Help for Trees in Ohio

Jantree

I'm trying get get any pre-Bonsai tree to live. I've researched conditions on watering, sun/shade, etc. I'm new to Bonsai and have tried, in the past 2 years to get anything to grow. The only luck has been an indoor ficus that seems quite imune to anything. My current problems. I purchased a Japaneese Maple (green) pre-bonsai (photo attached) early in the spring through a respectable online mail-order company. It arrived looking beautiful. I put it outside during the day and brought it inside overnight when temperatures hit below freezing. The tree stayed beautiful. I watered daily. Then we had (in Cincinnati) an early heat wave. The tree received between 2 and 3 hours of morning sun. Sudenly the tips of the tree top turned brown and the leaves started to drop. I took the tree out of the sun and now gets shade all day. Some new leaves do come out, but start turning brown around the edges. At the same time, I purchased a small Azalea - also pre-bonsai. The same thing is now happening to this tree. It was looking great for 3 months and now the leaves turned brown and fell. I also have a Trident Maple pre-bonsai that is growing beautiful. I've had it for about 2 months. The leaves are a bright green and new growth is bursting continually. This tree gets a few hours of morning sun and is watered once a day - unless its terribly dry and then it gets an afternoon drink. I'm afraid of losing this one also.

Attached Images

green japanese maple.jpg (67.9 KB, 53 views)

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Mcspeed

What is your soil composed of, and what is your watering routine

Have you looked at our beginners section regarding general care, watering and soils? Also check out the dying bonsai section, it covers a lot of issues, and types of trees.

Not to be mean spirited, but usually as a newbie short cuts get taken with a house plant mentality, plants potted in dirt, and bonsai cannot be treated the same way.

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jjeter

Sound to me like you are watering too much. What kind of soil is it in? How well does it drain?(does water run out the drain holes after a minute or so during watering) Does the soil dry at a level of 1 to 2 inches below the surface before you water? If the soil is constantly wet, it does not allow oxygen to get to the root and root rot starts. Japanese Maples will have their leaves turn brown on the edged during hot summer weather. That the maple is budding new leaves is good, but over watering could be a problem.

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Joanie

It doesn't seem as though three hours of morning sun are going to do such damage to your Japanese maple. I would suspect root problems, instead of sunlight problems, especially if the new growth is struggling. Don't water once a day, only water when the soil below the surface is just barely damp. Stick your finger into one of the drainage holes and see how damp the soil is there... it is possibly quite wet. The roots may be rotting. Look into that first.

For the Trident, same thing. Be careful about watering. Also, Tridents don't tolerate freezes well. You will have to be careful in the fall.

For the azalea, are all of the leaves brown? Is it in dappled shade, or under shadecloth? Only water when it needs water, not daily. Check the lower part of the soil if you can, see if it is continually wet. They don't like wet feet.

Might I suggest that you find pre-bonsai of species that normally do well in your area, and work with those? There are bound to be good native species that will be happy in your climate. Once you get those under your control, you can then expand to more difficult species. Or maybe Chinese elms? A good Chinese elm from a nursery near you will probably be more hardy than the maples and azalea.

Joanie

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Jantree

I want to thank everyone for their quick responses. I have kept the soil and the pot the Japanese Maple and the Trident Maple arrived in. Did not want to disturn the plants until they are dorment. It is a very well-drained soil. It looks to me like I might have been over-watering - and this I can take care of in my Trident Maple in hopes of keeping it happy. I will look for the Chinese Elm = its one I've been thinking of. Again, thank you everyone.