20. Burnt Sekkan
Can I rescue a dried out Cryptomeria Sekkan Sugi?
My Cryptomeria Sekkan Sugi turned brown while I was on vacation, and I wasn’t sure if I could bring it back to normal.
Cryptomeria Japonica Sekkan-Sugi
Here is what my Cryptomeria typically looks like with bright, almost chartreuse brances and lighter new growth
Cryptomeria Recovery
My plants had to fend for themselves while I was on a 3-week vacation. I heavily watered everything before I left, and hoped for the best. The rain clouds did not deliver a single drop.
Most of my plants did surprisingly well, but there were several sad victims, including one of my Cryptomeria Sekkan Sugis. The interior was turning brown and most of the bright green color had faded from the plant.
Photos from July 20, 2023:
My recovery plan was to try light, frequent watering. I did not want to over do it. I started with an initial 15 minute soak of the area. The second day I watered the area heavily again. For the next week, I watered lightly every few days. The second week I watered twice per week.
After two weeks, not only had the Sekkan turned green, but it looked full and better than ever.
Photos from August 4, 2023:
For my next step I have gained some confidence in knowing that all is not lost even if a Cryptomeria starts turning brown.