I was given a 9yr old Ficus bonsai tree in February. It needed to be repotted as I could grab the tree by the trunk and it easily lifted up, taking all the dirt with it.
I read many websites and watched a few you tube videos on how to repot it, and I followed the steps exactly, waiting until March (two weeks ago) to do it. I trimmed the bottom roots, repotted it, allowed it to soak up water by placing it in a bucket of water and letting it soak up from the top. Then, all the places I've read said to let it sit in the shade for 6 weeks, so my tree has been in the shade these last two weeks and it's scaring me.
All the leaves have dropped, and only one little baby leaf has sprouted. I notice several little green starts of leaves, but over the last two days, half of those have turned brown.
My questions are-- Should I keep watering the tree as usual since it was repotted? Or does it need more/less water than normal? Should I really keep it in the shade for six weeks?
Anything else I need to know? Thanks in advance!
-
- Newly Registered
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:35 pm
- Location: Houston
I think your plant is just adjusting to it's new home. I would look up the chopstick method for watering as overwatering can have some negative effects on the bounce back of your plant. I was told to protect my ficus from direct sun and wind for atleast a month and then slowly introduce it to sunlight increasing the time each day.
You shouldn't over do the watering. Only water when necessary, not on a timeline. Newly potted trees may take up less water, especially if they're also dropping leaves. Truly, if it's in even a fairly humid environment, it probably won't need to be water more than 0nce every 5-10 days. If you've been watering daily, stop. Water when the soil's just dry, not bone dry, but just drying. If you scratch the bark with a fingernail, is it green beneath?
-
- Newly Registered
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:35 pm
- Location: Houston
Thanks for the replies. I haven't watered it since it was repotted, and when I stick my finger in the soil, it is a little damp. I will do the chopstick method, that sounds a lot easier.
As for keeping it in the shade, I have it in the corner of a room that doesn't get sunlight. Do I really need to keep it shaded for six weeks? And when I bring it back into the sun, should I do it gradually over time by slowly moving it closer to the window?
The first photo is of where I scratched it with my nail, as kdodds asked.
[url=https://img824.imageshack.us/I/img20110426201031.jpg/][img]https://img824.imageshack.us/img824/3879/img20110426201031.th.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=https://img580.imageshack.us/I/img20110426200932.jpg/][img]https://img580.imageshack.us/img580/3954/img20110426200932.th.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=https://img508.imageshack.us/I/img20110426201004.jpg/][img]https://img508.imageshack.us/img508/4699/img20110426201004.th.jpg[/img][/url]
As for keeping it in the shade, I have it in the corner of a room that doesn't get sunlight. Do I really need to keep it shaded for six weeks? And when I bring it back into the sun, should I do it gradually over time by slowly moving it closer to the window?
The first photo is of where I scratched it with my nail, as kdodds asked.
[url=https://img824.imageshack.us/I/img20110426201031.jpg/][img]https://img824.imageshack.us/img824/3879/img20110426201031.th.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=https://img580.imageshack.us/I/img20110426200932.jpg/][img]https://img580.imageshack.us/img580/3954/img20110426200932.th.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=https://img508.imageshack.us/I/img20110426201004.jpg/][img]https://img508.imageshack.us/img508/4699/img20110426201004.th.jpg[/img][/url]
-
- Newly Registered
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:35 pm
- Location: Houston
Now that depends on local climate. If the current local climate is not similar to its natural range (I think Houston may be a little to hot and dry) then you could definitely be fine in the shade. Ficus don't usually drop for lack of sun, but they do when there's change. On repots, they may completely defoliate (I've been through this a number of times with potbound Ficus). As long as the scratched bark is green underneath, all you need is patience. On the bright side, when it does come back, the leaves will generally be quite a bit smaller overall. Difference in size depends on species/cultivar. For instance "Too Little" won't show much difference, but "willow leaf" species/cultivars will. IMO, anyway.
-
- Newly Registered
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:35 pm
- Location: Houston
-
- Newly Registered
- Posts: 6
- Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:35 pm
- Location: Houston