Can someone please help a novice?

RonMartin(deceased)

Have you scratched the bark to see if the cambian level is green yet

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Shahpor

Yeah, I mentioned it in the next post.

I scratched the bark and it is green underneath.

I took that as a good sign

sauce

I am only basing my opinion on my experience.The only time I have seen tropicals shrivel and dry up like this it has been due to too much heat, sun and or a lack of water. As I said tropicals leaves, when overwatered tend to turn yellow and drop. Been growing tropicals for 30+ years and I have never experienced one drying up and shriveling due to too much water and I've overwatered a few along the way. Just my opinion based on my experience.

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Shahpor

Well, in that case Sauce, maybe it has something to do with the location it was in.

It was near a window, but the windows are netted, so the light is diffused.

Normally during the summer months I move it to my table, where it is now. Maybe it is a case of not moving it soon enough?

ALDEVAUX

I agree with you,sauce. Overwatering at first causes wilting and yellowing of leaves but the shrivelling and drying is probably caused by a condition where the leaves transpired too fast due to a very dry and warm environment.
What I would do to try and save the tree is to remove the actual soil and all the roots that are rotted or blackened. Then repot in a very fast draining substrate, that is one that contains lots of inorganics and where water drains a few seconds after it is watered.
Finaly, if there are not too much healthy roots remaining, I would mist and place the tree under a plastic tent where it can stay at 100% humidity until some of the leaves become normal or when new buds develop.

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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Shahpor

Thanks Aldevaux and Aaron.

I have now repotted her. I used the free draining soil I had since I am not going to be able to get my hands on any others for at least a week and I am not sure she will last that long.

Anyway, when I took her out, I think the reason for her problems was clear. Not only was the soil soaking, but it was compacted as well. I think I pressed down a little too hard when I was repotting her the last time.

As far as her roots go, they all look a light brown in colour. I didn't see any black ones at all. I did give the roots a dab with a kitchen towel to dry them off.

I then sprinkled the new soil into the pot and gave her some water.

She is now back where she was before.

I hope she will recover from this. I will keep you guys posted.

Thanks.

Shahpor

nsmar4211

I have a couple of fukiens, including a mallsai (gift). I neglected to water one one measly day, all the leaves turned black and dropped off. I did nothing to the plant except resume watering when I realized what happened (it was in partial shade already), and it took about a week to start budding again. Two weeks later it is fine! (I live in Florida so that may have helped).
Now, another fukien I have, same exact soil, pot size, plant size, etc is sitting where it gets a couple more hours of sun than the brown one-it too didn't get watered that day but it didn't even turn a leaf yellow!

That free draining compost? It lies..... free draining as compared to pure clay maybe.... or free draining meaning water will gothrough it even when it is saturated. I've used soil similar to that, it ended up having a lot of peat in it-compacts really easily, pain in the tail to rewet if it dries (water will tend to go down the sides of the pot and out the drainholes instead of to the rootball), holds way too much water. The plants were happy for a couple of months (with me worrying about watering everyday) and then I started getting yellow leaves, etc..... had to do a couple of emergency repots and will never use it again.

Since you've already repotted it, I'd advise doing the chopstick thing and just figure out your watering schedule around the chopstick. Wait until the next repotting season to do anything else.....

And if it's still scratching green, it has a chance (as mine proved). Good luck! Don't feel bad if it doesn't make it, fukiens are notoriously picky .

Shahpor

Thanks for the reply nsmar4211.

I can see that not all soils are created equal! Does anyone know where I can get some decent soil from in the UK? The stuff I currently got it from a company called Westland garden health. It is Bonsai compost apparently that I picked up from Homebase.

Just one question, if you don't mind? Chopstick thing? What is that?

To be honest, when I moved her today a lot of her leaves fell off and she is looking very bare at the moment. It doesn't look good. I haven't given up hope yet though and will keep a close eye on her for the next few days.

Thanks.