Is my serissa dead, or just suffering shock

DanteMojo

Hello!

I have a serissa that i purchased 2 years ago from the Midwest Bonsai Show in chicago. I have been so happy with it until about a month ago. My grow light burned out and the tree was without light for about 36 hours... It dropped all of its leaves within a week after that.

Knowing that this might just be shock, I have been keeping the regualr watering routine (every morning) and time cycle of light. I still do not see ANY new growth at all. There is no green visible at all. There is not one single leaf on the tree now for 3 weeks.

How long should I wait to see if it recovers? Or is it too late. Please help!

I have attached a picture of the tree if that might help.

Attached Images

bonsai.jpg (14.2 KB, 73 views)

Advertisement

edwardorino

Scratch the bark, and see if there is green underneath. If there is, you're in luck. Try not to water on a schedule. Especially now, since the tree has no leaves. Without leaves the tree will have a tough time using the water. Also make sure the room isn't excessively dry or has cold draft.

Serissa's are very fickle, but they're usually very resillient. I've had mine indoors all winter, and it just started getting flowers!

When I mean not watering on a schedule, I mean water only when the tree needs it. I water my serissa when the soil is slightly dry about an 1"-1 1/2" deep.

gregb

You might also carefully remove the tree from the pot and inspect the roots. If they are plump and white, they are healthy. If brown and soft, they are rotten/tree most likely dead. Let us know what you find

pootsie

I hate to tell you, but this looks very very dead to me. I've had a few serissas and they never come back after dropping all of their leaves.

However, you now have the opportunity to work with ficus, which I find more rewarding.

good luck with the next one

pootsie

__________________
p.s. My cat is a bonsaiTALK Master.
Columbus Bonsai Society

Dag936

I have a serissa that's done a similar thing (it was a different variety, i think the kind called mt. fuji serissa which is variagated. this one looks more like a 'kyoto' [i'm not sure if these names are right at all, its just what they're called at a nursery i've been to]). It had already dropped a few inner leaves from the change from outdoor to my basement where I keep them for the winter, and then a bulb burnt out. the serissa slowly dropped all of its leaves except for a leaf on the tip of each branch. Since this happened, i've brought in a fan (i was told that air circulation is critical for serissas) that i keep pointed at it on the 'low' setting, and try to mist its leaves daily. this has kept it in this same state all winter, i'm hoping to see it start pushing out growth any time now. hope this helps.

-Billy

DanteMojo

Thanks all for responding. I did the scratch test, and everything is dead - no green or anything... just dry wood. Thanks so much!

rschlafer

I'm sorry...That always hurts

__________________
- Todd

coloradobonsai.com
Specializing in Yamadori Bonsai/Pre Bonsai.

LinK

Don't be sad, sell it on eBay!

LOL...

Sorry for your lose.

__________________
www.bonsaiboriken.org