HELP Should I give up on my bonsai

[Bonsaiowner12]

I need help with my wind - swept bonsai. I've had it since September last year and I didn't realise that I hadn't been watering it properly. I've recently begun to water it a lot more and put it out in the sunlight every day. I also just added normal plant food in there.

I've attached 2 photos, I did the scratch test on the bark and I'm not really sure what that shows. You can see the results in the 2nd photo.

The leaves are brown and look pretty dry, however the moss on the floor surrounding the tree has started to grow back and turn green again.

I'm not sure if I should just give up or keep watering the tree.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

[rainbowgardener]

Your tree is a juniper and it is dead. Junipers die in slow motion from the inside out. By the time they show significant browning, they are goners. Because the moss may be still alive has nothing to do with the life/ health of the tree.

Watering it a lot more was not the answer and unfortunately, you pretty much did everything wrong. Juniper is not an indoor tree. It has to live outdoors all the time (yes, all winter! it needs cold dormancy). It needed those rocks removed and I would bet under the rocks is very organic, moisture holding soil that is all wrong for it.

Here's a thread someone wrote recently about keeping trees alive: https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/vi ... =1&t=68477

Before you replace your tree, read up about juniper bonsai (if you want to have another juniper and keep it outdoors), bonsai care generally. And then find a reputable dealer who knows something about bonsai, has their trees in good bonsai soil (very mineral/gritty and free draining) with no rocks on top. Pay a little more for a tree that is not going to just die.

Here's some places to start for basic bonsai info:

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/bonsai/

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/vi ... =36&t=1479

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/vi ... =36&t=3422

Best wishes for more success next time!

[tomc]

Cutting grown juniper just about never survive indoors. Your Juniper is brown and quite dead.

If I wanted a tree to start off with that will tolerate the mistreatment of growing it indoors (during the winter months), look at an ivy or jade. Both have waxy leaves and won't transpire and die in the dry of indoors.

Rooted cuttings of both are affordable, and will let you have a living tree near your desk or living room, *If* you have a window-sill without a radiator or head vent near-by.

Ivy needs more top-pruning and will be good practice.

Please read on the larning forum here how to use a chop stick to check your trees need for water.


Time to start over.

[rainbowgardener]

Wow, triple post! Maybe a mod will come along and fix that. Otherwise good advice.

If OP really wants an indoor bonsai, ficus is a pretty good choice. I had a large (non-bonsai) ficus that lived in my living room for years, with just occasional summer vacations outdoors, until I left it behind when I moved.

[imafan26]

Fixed extra posts.