Fig with dead leaves
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Re: Fig with dead leaves
Just done the repot. Not so root bound after all. I must have looked quite silly out so early, in pyjamas repotting bonsai ... few kookaburras flew over and started laughing at me!
Pics to come later tonight.
Pics to come later tonight.
Last edited by legoman_iac on November 23rd, 2015, 6:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Fig with dead leaves
Pics from the re-pot, not as root bound as I was expecting, though did have one super long root, which I only trimmed back slightly, then wrapped it back in the pot.
The before pic:
Mid-way through - not as many roots as I thought there would be:
Re-potted, pot facing the wrong way - whoops, ah well, until next year:
The before pic:
Mid-way through - not as many roots as I thought there would be:
Re-potted, pot facing the wrong way - whoops, ah well, until next year:
- Jarad
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Re: Fig with dead leaves
How old is this guy?
If you want it to throw on some height and girth, chuck it in an oversize pot, add fertilizer (liquid and slow release), water and plenty of sun and it'll explode. Like my little champ:
viewtopic.php?f=79&t=20525
If you want it to throw on some height and girth, chuck it in an oversize pot, add fertilizer (liquid and slow release), water and plenty of sun and it'll explode. Like my little champ:
viewtopic.php?f=79&t=20525
-Jarad
I don't trust Bonsai, they are a little shady.
I don't trust Bonsai, they are a little shady.
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- Aussie Bonsai Fan
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Re: Fig with dead leaves
Oooo, nice tip ... will give it a go next year, want to see it happy before repotting again. Think you can rename your little champ to 'little john', haha.
- Jarad
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
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Re: Fig with dead leaves
Hahaha, I will be seriously considering that rename. He's also grown quite a bit in the last two months (even the last week to be honest). I'll get an updated photo.
I'm sure you have heard this many times before, but there's a big difference between slip potting and repotting.
I would bet little champ that you can comfortably slip your fig into a larger pot (12 inch orchid pot) and it will survive and thrive, as long as it gets plenty of sun, fert and water.
I'm sure you have heard this many times before, but there's a big difference between slip potting and repotting.
I would bet little champ that you can comfortably slip your fig into a larger pot (12 inch orchid pot) and it will survive and thrive, as long as it gets plenty of sun, fert and water.
-Jarad
I don't trust Bonsai, they are a little shady.
I don't trust Bonsai, they are a little shady.
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- Aussie Bonsai Fan
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Re: Fig with dead leaves
Ahhh ... will yes, heard it many times but the penny just dropped that slip potting is fairly passive/non-evasive. Will keep it in mind. Thanks!
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- Aussie Bonsai Fan
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Re: Fig with dead leaves
Poor little fig is struggling again ... started losing all his leaves. Think I'd under-watered/neglected for a while (stopped watering regime in winter). I just re-potted as I had been using store bought "bonsai" soil ... now using a much better / proper bonsai mix from Bonsai World, hoping this helps to kick start some stronger growth. Decided not to trim too much, but brushed away as much old soil as I could.
Unless I have the diagnosis completely wrong? Perhaps I should have posted here first.
Anyone have any re-assurance or other advice here?
- Daniel
Unless I have the diagnosis completely wrong? Perhaps I should have posted here first.
Anyone have any re-assurance or other advice here?
- Daniel
- Rory
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Re: Fig with dead leaves
Simply looking at the roots and the soil, if this were mine I would do the following:
-The main problem is your mix and the watering schedule.
-Put it in a 4 or 5 inch growing pot.
-The previous soil mix you used was too fine and was not draining properly. From gut instinct it looks like the roots have been continually over watered. (if the soil is not draining properly, then after watering it results in over-watering and rotting the roots). Fig roots do not like being kept in continual dampness. You need to allow the soil medium to dry BEFORE you next water it. Do not water it on a routine schedule ; water it when the soil is almost dry.
-Looking at the picture, I assume the new soil you have acquired from Bonsai World is the 'course' soil mix from Bonsai World which drains very, very well. Be careful with their 'course' mix because if you are going to grow a different genus, you may need a mix in their 'fine' soil medium too so it doesn't dry out on hot, windy days. Over Spring/Summer...keep an eye on it after a hot day (especially a windy day) and if the soil is almost dry then rewater it. But for a fig their course mix should be fine.
-I would seriously recommend removing all the old soil (you can happily bare-root figs when you repot without any problems). You can just use a hose and put it on a fine but strongish 'spray' setting. Then allow the hose to slowly dislodge all the old soil away.
