Bonsai Ailing - Not Sure How to Care for it (Fukien Tea)

[sweetsugapie]

Hello! I am new to the site and I am very excited about my new tree. Unfortunately, my lack of experience is taking its' toll on my poor tree.
I have no experience gardening. I was given this Bonsai tree as a gift. It was beautiful two weeks ago. It is clearly ailing.
Does anyone know what species this is?
I have been watering twice per week, trying not to over water. But the tree is getting worse. I have been looking through the forum for help, but I'm overwhelmed and I could be (and probably am) doing several things wrong.
Do I need to re-pot the tree using soil other than what came with it?
Am I watering too much (or not enough)?
I don't know anything about plants, so any advice would be much appreciated.
[img]https://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i236/sweetsugapie/100_2300.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i236/sweetsugapie/100_2301.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i236/sweetsugapie/100_2302.jpg[/img]

[Gnome]

sweetsugapie,

Hello and welcome to the forum. Sorry I am unable to identify your tree from the photos provided. Clearer pictures would increase the likelihood an identification but I have no solid candidate in mind now.

Watering cannot be done on any schedule but only as required. An impediment to proper watering is the moss covering and If it were mine I would remove it. With it in place it is difficult to judge the moisture level of the soil and to water thoroughly when it is time to do so.

Read the sticky thread on general tips for information regarding watering. In a nutshell always water thoroughly and then don't water again until the soil dries somewhat. Don't try to keep the soil constantly wet or judge exactly the right amount of water to use. Too much water is not too much, it is only if you water too frequently that you get in trouble.

I really don't like to see most trees inside especially if the owner is new to bonsai as you are. Some species can do reasonably well if provided the proper conditions (and some must be brought inside during cold weather) but often beginners have no idea how to care for their tree and quickly end up with a dying tree.

Are you running air conditioning? If so that can really be hard on indoor plants as it dries the air. Anyway, remove the moss and if the soil is dry saturate the soil. If it is wet allow it to dry more in between watering.

Norm

[kdodds]

Agreed on all counts. This tree could be anything from Bucida to Ficus to Carmona, it's too difficult to tell without a better shot. If you can get a close up of the leaves that would be great. Doing what Norm suggests, removing the moss, is your best bet. Yes, the moss can help conserve moisture, but that may not be what you want to do, and you can't really tell when it's in place and you're new. Some of us can tell just from lifting a pot whether or not a particular tree needs water, or from tapping it, etc., but that requires a fair amount of experience with bonsai in general and with the particular tree as well. There are some clues here, however. I noticed that around the pot there are crinkled and dessicated leaves. Are these crisp and crumbly or are they more pliable and resistant to being crumbled? Is this happening on the tree itself, or is the tree dropping healthy looking leaves? The genera I've mentioned above I chose specifically because they have different care requirements and difficulty levels. Bucida, IME, is a tough tree to care for, followed by Carmona (Ehretia) and then Ficus. Some require more moisture, some less, some require more watering, some less. So, specific discussions on what to look for and what to do is really impossible without even a tentative identification.

[sweetsugapie]

Thank you for your response. I removed the moss, and the tree perked up almost immediately. The leaves are more green and fewer of them are falling off. The leaves around the tree were easily crumbled. I have purchased a couple of books about caring for my tree, but as you noted, no one seems able to identify the species and as I understand that information is crucial for proper care. I attach a couple of close-ups, but they are of poor quality (my camera is not so good). If it is helpful, the leaves look almost oval in shape, except at the tip of some of the leaves they are shaped like this: } I appreciate any advice or information offered. Thank you in advance.
[img]https://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i236/sweetsugapie/100_2311.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i236/sweetsugapie/100_2312.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i236/sweetsugapie/100_2307.jpg[/img]

[Gnome]

sweetsugapie,

Glad to hear that your tree is responding.

If it is helpful, the leaves look almost oval in shape, except at the tip of some of the leaves they are shaped like this: }

I still can't tell much from your pictures but your descriptive punctuation suggests to me that you may have a Fukien Tea. Have a look at this picture and see what you think.
[img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Fukien_Tea_Tree_flower.jpg/600px-Fukien_Tea_Tree_flower.jpg[/img]

Norm

[sweetsugapie]

Yes! Many (although not all of them) look like that! I'm excited, that's beautiful! Thank you!

[Gnome]

sweetsugapie,

You're welcome. Have a look at the sticky threads located at the to of the forum. And also:

https://www.bonsai-bci.com/species/fukien.html
https://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Carmona.html

Norm