Podocarpus - Chinese Yew or Kusamaki

sam_a_lacey · White Belt Joined: 09 Sep 2005 Posts: 10

Hi!
I'm a relatively inexperienced bonsai owner with a couple of outdoor bonsais adapted from nursery plants, a couple of bought indoor bonsais and a few seedlings. I've only been doing it for the past year or so but I really enjoy it! I live in the UK and work in an office with air conditioning (not too cool) and fluorescent lighting (turned off at night I think). There is a little, indirect sunlight from windows but not much.

I really wanted a bonsai tree to go on my desk to cheer the place up but didn't think any would survive. A bonsai seller in Manchester told me that Chinese Yew would be OK under those conditions so I bought one. I was a little concerned because a few of the leaves were a brown at the ends or had patches of brown on them but he told me it was because the tree was semi-deciduous.

The tree is quite mature and has some new vibrant green growth on it but more and more leaves keep getting dark brown patches and eventually falling off. Some also get smaller creamy-brown coloured round patches. I have kept it well watered on a drip tray and have fertilised it with a bonsai fertiliser about once every two weeks since I bought it. I believe the seller re-potted it when he got it from China so I don't know the soil mix or how long ago it was re-potted but it doesn't look like it has roots coming out the bottom of the pot.

Is this leaf loss normal? Am I doing something wrong? Is this likely to be a disease? Is there anything I can do about it?

Many, many thanks for your help!

Sam

GioGio

Hi Sam and welcome to the forum. I'm not really too clued up on Podpcarpus as they are not my favorite tree, although I do have one but it lives outside in the garden all year round (in the winter I put it in the greenhouse). As far as I can understand, it is struggling in your office, I have a feeling the conditions may be too dark and dry for it. I would take it home and it in a brighter place (not in direct sunlight). A better option for the office maybe a Carmona (I had one in the office and it did quite well) or a ficus or even a Ligustrum or Sageretia.

Best of luck and welcome to the forum.

GioGio

sam_a_lacey · White Belt Joined: 09 Sep 2005 Posts: 10

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. One site I visited said they are susceptible to root rot and the soil it's in does not seem to drain very quickly. It takes quite a while after I've watered it for it to run through to the drip tray. Would it be worth re-potting it do you think or could that just create more disturbance and make the problem worse? I do have some bonsai compost and some sand at home... What do you think? I also have a ligustrum at home so maybe I'll swap them over.

Thanks again!

Sam

PS. How long have you been into bonsai? Can you recommend any good books?

GioGio

Although Podocarpuses are evergreen, I would be reluctant to re-pot now as we are approaching their dormant period, though I definitely would re-pot it in early spring with free draining soil. In the meantime with a chop stick or a fork make a few holes in the soil, this will help with the draining. Also, do not feed the plant until it has fully recovered.

Gio Gio

GioGio

I have been in bonsai on and off for 15 years. There are many great book out there. I think Amazon or e-bay are the best places to buy, you will find a good selection of new and used. I personally would start with anything written by Harry Tomlinson. He makes everything sound easy.
Gio Gio

Stymie

Harry's books are certainly good but they do not specialise in varieties for indoor cultivation. There's an inexpensive soft cover by Paul Lesniewicz called 'Indoor Bonsai' published by Blandford press. That would give you plenty to think about for your office. The Ligustrum must be v. japonicum or lucidum to be suitable I think. Good hunting.

sam_a_lacey · White Belt Joined: 09 Sep 2005 Posts: 10

Thanks both of you for your advice!
I'll look into the books Surprised

)

Sam