Bonsai is dying.

Share your success stories about defoliation, bare rooting and anything else relating to maintaining healthy bonsai.
Ilithya
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Bonsai is dying.

Post by Ilithya »

Hello everyone. please i need your advice i live in unit and most of my bonsai are not getting sunlight this winter. what is the best thing to do?
Thank you so much and god bless us all.

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Re: Bonsai is dying.

Post by shibui »

You have not given us much to go on mate. it should be possible to grow some sort of bonsai nearly anywhere but you should try to give us more information about your circumstance - ground floor or higher? South, east or other aspect? Shade from nearby trees? Why are your trees not able to get sunlight in winter?

In general:
You should keep them outside. If your trees cannot be outside you should consider growing figs or jade plant which can tolerate being inside.
You should find a place where they get some sun during the day. If you cannot find a place with direct sun, some species may manage with good light levels, even if they don't get direct sun.
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Re: Bonsai is dying.

Post by kcpoole »

What varieties?
No light, or no sunlight?

I have trees in plenty of light but no direct sunlight over winter.
These are not Pines or Junipers but deciduous and tropicals and they seem to do OK.

Ken
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Re: Bonsai is dying.

Post by Ilithya »

my plant is covered by my other plants too. i am living in a unit and there are big trees in front of our balcony so the sunlight is not passing. my tree is japanese black pine , azalea, japanese maple tree. chinese elm.

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Re: Bonsai is dying.

Post by Raging Bull »

Have you considered installing a "grow light"? It's one of those purple UV lights that are probabably availabble from hydroponics specialists.
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Re: Bonsai is dying.

Post by Ilithya »

Raging Bull wrote:Have you considered installing a "grow light"? It's one of those purple UV lights that are probabably availabble from hydroponics specialists.
No. im new in bonsai and have no idea about grow light. but ill check on youtube. thanks for advice.

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Re: Bonsai is dying.

Post by shibui »

Azalea should grow fine in shade. Japanese maple and Chinese elm should both manage in shade but will always grow longer and less dense that when grown with good sun light. Pine might be the one to struggle a bit with no direct sun. You will just need to be more careful with how often to water all these trees.
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Re: Bonsai is dying.

Post by Ilithya »

shibui wrote:Azalea should grow fine in shade. Japanese maple and Chinese elm should both manage in shade but will always grow longer and less dense that when grown with good sun light. Pine might be the one to struggle a bit with no direct sun. You will just need to be more careful with how often to water all these trees.
Shibui. Thank you and sorry for the late reply. all my bonsai right now is doing great.

Thanks
Ilithya

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Re: Bonsai is dying.

Post by Bonsai_creations »

what did u do different?? did u move them? buy a light? Please leave some info for others in the same situation , :wave:
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Re: Bonsai is dying.

Post by BB Brian »

kcpoole wrote:What varieties?
No light, or no sunlight?

I have trees in plenty of light but no direct sunlight over winter.
These are not Pines or Junipers but deciduous and tropicals and they seem to do OK.

Ken
Hi guys,
During winter it seems like my bottom bench does not get direct sunlight due to the pergola shade, would it be best to have conifers (junipers and pines) in direct sunlight over deciduous (chinese elm, crepe myrtle and maples), tropical (pj fig and willow leaf ficus) and other ever greens (azalea saotome and serissa foetida)?
my top bench still gets full sun and thinking if i should shuffle a few of the trees around.
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Re: Bonsai is dying.

Post by CraigM »

I would be moving evergreens to sunnier position. Deciduous are not actively growing, just watch watering when you move your trees around and adjust accordingly.
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Re: Bonsai is dying.

Post by BB Brian »

CraigM wrote:I would be moving evergreens to sunnier position. Deciduous are not actively growing, just watch watering when you move your trees around and adjust accordingly.
Done. Thank you Craig.


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Re: Bonsai is dying.

Post by shibui »

Anything with leaves needs light. Deciduous trees with no leaves do not need light but sun and good air circulation are known to help prevent disease. Many tropicals will do better with some sun but can cope with shade as they have evolved in shady rainforest. Azaleas can cope with some shade but do far better with some sunshine any time of year.
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Re: Bonsai is dying.

Post by BB Brian »

shibui wrote:Anything with leaves needs light. Deciduous trees with no leaves do not need light but sun and good air circulation are known to help prevent disease. Many tropicals will do better with some sun but can cope with shade as they have evolved in shady rainforest. Azaleas can cope with some shade but do far better with some sunshine any time of year.
Very useful info. Cheers Shibui. [CLINKING BEER MUGS]


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Ilithya
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Re: Bonsai is dying.

Post by Ilithya »

Bonsai_creations wrote:what did u do different?? did u move them? buy a light? Please leave some info for others in the same situation , :wave:
Sir bonsai, I'm sorry for the late reply. I'll sent my bonsai to my brother place since they don't get enough sun on my place. Hopefully they will survive.

Thank you
Ilithya

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