New Sarissa 911?!?!

GuerrillaWon

I purchased a Snow Rose Sarissa almost a week ago.

I got it from a very reputable person, has been in the business for about 50 years, and is an awesome help. As it's too late to call him for some advice, and him being my single source of "live knowledge", I decided looking elsewhere for advice would be good too.

Here's my situation...

I bought this sarissa almost a week ago, a few years old I believe, and in good shape.

Now it was in a regular plastic holder, and after taking it home I transferred it into a clay pot. As instructed I soaked the pot up to the rim for about 30 minutes after the transplant.

I was instructed to put a bit of (20-20-20) fertalizer on it afterwards, which I just plain didn't do, not a lot, but some to help with the stress of the transplant.

All is well and the sarissa is in it's new home. About 3 days pass and I see the soils still wet. I had suspicions I had compacted the soil too much later the day of the transplant. I tried opening the soil up with choptsicks, and put some good ventilation into the soil, but after 24+ hours with the new air circulation, still damp.

I have compacted the soil too much during the transplant! So tonight, after some new leaves have turned yellow within the day, I decided I NEED to let it breath.

So I repot it with less compact soil, after looking at the roots, all seems well, trimming some which I had not done before, and repotting, it sits pretty loosely in it's pot.

I have a feeling I was suffocating the plant, and now after the transplant, it's in new looser more breathable soil. It's not in very stable, but stable enough, and I think I will let it stay like this overnight without watering, then assess the situation in the morning.

So basically bought the sarissa, brought home, repot, soak, day goes by, open up soil, 2 days go by, soil too damp, new leaves turn a bit yellow (I heard they do this in spring?), reluctantly transplant again because I know the soil is way too compact anyways, don't water for a night. And I am currently at that night.

I was wondering what your thoughts were? I know it can't be good, but I am trying to logically do my best to keep this healthy.

2 repots and too wet in about a week! aiiiyeee

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Repotter

I'm hoping that you repotted into a free draining bonsai soil.
Serissa have a very fine line between over and under watering. If too far either way they will turn yellow leaves.
They also need bright light. You didn't say where you live. If you live in a warm climate you could keep it outdoors. But if you live anywhere that is a zone 9 or less it will have to be indoors during the colder months and should be under a lighting system.
Get to know when your tree needs watering, more light means it will use more water.
Check the soil daily for wetness by pushing your finger into the soil about one inch. If it feels dry then water it. Always water thoroughly wetting the soil through to the bottom until it drains out the holes in the pot.

Good luck, ...Hec

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rockm

"As it's too late to call him for some advice, and him being my single source of "live knowledge"

Why is it too late to call him for advice? Is he deceased? If not, call him. He is probably the best source of info on what to do since he is familiar (or should be) with how the tree has been treated.

Jay

First thing....Serissa do not like change....period.

Move the tree to a new location...they drop their leaves
Over or under water.....they drop their leaves
take it outside or take it inside...they ....well you get the idea.

DO NOT OVER REACT. allow the tree to adjust to its new home and leave it alone.

Now it would greatly help if you would fill in your 'user CP' so we can now where you are. Also tell us where the tree is now and how and where it was when you found it.

Also I must tell you that I am a card carrying member of the IHSFC. Thats the I hate Serrisa Fan Club.

Good luck
Jay

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Mcspeed

GuerrillaWon, first off go to the search and read up on soils, then read some more about watering, then search on serrissa. You did all that stuff before coming here didn't you? The reputable one told you to water that way( not a good way)?

Now that I have sounded a bit terse, let the poor tree alone already, let it dry down in a sunny location, and assuming it's inside put a flourescent light over it ( 12-14 hrs a day until outside). Your'e killing it with kindness, before you pronounce it dead these can be a fairly resilient tree, so it may be ok.

If the soil is staying soggy it's not great soil, see my recommendation above about reading up on bonsai care, these are the most important- soils and watering, and it sound like you got bad on both.

You will need to water when it needs it, so let it dry down to kind of moist, then water (from the top don't soak it) , keep it in a warm location but not drafty.

