Diamonddy
Newly Registered
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 10:12 am
Location: Romania

Japanese Holly?

Hello. A couple of weeks ago I received as a gift a bonsai. Unfortunately, I don't know the species so I don't how to take are of it. And now it started to wilt and it's in a really bad condition :cry: Please help!

[url=https://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx1MLDTJ][img=https://s1.postimage.org/1MLDTJ.jpg][/url]

[url=https://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pq1s70Yr][img=https://s3.postimage.org/1s70Yr.jpg][/url]

[url=https://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Ts755Lr][img=https://s2.postimage.org/755Lr.jpg][/url]

FLBonsai
Cool Member
Posts: 61
Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:15 pm
Location: Florida

Welcome to the forum Diamonddy!

The pictures turned out slightly out of focus. From what I can see however it appears to be a Japanese boxwood but without a crisper picture it's difficult to tell.

What kind of soil is your plant currently in and is the soil moist or dry?

Also at some point surf the general Bonsai forum and you will find useful information :]

Diamonddy
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Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 10:12 am
Location: Romania

Thank you. I don't know what kind of soil is. Now it is moist but I tried not to wet it too much because I was afraid that it's roots will rot.

I hope these pictures will tell the species.

[url=https://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pq1uYRdi][img=https://s3.postimage.org/1uYRdi.jpg][/url]

[url=https://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Tsa2szS][img=https://s2.postimage.org/a2szS.jpg][/url]

[url=https://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx1Qdmdi][img=https://s1.postimage.org/1Qdmdi.jpg][/url]

[url=https://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pq1uZmE9][img=https://s3.postimage.org/1uZmE9.jpg][/url]

FLBonsai
Cool Member
Posts: 61
Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:15 pm
Location: Florida

Well it seems like it is not a boxwood now that I take a closer look. Sorry, I am not knowledgeable enough to ID this plant :[

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djlen
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Posts: 660
Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2009 8:37 pm
Location: Just East of Zone 7a

If you can ID this plant from the pictures it would be quite and accomplishment. I cannot tell. They are very blurry.
Maybe it's my old eyes. :)

Marsman
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Posts: 650
Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:19 am
Location: Coventry, CT

Diamonddy, get the plant to stop moving and then get a good picture of it. :wink:

Those leaves look very similar to my Eugenia (bush cherry).

[url=https://s956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/?action=view&current=DSC_0040.jpg][img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/th_DSC_0040.jpg[/img][/url]

But, without clearer pictures, it's hard to tell.

Diamonddy
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Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 10:12 am
Location: Romania

I took other pictures with 3 different cameras but the images are still blurry. :( I guess I'm not too good at this. These are the best:

[url=https://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx2qrGr][img=https://s1.postimage.org/2qrGr.jpg][/url]

[url=https://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=TslqVlA][img=https://s2.postimage.org/lqVlA.jpg][/url]

[url=https://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Tsls6aS][img=https://s2.postimage.org/ls6aS.jpg][/url]

[url=https://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pq1G6gN9][img=https://s3.postimage.org/1G6gN9.jpg][/url]

I also tried to draw 2 leaves. A leaf is about 1,6-2 cm and oval.
[url=https://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV1rtaeJ][img=https://s4.postimage.org/1rtaeJ.jpg][/url]

The reason of why I thought it was a Japanese Holly it's because it's very similar with this one:

[url=https://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx2uT2r][img=https://s1.postimage.org/2uT2r.jpg][/url]

And mine...

[url=https://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV1ruyxJ][img=https://s4.postimage.org/1ruyxJ.jpg][/url]

[url=https://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV1ruG19][img=https://s4.postimage.org/1ruG19.jpg][/url]

[url=https://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aV1rvbs0][img=https://s4.postimage.org/1rvbs0.jpg][/url]

Rosaelyn
Senior Member
Posts: 244
Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2009 9:40 am
Location: Brighton, Michigan

Diamonddy,

I think you are right. I think it is a Japanese Holly, as well, after a closer look at those leaves...

https://farm1.static.flickr.com/119/294721186_e5200ced4b_b.jpg

Here's a little bit of information about this particular tree:

This holly resembles boxwood, but its growth habit is lower and more spreading. Leaves are dark green, glossy, small, ovate to elliptic, with slightly scalloped edges. Berries are small and black, though sometimes white or yellow. Needs rich, moist, slightly acidic soil, good drainage and thick mulch. Will not tolerate drought.

https://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Ilex.html

How and how often are you watering your tree? Is the water draining out the bottom well when you water? It very prominently says these trees do not like to go dry, so that would be my first suggestion: make sure your tree is getting the proper amount of water.

Diamonddy
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Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 10:12 am
Location: Romania

Thank you very much. I avoided to give it too much water because I was afraid that it's roots will rot. So I watered it when the soil was dry and the amount wasn't too big so the bottom was dry. But the draining is good. I water it 2-4days/week after I check the humidity of the soil. I started to spray it with water every day. I've read that it likes cool places but it stays in my room. I'm afraid to put it outside because there are 0 to -5 degrees C at night.

Victrinia Ridgeway
Senior Member
Posts: 264
Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:46 am
Location: Bremerton, WA

FYI the problem with your photographs is that you are trying to shoot macro distance photos on a camera/lens not set to macro. Back up... or see if the camera has a macro setting... generally it'll look like a flower sometimes as the icon on the selector wheel.

Good luck with your tree...

Victrinia

Diamonddy
Newly Registered
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 10:12 am
Location: Romania

Thank you. I'll try



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