Help! - Dying Serissa

tifftiff208

I recently (3 months ago) purchased a Serissa Foetida...my first bonsai. It's around 12-13 years old. I think I'm killing it...I don't know. A few(very very few) leave tips have turned black which is indication of overwatering but the soil is dry and all the leaves are shrivelled up. I moisten the soil by spraying 3-4 times each morning since the soil keeps drying out. What am I doing wrong? Please Help! Any advice would be greatly appreciated! =)





Thanks,
Tiff

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BonsaiMon

Tiff .. place your tree in a container of water so theat the water level is just over the soil line. Watch all the bubbles rise from the soil. I bet it is almost bone dry in the root mass. Spraying the top of the soil is not watering. When watering .. water with fine spray until water emerges from the bottom of the pot .. wait a few minutes and do it again.. this is a throughly watered tree unless it has been allowed to get as dry as yours looks. Placin in a tub of water will ensure the total root mass is soaked .. after that top watering when dry to touch .. sticking finger into soil . Indoors is very dry especally going into winter with the heat on. What kind of growing area do you have.. lights ... stands..etc ....?

__________________
peace,
tom stoute

http://bonsaiinsights.spaces.live.com/

tifftiff208

Hey BonsaiMon,

Sorry for the tardy reply...I forgot my username!

Thanks for the advice BonsaiMon. I've done what you said and although it hasn't shown any improvement it's alreast stopped shrivelling up. Should I cut off or remove all the dried leaves? Or just leave it be?

Currently I have it on my dining room table. During the day I put it by the window for some sun. But now that's it's getting colder....I just leave it on the table and shine a Sylvania Spot-Grow 60 light bulb on it. When winter comes I'm going to put a tub of water near it to keep the humidity up.
Is this right?

Cheers,
Tiff