Please Identify Dying Bonsai.. Ligustrum?

illusive1234

Hi
I bought this bonsai from a nursery two months ago. I was told it was an indoor bonsai, but forgot to ask the species. From a little research on the net, I suspect it is a ligustrum.
I placed it in front of a well lit window, where my other "indoors" are kept, and was well watered and fed. Some time later I noticed that it was dropping its leaves that where not facing the window.
I made a point to keep turning it so that all its leaves got enough light. I repotted in good quality soil and root pruned but not too hard. Finally I placed it outside, since I read that Ligustrum is an outdoor plant, and hoped that it will recover.
No such luck. Half the plant is dead, and I think the rest is going soon..
Any ideas? First of all, can anyone confirm the species? Can I do anything to save it?
Any help appreciated.

P.S. I live in Athens, Greece. I am not sure about the zone, but it is Spring now, with temps 10-25 Celcius..

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fkokkas

Geia soy file!

Since it's not right to talk in our own language in a public forum here it goes....

Your bonsai is a serissa foetida.
Check out the following link and find out many things about your tree.
Try to keep a balanced watering schedule and wait.

http://www.bonsaitalk.com/lug/link_...hp?link=1114&c=

Fanis

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Wisdom begins in wonder.
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Joanie

Fanis is right, it looks like a serissa. Those are very hard to keep alive, unless you have the magic touch. Some people do, and some people don't. Be careful not to keep it too wet now, because it doesn't have very many leaves so it can't pull water out of the soil as quickly as when it is healthy.

Joanie

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illusive1234

Thanks Fanis and Joanie for the quick reply. (Giea sou Fani)
I just finished reading how fussy Serissas are to keep alive, but no regrets. It was cheap and has a beutiful trunk.
Let's hope it makes it out of this ordeal, although I think the dried twigs are probably dead. I'll try scratching the surface to see if it's green underneath.

Thanasis

Joanie

Serissas sure are tough to grow, but you live in an area where they might be able to do well outside. Mine live outside, and our climate is probably similar. It never gets very cold, never freezes here. They don't seem to mind heat if they have shade, or dappled shade under a large tree. Personally, I think that it is their roots which are hard to keep happy.

Yours looks like it is in a very organic soil, which holds a lot of moisture. That will make it easy for the tree to get root rot. Maybe someone can come on and tell us a good soil mix for serissas in Mediterranean weather, or do you have a good mix, Fanis?

Joanie

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fkokkas

You got that right Joanie. (As a frind of mine says: WOOT WOOT! Summer is coming ! )
Except for this year when we had some freezing currents coming down from Russia.

I personally use organic at 30% and some grit mixed with akadama at 70% and so far it works fine for me.

Fanis

__________________
Wisdom begins in wonder.
- Socrates

Joanie

That sounds about right, Fanis. 30% organic is enough to keep the tree moist during our warm dry summers, and 70% inorganic assures good drainage.

Did you bring your trees in during the freezes? Did the cold harm your country's crops?

Joanie

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fkokkas

Joanie,

The only trees i left outside were my Japanese white pines, Chinese Juniper, and an Alberta spruce.
My chinese elms, bougies, pomegranates, privet, olive, satsukis, were all brought inside.

Unfortunatelly farmers suffered big damages.

Fanis

__________________
Wisdom begins in wonder.
- Socrates

illusive1234

Actually Joannie the soil is cactus soil, fast draining and with just the right amount of moisture.
I have tested it on my other bonsai (Elms, Maples, Juniper, Chamaecyparis), and it works just fine, with good root and foliage growth.
The only problem is it dries out quite easily especially in small pots, and I wonder if I should add some crushed pine bark to make it cope with the hot Greek summer. What area of the world are you in?