Tell us all about the soil, the location of your tree, and if you didn't, add the user CP stuff Jay talked about. If the leaves drop, only water as above and it will probably leaf out again fairly soon, in the mean time ( I am assumming you are very new at this, sorry if I am wrong) read read read, bonsai is NOT like house plant gardening, and learning before doing can be very benificial to your tree and your nerves.

Good luck and lets us know how you are making out, and I would wait before you repot again, let the tree regain some health before you strees it any more, which would probably kill it at this point.

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GuerrillaWon

No, at the time of posting it was well after his greenhouse was closed for the day. So it was, in all seriousness and quite literally, too late to call him for advice.

Jay I'm in Connecticut.

Ofcourse I did. But nowhere did I find any information on the effects of, and the help needed to save a severly traumatized sarissa in a similiar situation. If I missed that thread, please point me to it.

Also, I've looked into this method of watering / setting the soil in books and online. What would be a better way and why?

Not sure why I am drawing all this negativity, I'm just trying to learn and correct my mistakes to improve.

ehhhh

rockm

"No, at the time of posting it was well after his greenhouse was closed for the day. So it was, in all seriousness and quite literally, too late to call him for advice."

Is he closed permanently? If he's a good dealer, he will be happy to answer questions well after you've purchased the tree.

IndieBookMan

"Is he closed permanently? If he's a good dealer, he will be happy to answer questions well after you've purchased the tree."

I think he is saying he was looking for answers that night, and the nursery was closed so it was too late in the day to call and get the answers he needed.

"Ofcourse I did. But nowhere did I find any information on the effects of, and the help needed to save a severly traumatized sarissa in a similiar situation. If I missed that thread, please point me to it."

I think what they are telling you is that you have to be a little more of a detective. You might not (and according to your search, won't) find the exact situation you are experiencing. But if you dig a little deeper, you will find answers to all of the parts of your problem - soil, watering, sarissi, etc. It would be great if all of your answers were in one place... but unfortunately it doesn't work that way.

What would be helpful is if, after your situation resolves (for better or for worse) you document what it was, what you did, what the outcome was and whatever you learned from it so that the _next_ person has the benefit of someone elses experience that you do not have now.

"Also, I've looked into this method of watering / setting the soil in books and online. What would be a better way and why? "

Do you mean better than the submersion method? Top watering is considered better - and this isn't just a bonsai thing - because supposedly submersion forces all of the air up and out of the soil. Air is something you want it the soil, obviously.

Top watering on the otherhand, draws air down into the soil, because as it drains through it creates a vacuum. The exception to this would be extrememely dry soil, because topwatering has a hard time wetting it then as it tends to quickly drain around the walls of the pot.

"Not sure why I am drawing all this negativity, I'm just trying to learn and correct my mistakes to improve."

Im not sure it's negativity you are experiencing. More like impatience that you are asking questions that are asked again and again and perhaps those who have been around a while are getting frustrated in having to answer. Plus, some folks around here are, and they seem willing to admit this, blunt.

Something to understand - this is a _very_ experienced group, and beginners are probably advised to read read read before they ask. I have noticed, in my short time here, quite a few of what you might call "poppers." They pop in, ask one question that they could have found with ten minutes of searching, get good advice, don't like it, then pop out never to be heard from again.

If you don't want to be a "popper" then take some time, use the search function, read read read. If you want easy quick answers, this is not the place. I have learned _so much_ here in a very short time, and I have yet to ask a question. I have always found the answer first.

And when you do find that question that has not been answered, or have something truly specific to your situation, you will receive incredible advice. You may not like it all, and some of it may be delivered bluntly, but it will be thoughtful and worthwhile advice. I would heed it.

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rockm

"I think he is saying he was looking for answers that night, and the nursery was closed so it was too late in the day to call and get the answers he needed."

Well, of course, but plants will not have cardiac arrests or other conditions that requires an answer within minutes or hours. Calling the seller back the next day, or even better, taking the plant back to him for advice within a few days--could yield better results than asking for an opinion online.

The seller presumably knows the past care of the plant, the soil and the conditions it was kept in up until the sale. All these are extremely important and we have no knowledge of.