-Do not use store bagged 'bonsai mix' ever. If you don't want to make your own, then only use soil from a bonsai nursery.
-Your fig wants full sun.
-The main problem is your mix and the watering schedule.
-Put it in a 4 or 5 inch growing pot.
-The previous soil mix you used was too fine and was not draining properly. From gut instinct it looks like the roots have been continually over watered. (if the soil is not draining properly, then after watering it results in over-watering and rotting the roots). Fig roots do not like being kept in continual dampness. You need to allow the soil medium to dry BEFORE you next water it. Do not water it on a routine schedule ; water it when the soil is almost dry.
-Looking at the picture, I assume the new soil you have acquired from Bonsai World is the 'course' soil mix from Bonsai World which drains very, very well. Be careful with their 'course' mix because if you are going to grow a different genus, you may need a mix in their 'fine' soil medium too so it doesn't dry out on hot, windy days. Over Spring/Summer...keep an eye on it after a hot day (especially a windy day) and if the soil is almost dry then rewater it. But for a fig their course mix should be fine.
-I would seriously recommend removing all the old soil (you can happily bare-root figs when you repot without any problems). You can just use a hose and put it on a fine but strongish 'spray' setting. Then allow the hose to slowly dislodge all the old soil away.
-Do not use store bagged 'bonsai mix' ever. If you don't want to make your own, then only use soil from a bonsai nursery.
-Your fig wants full sun.
Last edited by Rory on September 5th, 2016, 10:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
Rory
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus
Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480
Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724
Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995
How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus
Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480
Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724
Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995
How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
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- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 564
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Re: Fig with dead leaves
Hi Rory,
Thanks for the info/input.
My watering schedule tends to suffer over winter. This is not the first year I've gotten slack, but hopefully the last. Will try to keep a regular routine of going out to check up on them of a morning.
Regarding the soil, do you think I should repot? Or just be sure to rinse the soil off next year?
- Daniel
Thanks for the info/input.
My watering schedule tends to suffer over winter. This is not the first year I've gotten slack, but hopefully the last. Will try to keep a regular routine of going out to check up on them of a morning.
Regarding the soil, do you think I should repot? Or just be sure to rinse the soil off next year?
- Daniel
- Rory
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
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Re: Fig with dead leaves
Hard to say. If any of the roots were very squishy and black they are rotten and need to come off yes.
It is a fig so it is hardier than most genus, but it is not preferred to take it out again and stress the tree even further by removing the old soil yet again after you've already repotted the tree.
Looking at the roots on it, if it were mine I would take it out and remove ALL that old gunky soil and any roots that are rotten. This will give it a better start.
But if you are worried about further disturbance.... wait until it puts on more growth and do it in about December/January.
Good luck.
It is a fig so it is hardier than most genus, but it is not preferred to take it out again and stress the tree even further by removing the old soil yet again after you've already repotted the tree.
Looking at the roots on it, if it were mine I would take it out and remove ALL that old gunky soil and any roots that are rotten. This will give it a better start.
But if you are worried about further disturbance.... wait until it puts on more growth and do it in about December/January.
Good luck.
Last edited by Rory on September 6th, 2016, 12:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Rory
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus
Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480
Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724
Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995
How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus
Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480
Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724
Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995
How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
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- Aussie Bonsai Fan
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Re: Fig with dead leaves
Ahhh ...what to do, what to do?!
I'm split between leaving it for now and repotting with the rinse technique. Think I'll leave it for now unless there's more opinions for repot now? Definitely will at least repot in December.
Thanks again!
I'm split between leaving it for now and repotting with the rinse technique. Think I'll leave it for now unless there's more opinions for repot now? Definitely will at least repot in December.
Thanks again!
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- Aussie Bonsai Fan
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- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 564
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Re: Fig with dead leaves
So ... it turns out I have the memory of a gold fish, haha. Had started a new thread to discuss back budding this little one, if it looked strong enough, etc when I was reminded about the advice here.
The linked thread below generally recommeds slip putting or repotting, rinsing and removing the rotted roots:
viewtopic.php?f=133&t=23612
So thinking I'll slip pot as I'm not familiar enough with what good roots look like, that sound ok?
The linked thread below generally recommeds slip putting or repotting, rinsing and removing the rotted roots:
viewtopic.php?f=133&t=23612
So thinking I'll slip pot as I'm not familiar enough with what good roots look like, that sound ok?
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- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 564
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Re: Fig with dead leaves
Slip potted the fig into a larger pot over the weekend, lot's of room to grow now and get big and strong.
- Daniel
- Daniel