My bonsai, help?

Good morning!

I bought my mother in law a ginseng citrus bonsai from the local plant store for her birthday a month ago. I bought some "citrus soil" that was recommended by the clerk. I also put some fertilizer in its first water. It seemed fine for a while but this last fortnight it has started to drop leaves. They aren't brown, so I aren't associating it with autumn, but I was wondering if you are able to help? Here are a few pictures.

Thankyou in advance.

 

That's a lovely bonsai Mad. It could be that the tree is getting too much water so let it dry out slightly between waterings. Also, remember a Bonsai is a tree (ie, something that grows outdoors normally) so make sure it has some air flow as they do not like heated rooms. Ideally it should be on a windowsill to get light.

Perhaps you may find a few tips here ...

http://www.bonsaiboy.com/catalog/indoorbonsaicare.html

 

It looks as if it needs more light. Is it having just a little water every day? Not too much, just a little. It will not need much feeding now but in the spring and summer will need more.

 

Totally agree, needs to go outside.

 

No. It is a ficus ginseng. It is an indoor plant. They are known for dropping leaves in order to rearrange the spaces for light getting between their branches.

 

I have had a Ficus ginseng since 2005 and it lives in an unheated 'outdoor' living room and is mistreated by most standards, ie, I don't feed it and only water it when droopy but it is well and happy. Here is a picture of it four years ago but it's just the same now ...

 

Well, yes but you are in portugal and the plant asked about is in Sweden I think.

 

Thankyou for your responses, what I can gather is that it needs more light.

I won't put it outside, as temperatures within the next few months can drop to -30celsius.

 

I appreciate what you say Lea. I start my love affair with Bonsai more than 20 years ago in Bucks and started everything from seedlings, my two favourite being a Cotoneaster and an Ivy. In Bucks they all lived permanently outdoors and seemed to thrive being covered with ice and snow in the winter. In 2001 they all moved to Portugal and went back with us every summer for three years. However, they struggled here with the heat although I nutured them and misted them daily. Sadly they all died and I only had the Ficus (named Luis Figo after the football player) remaining.

I then invested a great deal of money buying older specimens, a Podocarpus sinesis (Chinese Yew/Buddhist Pine), a Carmona microphyllia (Scorpion Bush), a Serissa seroides (Snowrose) and twin Acer palmatum. Sadly, they all died also. So now I only have my Ficus ginseng.

I have not given up hope entirely and may try some more seedlings this winter.

Strangely we had a Bonsai Center here, about 20 minutes from me, which sold exquisite specimens some over 300 years old costing thousands and thousands of Euros. It was also a 'hospital' which would take care of your ailing trees and look after them for you while you went away. Alas, it went out of business or moved elsewhere.

Sorry to ramble, but just explaining I think they do better in colder, moister climates.

 

I knew a chap who lived near me in Surrey and he grew bonsai, he kept them outside all the time just sheltered a bit from extreme weather conditions but not from the cold.

I have never grown bonsai, whenever I see them I feel like I want to 'pot them on' !!!

Val

 

Hello, hope you don't mind me joining in on this bonsai help...my Mum bought me a bonsai for a house warming present (a bonsai ficus microcarpa ginseng to be precise). It sat at the window in the living room for about 6 weeks. I did read that when it moves to a new home it might lose leaves for the first 2-3 weeks. But still it shed. So after reading blogs I thought I was perhaps watering it too much and that maybe it could do with some light and less heat. So I put it in my bedroom at the window. It is still shedding leaves and starting to look really quite sad. Perhaps the leaf shedding just naturally happens at this time of year. Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks,
Suzy

 

Hello Suzy,
Welcome to Gardeners Corner!!
I did a quick search on your bonsai and "high humidity" keeps coming up, so maybe that is the problem, enough warmth but not enough humidity? I have always found that I could never meet plants humidity requirements indoors.

 

Thanks Val, I will stay spraying it more. I now think it is maybe not warm enough the room is pretty chilly?!

 

Welcome to GC Suzy. Ficus are one of the most temperamental plants you could have. They need warmth and as much light/sun as possible but not from a windowsill as they will chill off overnight. They also don't like drafts. Yours is the third one I've heard of in a couple of days dropping it's leaves and I believe it's down to the gloomy weather we've had over the past weeks.

Spraying it is probably not a good idea. They like to be dry and watered very little. Up until last year I'd had Ficus (not bonsai) for thirty years. I watered mine every two to three months thoroughly then left them to dry out and none of them were ever fed. Basically they are a plant that likes to be starved and doesn't like to be moved around, so if you find a good position for it, leave it there. Don't over pot them either they like to have cramped roots.

This is the last one I had and was nearly six feet tall, standing beside a window and next to a radiator. The only reason I don't have one now is because I wanted a change.

 

Hello Sheal, thanks so so much for your help, I really appreciate it. I think there is only one room in the house it can go as other areas are light but drafty. Fingers crossed it does a bit better when I move it. Bonasi's are so lovely but yes I agree I think they must be pretty temperamental. Although well done on getting yours to 6feet!

Suzy