Crispy

Rigamarole

Help!!!

I purchased a beautiful brush cherry a couple of weeks ago in order to satisfy my addiction while my outdoor plants are in hibernation.

I had an emergency and had to leave for 10 days. When I returned, to my horror, the leaves had dried and are falling off. Their luster is gone and are a bit crispy. The first thing I did was give it a good soaking. Does anyone have any suggestions on if and how I might be able to revive my new gem? My pet-sitter says she watered it but I guess I need to give her a new class on bonsai care!

Thanks in advance,

Mike

Advertisement

Jose_Alberto

First, was the soil dry when you came? because if not, maybe that was overwatering, but everything points to underwatering ...

Although Eugenias quite like dry soil... so, I don't know... anyway... Eugenias are really strong trees... so, start by scratching the trunk, from the top until you find it is green, if it is green underneath the bark, it's alive, well, cut back down the dead branches or trunk, so, you only leave the live part of it... well, then I would remove all the leaves, but I don't know overthere, because it will be winter soon, right? so... If you were here it would throw out new buds in 2 or 3 weeks, but... mmm... I believe you must ask somebody in your zone...

Well, but do cut the dead branches or trunk parts... Since that might force it to rebud... AND NO FERTILIZER UNTIL IT GETS HEALTHY, and by healthy I mean with lots of leaves again... And take care of not OVERWATER now, because when trees have not much leaves, I've found that it's easy to get them rot, I believe that it is caused because of the lack of transpiration of the tree... as you know, trees release water by the leaves, and if it has not much, be careful, also Eugenias like dry soil, I water my trees everyday, but conifers, bougies and Eugenias the day after, well, sometimes... so, just see when it's dry add some water, since it likes to dryout, of course, not that much, as it had...

Stay calmed, because if it's still alive, it will come back with new buds in no time...!!!

Good Luck...

__________________
Jose Alberto Franco
Guatemala
Central America
http://www.doschivos.com

Rigamarole

Thanks Jose.

Yes, the soil was dry when I came home. Odd, since my pet-sitter says she watered it. There is green in the wood, so it is still alive.

Yes, winter is well on its way here but I have it indoors in the middle of an east and south facing set of windows that come together. I also have a Fukien Tea that thrives in the same window and did not suffer the same fate during my absence.

My brain tells me there is no quick fix, only time, but my heart wants to have the tree I left 10 days ago.

Thanks again,

Mike