Aaron_K

Hi Shahpor,

I can only echo other peoples comments regarding the soil. The compost may say its "free draining", but as you'll come to learn, in bonsai there is free draining soil and then there is free draining soil lol.

Essentially this soil is holding way too much moisture for too long a period of time. This may be fine for container plants, flowers and tomatoes, but when it comes to trees and in particular, species that don't like wet feet, a composted soil such as this is a receipe for disaster.

Because it hasn't been screened to remove all the fine dust particles, this compost turns into a swamp when you wet it, clumping together and compacting. As a result, this means there is significantly less air around the roots, which is extremely important for a healthy root system. After a prolonged period of time, the roots end up suffocating, die and rot. The overly wet and warm conditions also provide ideal breeding grounds for all manner of nasty fungal and bacterial infections.

I've purchased a few "mallsai" over the years. All have been in a heavy, compacted, high-organic content soil. All have had root rot.

I'd follow Aldevaux's suggestion and repot this tree into a high inorganic soil. I personally use a high fired cat litter called "Sophisticat Pink". You can use it on its own or mix with some screened compost for added moisture retention.

All the best,

Aaron

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