Fukien tea problems

mat

I'm a beginner to bonsai and bought a fukien tea three months ago. It seemed very healthy in the beginning. Now it is dropping lots of leaves and looking very bare. Since I bought it I have had it under two flourescent lights (15 hours a day) and on a humidity tray. It is in a light brown pebbly growing medium that gets darker when wet. Some other plants had a few aphids and scale, so I figured that might be this tree's problem too. So I dosed all the plants with insecticidal soap two times over two weeks. The last treatment was last week. It has dropped a few more leaves since then.

I had read Fukien teas don't like it dry so I've been watering as soon as the top of the growing medium dries out. Most of the leaves just turn dark brown, but some get yellow and brown spots.

I've read the other posts about fukien tea problems but I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong and what steps I should take to help this tree recover.

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1n1m3g

mat - fukien teas can be a bit fickle, i've learned, especially when it come to the water aspect. you are right that fukien teas don't like to be dry but on the same token they definitely don't like to be too wet. watering is an art form when it comes to bonsai. the yellowing of leaves and brown spots sound a lot like a fungal infection, most likely due to over watering and poor air circulation. i would try to put a little fan in the vicinity of your plants. also, use the chopstick test for moisture content in the soil. stab a chopstick into the soil towards the middle of where the root mass is and wait for 10 minutes or so. pull it out and if the stick is damp, don't water for another day or so, then check again. i'm not sure what region you live in, but if it gets cold outside and daylight really decreases, then even tropical trees enter a pseudo-dormancy period where they don't grow much and don't use a lot of water. this can be the trickiest time for beginners to keep bonsai alive and healthy. good luck! - wade

mat

Is there a recommended treatment for fungal infections apart from the fan and more careful watering?

1n1m3g

you could try spraying the leaves with a fungicide. you could also try to watering with a fungicide solution to try to kill any infection that may be within the root system. fungicides are usually readily available in any nursery or perhaps at a Home Depot nearby, although it may already be too late for your little tree. if root rot takes hold and you begin seeing symptoms in the foliage it is pretty severe. if you have a specialized bonsai nursery nearby, i would take the plant there for a better diagnosis and possible treatment. since this is just an online forum, we can't see the plant in person and therefore we can only guess as to what the actual problem maybe and suggest possible solutions to those specific problems. bonsai can be a difficult hobby. don't be discouraged if your tree dies; you can only learn from your experiences and this makes you a more proficient bonsai artist. good luck and if you get a chance post a picture of your plant. perhaps we can be of more help then. - wade

mat

Here are a couple of closeups of the leaves. I appreciate your help. The potting medium is such free draining stuff that I thought I could be pretty liberal with the water. Live and learn.

I've had a ficus "mallsai" for several years and haven't managed to kill it, so I thought I was ready to try some other species. I'm not discouraged but I would like to save the tree if I can.

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astrobee

The leaves I am seeing look pretty healthy except for the two brown ones. This tree is in a fairly new environment and it is probably replacing old leaves for new leaves that are more adapt. to the new lighting conditions. If it is pushing any new leaves you should be OK. More light would be the best thing for this tree. However, if you had scale on a nearby tree you can bet that they got to your tea. My experience with insecticidal soap vs. scale has always been victory for the scale so keep an eye out. I keep my Fukiens on the wet side and avoid going dry at all cost.
If your soil is fast draining like you say, I would dought water is any problem. All of the leaves turn a lighter green than yellow when water is lacking or over abundant. Remember, Fukien is a sun loving tree. Lots of light.

mat

There is only one branch that has some signs of new leaf growth. It has been putting out some flowers though. You can't tell from the picture but it really has lost alot of leaves. As for light, I do give it long hours of artificial light (it is about 6 inches from two flourescent fixtures.) I could move it to a south facing window and it would get more intense light for fewer hours, but the window is a bit drafty and much colder at this time of year.

astrobee

Signs of new growth is a good thing. I used to bring my fukiens in for winter.
Some would always throw a fit and drop all their leaves. Within three to four weeks a person would never know. This would happen to newly aquired trees as well. Make sure your soil does not have dry spots after watering. Keep them moist and I think your OK. A little fertilizer wouldn't hurt either.

BunjinEnt

I would have to agree that it may be just adapting to the new environment. My Fukien does that every time I change its living conditions. If there is new stuff coming on and flowers, I wouldn't be too concerned for now. You can try increasing the amount of light it gets by adding reflective Mylar on nearby horizontal surfaces, putting the rig in a sunnier spot. Yes, typically, they are VERY finicky about water. They also die with chemical pesicides.

Hope this helps,
William