the worse.
Thanks a lot!

//Teddy

hello all

Over watering Bonsai kills trees !!!!! I know, in the past I've killed quite a few that way. How often you water a tree depends on the needs of the tree. Crab apple trees love water, Pines are alot more forgiving. To say you should water a tree twice a day without knowing how moist the soil is before you start is inviting disaster.

Years ago I came across a nice little trick that tells you how moist the root ball is. I think I read it on Michael Persiano's website. I stick a 10" bamboo skewer into the center of the root ball, all the way to the bottom of the pot. Before watering I remove the skewer and see how moist it is. I use this method on all my trees ( 60 + ) and have not lost one from over watering in over 18 years.

The composition of your soil has a lot to due with how often your tree needs water. The more organic material in your soil the less often it will need water.

Hope this helps

Gregg

GreggG wrote:hello all

Over watering Bonsai kills trees !!!!! I know, in the past I've killed quite a few that way. How often you water a tree depends on the needs of the tree. Crab apple trees love water, Pines are alot more forgiving. To say you should water a tree twice a day without knowing how moist the soil is before you start is inviting disaster.

Years ago I came across a nice little trick that tells you how moist the root ball is. I think I read it on Michael Persiano's website. I stick a 10" bamboo skewer into the center of the root ball, all the way to the bottom of the pot. Before watering I remove the skewer and see how moist it is. I use this method on all my trees ( 60 + ) and have not lost one from over watering in over 18 years.

The composition of your soil has a lot to due with how often your tree needs water. The more organic material in your soil the less often it will need water.

Hope this helps

Gregg

Gregg, I just started doing the same, and I'm curious, do you wait till the entire skewer is dry, or feed/water it, say when the skewer has 2" of moisture in a 6" deep pot? This latter method is what I've been using in 100% organic substrate. I figured if I wait till the entire skewer is dry, the surface root development will have been dry too long and isn't helpful for nebari maturation.

I use the skewer to tell me generally how damp the soil is at the center of the base of the root ball. I often use two skewers, one at the center of the root ball and one closer to the edge of the pot. In the case of larches I never allow the soil to dry out anywhere. At times I will only water near the edge of the pot.

I tend to over pot larches because they will require less watering and the soil stays wetter longer. The soil mix I use for larches is approximately 60% haydite ( inorganic ) , 30% screened pine bark and 10% screened compost from my compost bin. I've had real good results with this mixture for larches. My larches are 20" to 30" tall. I repot larches every two or three years and I can tell you there is substantial root development and no root rot.

You say you use 100% organic soil mix. If so you could be watering alot more than you have to.

I water larchess when they need it. I don't water if they don't. To automatically water any tree twice a day is a disaster waiting to happen.

Hope this helps,

Yes, Thanks Gregg