Help !!! I think my bonsai is on it's last legs

kelemvor · White Belt Joined: 15 Jan 2008 Posts: 7

Hi Everyone

This is my first post (and first bonzai) so please be nice lol.

Anyway, I bought a nice little bonsai tree in october and he's been growing really well, I've been trimming him to keep a nice shape etc and all has been going well. Unfortunatley, over xmas I left a friend in charge of looking after my bonsai and they put feed directly onto the soil - ie no water just neat bonsai feed !

As a result these leaves have been going black at the tips and then dying altogether - I have been administering water (not too much) in the hope that this will dilute any feed that is still in the soil, but I'm afraid the poor little guy isn't doing too well.

I would be grateful if anyone out there could tell me if there is anything else that I can do to save him - I don't plan on joining the ranks of those who kill off their first plant/tree just yet...HELPPPPPP!!

Thanks in advance

hungkuen

hi welcome to bonsai help.

what type of tree do you have?

the roots may have been burnt by the feed. i would stop feeding until it pulls through, (if it pulls through), a good drenching of the soil may help wash some of the excess feed through.
remove anything that is dead, keep planting medium moist, and fingers crossed and hope for the best.

keep on looking, someone else I'm sure will post comment.

kelemvor · White Belt Joined: 15 Jan 2008 Posts: 7

Hi Hungkuen

I'm afraid that I don't know what variety of bonsai the tree is, it was bought from a plant sale in my university all I know is that it is 5 years old (according to the tag that came with it).

I'll try your advice though, thanks

Stymie

Yes. I agree that a good flushing through is the way to go. Dunk the whole pot in tepid water and let it drain a couple of times,
Where are you, what variety of tree is it and where do you keep it?

kelemvor · White Belt Joined: 15 Jan 2008 Posts: 7

Hi

don't know what variety it is, but it's living in my window (bay window) it's not in direct sunlight and up until this incident with the feed, it was thriving

steve

You could host a pic on another site (such as photobucket) and then link it to here and we should be able to ID it for you along with give other advise that is relative to your tree.

Stymie

May I ask again where you are? approximately will do.

kelemvor · White Belt Joined: 15 Jan 2008 Posts: 7

I'm in the UK

steve

Without some more facts it's going to be hard to help to the fullest. A pic would speak a thousands words. Wink

kelemvor · White Belt Joined: 15 Jan 2008 Posts: 7

I do have a small image that I could show, could you guys tell me how to put an avatar image onto my profile - it should fit in the space nicely.[/img]

kelemvor · White Belt Joined: 15 Jan 2008 Posts: 7

ok, I've managed to stick it on the web

http://www.freewebs.com/kelemvor/index.htm

I can get any good shots of the leaves as I only have a camera on my mobile phone, but hopefully the picture should help you to id the tree.

Thanks again

hungkuen

i think its Chinese elm, 'Ulmus Parvifolia', but i cant see from the pic if the leafs are serrated or not?

kelemvor · White Belt Joined: 15 Jan 2008 Posts: 7

if by serated you mean that the leaves have jagged edges then yes they are serated

hungkuen

yes that's what i mean, it will be a Chinese elm then!
the best thing to do with that is keep it outside, it will do better and live longer!

Stymie

That is helpful kelemvor, now that we know it is Chinese Elm and you are in the UK.
Your Elm will do much better outside where nature intended. As it has been inside, try it outside during the day for a while, avoiding frosty ones. Then, after two or three weeks, leave it out all the time. The resultant growth will be much tighter and greener with smaller leaves and less space between leaves and shoots. They can be grown inside for so long but will gradually lose condition and eventually succumb. It isn't natuiral to expect to grow a temperate native anywhere other than in temperate conditions. Any long growths may be shortened to leave two or three leaves resulting in a compact, attractive shape. Try to anchor the pot somehow in anticipation of March winds. Keep the planting medium just moist at all times and start feeding with a half strength fertilizer at two week intervals from March to September. Young trees tend to act deciduous while mature ones hang on to their leaves more. In either case, they benefit from a rest from growing during winter.