Privet Ligustrum HELP!!!

Melhoo

Hello all, I am a new Bonsai enthusiast and got a very mature Privet (estimation 40 plus years) I have in indoors, I live in Houston, It lives beside a Fukien Tea in front of a very large window...lots of indirect light....not sunny by any stretch....I have had it now for about 4-5 months and it has been doing fantastically, new leaves, new shoots etc... I water about once a week by immersing the entire pot in a sink of water...and then allowing to drain... there has been one time about 1 month ago that unfortunately I missed watering it by about 3 days and I noticed some leaf lost...since then I have watered religiously and got myself one of those water meters to ensure that I am watering correctly...however I am loosing alot of leaves...they turn a little yellow at one end and will fall off without the lightest of touches...I also have notice small little insects on the trunk and in the soil...flying..looks like fruit flies, mites I gues... its a beautiful tree and i want to ensure that I am caring for it well...can anyone help..

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johnbonsai

Hi Melhoo, try to identify and kill those pests, if you can't identify them kill them anyway. As for the loss of leaves, if they are turning yellow and then dropping this is n't too bad as autumn is upon me here in jolly old blighty, ligustrum will shed older leaves and mine are shedding a few. It sounds like the insects are the problem. When my ligustrum' need watering badly, the new growing tips sag, and watering perks the plant right up. If this example is not like your situation maybe the watering was too late. I'd also check the soil, peat based soil will not give excellent results with this plant. Ligustrum are fast growing robust plants and peat compost is n't forgiving. I've found that strong, healthy bonsai that are that way because of good planting media, appropriate ambient conditions, good fertilization and overall good care can take a hit from all kinds' of damaging infestations and still live very happily. And it helps a great deal if we can eradicate any insect that wishes to take a hold.

Good luck.

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