help my bonsai dried out?

Sachse

I got my first bonsai 2 weeks ago and i have been watering it thoughtfully (not letting it get dry), still it now got dry leafs and they have been falling of the small branches look dried, can I do something or is it gone? by the way it is a Podocarpus macrophyllus.

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Joanie

Sachse, if you have been watering it every day, it's probably way too wet. Let's start at the beginning...

First, please go fill in your User CP in the upper left hand corner of the banner above. Knowing where you live will help us with your problems.

Then, tell us about your tree. Does it live indoors? Where? Or outside? Where?

Please don't water the tree any more, let the top of the soil dry out so that when you stick your finger into the soil up to your first knuckle, you can feel that the soil underneath is barely damp. Then, water it from the top, three times, each time letting the water run through the holes in the bottom. This pulls air into the soil as the water goes through.

Then don't water it again until it's dry again.

So tell us more about your tree, where it lives, etc.

Joanie

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Sachse

Alright. It said on the box, just indoor bonsai, not for direct sun, so I took it with me to work. constantly aroung 22 deree celcius, much daylight, dry air (airconditioning) and me watering. I'm living in Ireland, so no ZIP code to fill out in the User CP.

As you said, I stopped watering, lets see what happens. the tree is (said on the box) just 4 years old.

Joanie

Giving your zone as Ireland is fine for now. Someone may come along and tell us what zone Ireland is, but we're okay for the moment, especially if this is your only tree and it lives indoors.

It's hard for a tree to live indoors without some special conditions. Light from a window may not be enough for it, because even though our eyes see the light as being bright, it may or may not be bright enough for the tree. Sometimes people use "indoor growing lights" just above their trees. Another consideration is humidity. If it's dry, trees like the Chinese Yew may suffer. And it's hard to keep the area just around the tree humid. Some people put a "humidity tray" with water and pebbles under the tree, making sure that the pot is not sitting in the water. Another consideration is watering. What I just read about Chinese Yew says that they are prone to root rot. Root rot is when the roots stay wet too long. That is very likely your problem, perhaps augmented by lack of humidity and/or poor lighting. If it's root rot you probably aren't going to be able to pull the tree through it. Oftentimes when someone buys a "bonsai" from a big dealer it isn't planted well, or in good draining soil, or in the best health anyway. It may have been pulled from the ground and plopped into the pot just before you received it. It may have been trimmed, root pruned, etc. and just still looked healthy. It's hard to say. Anyway, unless you want to read up on keeping indoor trees and maybe go to a little more expense and trouble, the best way to do bonsai is to learn what trees will survive in your area and grow them outside. They grow better and give you much pleasure.

Can someone else chime in with some help, too? Maybe some links?

Joanie

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pootsie

I don't know much about podocarpus. I'll be getting one soon, though!

It sounds like possible overwatering, though. Give it as much light as you can where it is. It should survive as an office dweller, as I had one as a houseplant for years.

overwatering is very easy to do, and can look like the plant dried up to the untrained eye, as the branches will shrivel and leaves drop just the same

good luck

pootsie

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p.s. My cat is a bonsaiTALK Master.
Columbus Bonsai Society

susieq

Greetings Sachse,
If your podocarpus is the same podocarpus I am thinking of, it is used heavily as a landscaping shrub here in Florida. I live on the west coast of the state, near the Gulf of Mexico and it gets very hot here but also we get the odd freeze now and then during the winter. The plant is used throughout the South USA I believe. This plant grows upright, taller than wide. It has long, narrow dark green leaves. I have seen them get 15 feet or more tall. They train into topiarys beautifully and respond well to trimming and shaping. They get a seed on them that looks like a small blue berry. They do grow in full sun or partial shade but I would not ever consider them to be a house dweller. I would say that if you have temperatures not too much below freezing, your plant would do well outside though you might protect it just because in a shallow pot such as a bonsai pot, the roots might need protection. I hope this helps.
Good luck.
susieq

Sachse

@pootsie, it has droped the leafes, if it survives should it just grow ne ones? some roots are sticking out of the earth am not sure if it should be like this.


@Joanie/susieq outside growing would be difficult as we have way too much rain in the winter time, kind of an raining season. temperatures drop not much below 0 degree celcious if they do and not much higher than 25 degree celcious in summer time. we have much rain the whole year arround, so i'm not sure what would suit this kind of climate. Interestingly we evenhave palm trees here, although not as high as in florida i asume, which look very funny with snow on them in the seldom event when we have some snow.

susieq

Hello Sachse,
If your bonsai is potted properly the rain won't hurt it. Florida is normally very wet during the summer months when we are not in a drought. Your bonsai should be potted in a special soil mix that allows lots of drainage. Some mixes can't even really be called soil mixes as they contain no actuall organic matter, mostly fine pebbles, fired clay bits, etc.... Check your soil to see how course it is. If it is heavy dirt mix that should probably be changed as soon as the time of year is right. As always, we all (here on bonsai talk) pretty much encourage you to find others in your area to ask specific questions about growing seasons, potting & pruning seasons. That is why clubs are so wonderful. Please look for a club in your area.
Best wishes
susieq
ps. What ever happens with this, your first bonsai, do not get discouraged and quit. Everyone lost trees when they were just starting and still do now and then, even years later. It is a wonderful hobby and very theraputic for the soul.