Underwatered/Infested Fukien?

Gaudere

What I would like to know, is what I should do to help the bonsai, and if it has a good chance of making it. Description below. Thanks!!

1. What kind of bonsai do you have and how long have you had it?

Fukien Tea, about a month.

2. Where did you get it, and what was its condition at the time you acquired it?

Ordered through mail. Arrived healthy-looking, dark leaves, good blooming. The tree is about 15" high, the trunk is about 1.5" wide and appears firm and clean. The pot was broken when it arrived, but there did not appear to be much root damage. I repotted it immediately and watered.

3. When did you notice the problem?

Signs of insect infestation about a week later; small dark bugs clustered around new leaves/flower buds. Consulted the bonsai seller, he said it was probably scale (I thought aphids) and recommended using an insecticide or dipping the plant upside down in a solution of Ivory soap and water. I used an insecticide that I has used before successfully for scale on my Ficus, sprayed about once every 5 - 7 days. Bugs seem to have mostly disappeared after a few weeks, but the leaves were wilting and dropping, tips turning brown, 3 - 5 a day. I was concerned that the insecticide might be too harsh and was causing the wilting, so last week I did the soapy-water dip instead of insecticide.

4. How have you been watering it and how frequently?

Seems to be about twice a week...I check the soil with a finger and water when the soil gets less damp and more crumbly. I also have the bonsai on a water tray and mist 2 - 3 times a day. HOWEVER: yesterday morning I checked the soil and it seemed moist enough except for two spots in the corner that were nearly completely dry...but I know from repotting that there were no roots in those corners, so I didn't worry about it and figured I would probably water when I got home. But when I got home the leaves were severly wilted, many dropping even when the pot was moved. I watered thoroughly. The tree has a few small new leaves that look healthy, but it's lost leaves much faster than it has replaced them.

5. What region are you located geographically and where are you keeping your tree, indoors or out, full sun, part sun, shade?

Midwest, plant kept indoors about 20 feet from north-facing 20' wide floor to celing windows. So not in full sun but the room is bright.

6. Does the soil have any unpleasant odor?

No.

7. When was the tree last repotted?

About a month ago when it arrived, but no root trimming was done, just stuck it in a pot of the same size and filled in with bonsai soil.

8. Is there any discoloration of the foliage? Would you describe it as turgid and green, dry and brown, wilting, mottled or partially eaten? If you brush the foliage with a fingertip, does it fall off?

Right now a lot of it is wilting, but some are still strong. A great many are mottled or paler green and these will fall off easily. About three leaves show signs of being nibbled on .

9. Is there evidence of pests, like ants or aphids?

There don't seem to be any any more, unless the mottling of leaves itself is a sign of infestation. There were small dark oval bugs hanging out by new buds and under leaves before.

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