Hello all,
Quick question regarding the pictures below - should the substance on the leaves of our bonsai be cause for concern?
We water the bonsai when the soil is particularly dry, which is about twice a week. We water it from the top.
Neither of us are sure as to which type of bonsai it is, but we've been careful to follow basic guidelines of keeping it indoors during the Autumn months, giving it plenty of light and not keeping it above a radiator. We've also given it a few pellets from a bonsai man at the market, which it seemed to like.
We think the substance on the leaves is mildew. Whatever it is, it's appeared around the base of the trunk and on the soil too - hopefully the pictures show that.
I've looked on other threads and the common remedy theme seems to be 'don't over water it'. We're mindful about watering, but admittedly haven't been using the chop stick method.
Since discovering the substance, we haven't watered it.
Any advice is thoroughly appreciated!! Thank you!
Where it usually lives
I first thought the leaves were dusty...turns out the 'dust' is even on leaves sheltered beneath other foliage..
Whatever it is is starting to appear at the base of the trunk
What it usually looks like
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Thanks for the replies
tomc - For watering we've been checking it by pressing on the surface of the soil. Having read the post 'General Bonsai Growing Tips - Read first' we'll start adopting the chopstick method. Seems odd that not adopting this would be enough to cause the beginnings of mildew/greyish fuzz on the leaves.
applestar - We haven't used any fertiliser salts. It may be tricky to tell in the picture, so I'll put another one up that hopefully shows it better.
tomc - For watering we've been checking it by pressing on the surface of the soil. Having read the post 'General Bonsai Growing Tips - Read first' we'll start adopting the chopstick method. Seems odd that not adopting this would be enough to cause the beginnings of mildew/greyish fuzz on the leaves.
applestar - We haven't used any fertiliser salts. It may be tricky to tell in the picture, so I'll put another one up that hopefully shows it better.
Well, its a toss up if that is salt build up or something else (like mold-mildew). Once water needs are met (but not oversupplied), it is my hope things should clear up, OR, become obvious.
Soil can compact also, poking the soil to check for moisture will tend to airate it. A win-win no mater what the diagnosis.
Soil can compact also, poking the soil to check for moisture will tend to airate it. A win-win no mater what the diagnosis.
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