Bonsai expert, anyone? We have a dying bonsai and want to know what we can do to revive it?
Posted on August 21st, 2009 in bonsai |
Lena asked:
I purchased a bonsai tree for my hubby last christmas, and it was doing really well. Now it is dying, the leaves have all fallen off, and it just looks sad. We were watering it with a spray bottle, could it be that the chlorine, etc. didn’t get a chance to evaporate since it was bottled?
Any advice would be appreciated!!
ETA: We are located in Oregon, and the type of tree in question is a chinese elm.
aquarium
I purchased a bonsai tree for my hubby last christmas, and it was doing really well. Now it is dying, the leaves have all fallen off, and it just looks sad. We were watering it with a spray bottle, could it be that the chlorine, etc. didn’t get a chance to evaporate since it was bottled?
Any advice would be appreciated!!
ETA: We are located in Oregon, and the type of tree in question is a chinese elm.
aquarium
5 Responses
NOTHING ITS DEAD!
Although its a chinese elm it is Fall in Oregon so it will lose its leaves. Its not dead its just resting
It wants to go outside. Bonsai are cold-weather creatures. Put it where it won’t get nibbled on and let it be one with nature for the winter. If it’s going to make it, that’s the best way at this point. Please don’t laugh, but, it would appreciate daily verbal visits from you with no touching stuff while it’s outdoors. If you know of someone with numerous outdoor bonsai, inquire about the possibility of placing your bonsai in their midsts for encouragement and whatever they do to balance each other out like they can. Then, re-think the whole thing about nurturing a bonsai. They are not grateful lifeforms. They take and take and take and just get haughtier every year until you resent it.
Only thing you can do is trim back and add growth hormone in garden center. Chlorine is bad for it but did not kill it. The real Bonsai lives many years. Sounds like you do not water right. You need to water to bottom of pot, then let dry out and water again. Try rejuvenating by putting outside too. it sounds like you shocked it since all leaves fell off. If they were hanging then the plant is dead. Could be bugs too or fungus, even maybe nematodes. They require little care if in right enviroment if just trimmed and slow release fert like osmacote 10-10-10.
You’re getting some strange advice. First, where are you keeping it? Chinese elms are one of the few species of trees that can be kept indoors OR outdoors. If you’re keeping it indoors, it should only lose about 20% of its leaves during fall and winter. If you keep it outdoors, it will lose about 80% of its leaves during that time. Another point…..spraying it is OK for the leaves, but that won’t give it enough water in the soil. You have to soak it thoroughly when watering. If you email me at: , I’ll send you the care instructions that the seller should have given you when you bought it. You may also want to look at the Bonsai Care page of my site: . It is wise to only buy a bonsai from the person who planted it.