Help: Bonsai Tree

Sylv

Sylv

Sylv

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Saafend
Last April, I got a bonsai tree (Chinese Elm) for my birthday, fully grown and healthy. I've been attentive to it, giving it plenty of sun light and tepid water every day as instructed by many a 'Bonsai tree care' websites, books etc.
However I moved into a new flat last summer and I've come to believe my tree is 'unhappy' or sick. This is my own fault, I didn't water it everyday and I left the tree on my kitchen window ledge, watering it maybe three times a week.
Over the bitter winter that we had (the flat wasn't heated very well) the leaves have slowly started to discolour, about 60% of the leaves are a healthy green, but the remaining 40% are turning yellow with remaining streaks of green where they were healthy previously, others turning brown and dying. White mildew started to grow on the top soil, I guess it had been suffocating the tree, this being due to the heat and poor ventilation when cooking.
I've recently re-potted it, put it in my lounge, in an area that receives plenty of sunlight and watering it regularly again, the leaves still remain as they were. New shoots are growing, but very slowly and I trim those back anyway.
To those who have a bonsai tree and have a good deal of experience with them, is there anything else I can do to make it healthy again?
 
My girlfriend had one...it soon died...

Hers stated to fill it once with water, then water it when it looks dry? Although its probably wrong
 
Tried for the first port of calls of urinating over it, then the second of course, vomit.
And it's an inside tree. I'll check out the link, cheers.
 
Sylv said:
Tried for the first port of calls of urinating over it, then the second of course, vomit.
And it's an inside tree. I'll check out the link, cheers.
Click to expand...

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN INSIDE TREE!

Also they hate draughty conditions, the fact you are constantly letting the temperature near it fluctuate so much (Cold sill at night, presumably warms up during the day/ evening when there is some heating) does not help.

If you must keep it inside, just keep the temperature as steady as you can and in a bright spot. Also use a gravel tray to try and keep the moisture levels around it a bit higher.

How do you water it?
 
Malt_Vinegar said:
Traditonal Bonsai should be kept outside most of the time, and only brought inside for a max of 3 days at a time!
Click to expand...

This is the first advice I would give too.

Other than that, water and feed according to its type, eg. taken from

http://www.bonsaigardener.org/chinese-elm-bonsai-tree.html

says:

protect from cold weather (so keep it in if it's really cold out)
prune in early spring
moist at all times but not overwatered
repot every few years in early spring, or if you suspect the roots are too dense (which is likely if you haven't repotted it yet, so consider repotting soon)
full sun or shade (half shade in the hot summer months)
weekly feeding when buds open for 1 month, then fortnightly until late Summer

Pruning is key to keeping it bonsai shaped! That site suggests leaving one or two nodes. Repotting may be a good idea if the roots are overgrown, basically you chop off all the really fine roots to improve drainage. For feeding you can just chuck some of those miracle grow pellets in and they slowly dissolve when you water it. Finally, consider using cat litter instead of soil http://www.bonsai4me.com/Basics/Basicscatlitter.htm
 
Bes said:
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN INSIDE TREE!

Also they hate draughty conditions, the fact you are constantly letting the temperature near it fluctuate so much (Cold sill at night, presumably warms up during the day/ evening when there is some heating) does not help.

If you must keep it inside, just keep the temperature as steady as you can and in a bright spot. Also use a gravel tray to try and keep the moisture levels around it a bit higher.

How do you water it?
Click to expand...

I was under the impression the conditions outside, especially this time of year, top temperatures of about 6 degrees celsius is far too cold for it to survive. In any case I don't have a garden, so it'll have to stay inside. Moving it into the lounge should keep the temperature variations to a minimum. I water it using half a pint of tepid water to keep the soil moist, through a funnel to disperse the water evenly.
 
I have a Bonsai Tree. Make sure you remove all the dead leaves to give the healthy ones all the nutrients. Water it at least twice a week no need to water water water. If you find that your tree is dying and there aren't many leaves left. Take a plastic bag put it over the tree blow into the bag filling it up with air then tie the bag closed leave it for a bit and you'll see the leaves will start to get healthy again.
 
The best way to water is to use a watering can of rain water from a height ie. get all the leaves soaked as well. It helps clean out all their little air holes (stoma?). Probably deionised water makes a good substitute. I use tap and it's probably not very good for them :o although the shower does a good job of simulating rain ;)
 
I had one that lost all its leaves, gave up on it and dug it into the garden as a "1 last chance" - thing recovered and is almost wild now!
 
Sylv said:
I was under the impression the conditions outside, especially this time of year, top temperatures of about 6 degrees celsius is far too cold for it to survive. In any case I don't have a garden, so it'll have to stay inside. Moving it into the lounge should keep the temperature variations to a minimum. I water it using half a pint of tepid water to keep the soil moist, through a funnel to disperse the water evenly.
Click to expand...

Chinese Elms are very hardy and can survive cold temperatures. In China it does get very cold in some parts at certain times of the year! :) They do need to be hardened before being left out all winter though, and the roots can still freeze, killing the tree. Typically, the kind of cover you might use to cover up hanging baskets in freezing conditions will keep it safe though.

Mine is in my mum's greenhouse at the moment and is doing just fine. (It's over 20 years old now). In fact, leaving them in the cold is good for them, as it allows them to 'hibernate' during the cold weather and prevents them becoming exhausted.

Also you should not be using water straight from the tap. If you can, leave it to stand overnight or for a couple of days. Water it by simulating rain (i.e. a watering can in the bath if you keep it indoors). Under-water rather than over-water, as Bonsai hate being left sat in lots of wet soil for long periods, and get the poor thing a gravel tray and fill it with damp 'gravel!' (you can buy special stuff from garden centres)
 
Bes said:
Chinese Elms are very hardy and can survive cold temperatures. In China it does get very cold in some parts at certain times of the year! :) They do need to be hardened before being left out all winter though, and the roots can still freeze, killing the tree. Typically, the kind of cover you might use to cover up hanging baskets in freezing conditions will keep it safe though.

Mine is in my mum's greenhouse at the moment and is doing just fine. (It's over 20 years old now). In fact, leaving them in the cold is good for them, as it allows them to 'hibernate' during the cold weather and prevents them becoming exhausted.

Also you should not be using water straight from the tap. If you can, leave it to stand overnight or for a couple of days. Water it by simulating rain (i.e. a watering can in the bath if you keep it indoors). Under-water rather than over-water, as Bonsai hate being left sat in lots of wet soil for long periods, and get the poor thing a gravel tray and fill it with damp 'gravel!' (you can buy special stuff from garden centres)
Click to expand...

Exactly what I wanted to know. Thank you!
 
To get rid of the mildew, get some clay pebbles and put a layer of them on the top of the soil. The mildew likes damp soil exposed to light, putting the pebbles on the surface removes the conditions suitable for it spreading.
 
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