Spring Spruce Health

Horticulture
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Hello,

I started bonsai this year and have a blue spruce still in the nursery pot that will be potted next spring. The growth so far has been vigorous but I noticed that some of the new growth is becoming a dull color and starting to droop (pic 1). I don’t think I saw signs of adelgids, but being new, I am only going off of what I’ve found on the internet and don’t know exactly what I’m looking for yet. I started to inspect the tree closer and noticed these little fellers the needles (pic 2 circled in red). Are they friend or foe and could they be causing the issue with the buds that looked healthy a week ago.

I did some research on spruce diseases and pests but noting I came across seemed to fit the signs and symptoms I’m observing . Thank you for your time and help!

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I’m no expert but I’d guess aphids. Get out the fire hose and shoot those fellers off your spruce. If you do it every day you’ll be able to avoid insecticides

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Thank you for your help! I didn’t come across those foes in my research. I’ll grab the hose and start evicting them.

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Hard to say with the picture but I thought it looked like a weevil…either way still hit em with the hose.

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5

Thank you! I purchased some neem oil to be ready in case I see things going south but I’m going to hose it off once a day and see if that works first.

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I dont know someone here prob does though, Neam oil might be phototoxic on the new growth of a spruce…just thinking how soft it is. Wait until it hardens off to be safe

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