Brown needles not only look old, but also unhealthy, let alone beautiful. But in order to make themselves and their suffering noticeable, the Japanese umbrella fir demonstrates brown needles in the event of a poor choice of location or neglected care.

Brown needles on the Japanese umbrella fir can have many causes

Prolonged drought leads to brown needles

Japanese umbrella firs need permanently moist soil. They have shallow roots in the soil, so they don't like it when the soil dries out. They do not reach the groundwater. If there is a drought for several weeks, the needles soon turn brown. They have dried up and it doesn't take long before they fall off and the coniferous growth wilts.

You can counteract this by regularly watering your Japanese umbrella fir with low-lime to lime-free water. Outdoor plants should receive a thick layer of mulch. This keeps the moisture in the soil better. Potted plants should not be exposed to direct sunlight, as they dry out too quickly there.

Normal signs of aging

But brown needles - at least few - can also be a message of little concern: the Japanese umbrella fir is aging and renewing its needles. Her needle dress is evergreen. But that doesn't mean it will last for decades. Individual needles are sporadically thrown off and replaced again and again. Before that, they usually turn brown.

More reasons for brown needles

But there can also be other reasons. The Japanese umbrella fir turns brown when:

  • she has sustained frost damage
  • is affected by rot in the root area
  • Fungal pathogens sit on their shoots
  • there is a severe nutrient deficit (especially potassium deficiency)
  • it was overfertilized with nitrogen
  • she has a sunburn
  • there is too much lime in the soil

First yellow, then brown - time to act

The needles often turn yellowish before they turn brown. As soon as they turn yellow, you should act quickly. Then the respective parts of the plant can sometimes be helped. If they are brown, help is too late. Needles are shed and shoots can be cut off.

tips

Japanese umbrella firs that are in pots are even more susceptible to brown needles. Be sure to water them several times a week in summer, fertilize at least twice a year, and protect them from frost in winter!

Category:

Trees