Harry
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Location: Ewloe green UK

My Bonsai's leaves are yellowing and dropping off Help!!!!!!

I have a Bonsai tree that I have been watering daily with a water spray gun twice a day. Now the weather is starting to turn colder I have brought the plant into the living room where it is warmer, although it does not get any direct sun light. I am not sure what type of Bonsai tree it is!!! Could you please advise what I am to do to save the tree?

How do I attach some photographs?

JTred
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The care depends on what type of tree it is. Here is the thread that shows how to post pictures.

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3724

Harry
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Location: Ewloe green UK

[img]https://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa323/Michael_Harrison1965/Bonsai%20tree/Bonsai002.jpg[/img][/img]

[img]https://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa323/Michael_Harrison1965/Bonsai%20tree/Bonsai003.jpg[/img]

Here are a couple of photo's of my Bonsai, I am not sure what type it is and what I need to do to prevent all the leaves yellowing and falling off. Is this normal in the winter? Are Bonsai trees evergreen?

JTred
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It looks to me like a Fukien Tea. I personally don't have any experience with this species, but now that you have a name you can find a wealth of info on this forum and online. Use the search feature because I believe this problem is not uncommon. Here is a fukien tea care sheet. https://www.bonsaigardener.org/fukien-tea-bonsai.html

linlaoboo
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that tree doesn't look too Fujien to me. Maybe someone else recognizes what it is. Looks to me that it's in shock. You want to make sure it doesn't have root rot and control the watering, temperature and lighting....

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Gnome
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Harry,

I believe you have a Chinese Elm or Ulmus parvifolia, these seem to be a common 'mallsai' in the UK. Mallsai is a somewhat derisive term applied to mass produced bonsai. Don't be discouraged though, they can be improved over time. I like yours in that it does not follow the typical exaggerated S curve shape that seems so prevalent. It seems to be more of the so called broom style which, to me, is much more appropriate.

Bonsai trees are evergreen or deciduous according to species not the fact that they are bonsai. Juniper bonsai, for instance, are evergreen while Maples are deciduous. There are also numerous tropical species that are becoming more popular and these are in different class. When it comes to Chinese Elms though things get a little hazy. They are considered sub-tropical and can behave differently depending upon where they are grown or, in the case of bonsai, how they are handled.

In mild climates, or indoors, they will behave more as a tropical and hold their leaves. In a more temperate environment they will act as deciduous trees and shed their leaves over the winter. Since you say that you had the tree outside it may simply be starting to shed it's leaves for the year. Or, and this is quite possible, you have been watering it too frequently. The soil looks very wet and dense which is not uncommon for these type of trees.

It will need to be re-potted in order to remove all of the old heavy soil. The best times to re-pot is as the tree is emerging from dormancy. You have two options. Here is what I suggest. Put it back outside and cut back on the watering. Insert a wooden skewer into the soil and leave it there. Remove it daily and check it for moisture. If it is damp do not water it that day. Allow the tree to remain exposed so it gets a few frosts then shelter, still cold.

Leave it outside, but sheltered, until around Christmas at which time you will have had time to make preperations. You need to begin researching bonsai soils and indoor lighting. This need not be terribly expensive but it will cost a few bucks/pounds. :wink:

Your other option would be to keep it dormant until next spring and re-pot it then. Either way it should spend summers outside where it will do much better for you. I don't suggest trying to keep it as a purely tropical/indoor tree it will really do much better with at least a brief dormancy.

Here are some links to start you off:

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1479
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3422
https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/indoors.htm

This last one should really hit home, so to speak.
https://www.bonsai4me.com/Basics/Basicsdevelopingmallsai.htm


Norm

Harry
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Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2010 1:25 pm
Location: Ewloe green UK

Norm,
Thanks for the advise I will let you know how I get on. I have not had the Bonsai outside but it has been in the kitchen where it has been catching the sun through the window, it is only recently that I have moved it to that table where it is warmer, but not in direct sunlight.
Are you saying that the tree will loose it's leaves in the winter?
I am worried that it is dying if the leaves are falling off!!!!!!!!!!

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Gnome
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Harry,

OK, apparently I misinterpreted this;
Now the weather is starting to turn colder I have brought the plant into the living room where it is warmer,
Are you saying that the tree will loose it's leaves in the winter?
I'm saying that Chinese Elms are variable depending upon how you handle them. In your case, since you have not had it outside, the loss of leaves is not due to the fall weather. I now am more convinced that the poor quality of the soil/medium, combined with such frequent watering, is the likely cause. Please review the first link I posted above.

Try this, remove the moss from the surface of the soil and use the skewer method that I outlined earlier. The soil should not be wet except just after you water it. Find the brightest spot you can and place it there. It should recover if you are careful.

The soil will still need to be changed at the earliest appropriate oppurtunity, and that is still after a dormant period. I have re-potted Chinese Elms 'in the green' but a beginner may not want to risk it. It's one of those situations that you make your choice and live with the result.

Norm

TomM
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Sorry - but I'm with Jack on this one. I believe it is Fukien Tea. A better "close-up" of the leaves might be in order.

The soil appears very wet & heavy - possibly a poor draining soil problem.

linlaoboo
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As far as the Fukien Tea bonsais I know including my own look like this, with little white flowers that stay in full bloom for a day or 2 only.

[img]https://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd340/malagabee/starr-080117-1889.jpg[/img]

From the look of the OP's picture I think it wasn't given sufficient light causing the leaves to become large and the spraying watering method just won't do the job.

The Helpful Gardener
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I'm with lin and Norm; Ulmus. Bark is all wrong for Fukien...

HG

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manIK
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Agreed. Definitely not a Fukien Tea.

[url=https://img221.imageshack.us/I/manikabtbnsi2.png/][img]https://img221.imageshack.us/img221/7645/manikabtbnsi2.png[/img][/url]



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