Fig with dead leaves

Share your success stories about defoliation, bare rooting and anything else relating to maintaining healthy bonsai.
legoman_iac
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 550
Joined: January 18th, 2011, 9:21 am
Favorite Species: Banksia, Fig, Jacaranda, Maple, Oak
Bonsai Age: 12
Location: Sydney
Has thanked: 344 times
Been thanked: 149 times

Re: Fig with dead leaves

Post by legoman_iac »

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.
Last edited by legoman_iac on November 23rd, 2015, 6:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
legoman_iac
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 550
Joined: January 18th, 2011, 9:21 am
Favorite Species: Banksia, Fig, Jacaranda, Maple, Oak
Bonsai Age: 12
Location: Sydney
Has thanked: 344 times
Been thanked: 149 times

Re: Fig with dead leaves

Post by legoman_iac »

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:
Image

Mid-way through - not as many roots as I thought there would be:
Image

Re-potted, pot facing the wrong way - whoops, ah well, until next year:
Image
User avatar
Jarad
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1232
Joined: November 27th, 2014, 1:04 pm
Favorite Species: Juniperus, Melaleuca, Taxodium
Bonsai Age: 9
Location: Perth, WA
Has thanked: 22 times
Been thanked: 13 times

Re: Fig with dead leaves

Post by Jarad »

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
-Jarad

I don't trust Bonsai, they are a little shady.
legoman_iac
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 550
Joined: January 18th, 2011, 9:21 am
Favorite Species: Banksia, Fig, Jacaranda, Maple, Oak
Bonsai Age: 12
Location: Sydney
Has thanked: 344 times
Been thanked: 149 times

Re: Fig with dead leaves

Post by legoman_iac »

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.
User avatar
Jarad
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1232
Joined: November 27th, 2014, 1:04 pm
Favorite Species: Juniperus, Melaleuca, Taxodium
Bonsai Age: 9
Location: Perth, WA
Has thanked: 22 times
Been thanked: 13 times

Re: Fig with dead leaves

Post by Jarad »

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.
-Jarad

I don't trust Bonsai, they are a little shady.
legoman_iac
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 550
Joined: January 18th, 2011, 9:21 am
Favorite Species: Banksia, Fig, Jacaranda, Maple, Oak
Bonsai Age: 12
Location: Sydney
Has thanked: 344 times
Been thanked: 149 times

Re: Fig with dead leaves

Post by legoman_iac »

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!
legoman_iac
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 550
Joined: January 18th, 2011, 9:21 am
Favorite Species: Banksia, Fig, Jacaranda, Maple, Oak
Bonsai Age: 12
Location: Sydney
Has thanked: 344 times
Been thanked: 149 times

Re: Fig with dead leaves

Post by legoman_iac »

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.

Image

Image

Unless I have the diagnosis completely wrong? Perhaps I should have posted here first.

Anyone have any re-assurance or other advice here?

- Daniel
User avatar
Rory
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2807
Joined: January 23rd, 2013, 11:19 pm
Favorite Species: Baeckea Phebalium Casuarina & Banksia
Bonsai Age: 24
Location: Central Coast, NSW
Has thanked: 22 times
Been thanked: 456 times

Re: Fig with dead leaves

Post by Rory »

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.

:tu2: :beer:
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
legoman_iac
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 550
Joined: January 18th, 2011, 9:21 am
Favorite Species: Banksia, Fig, Jacaranda, Maple, Oak
Bonsai Age: 12
Location: Sydney
Has thanked: 344 times
Been thanked: 149 times

Re: Fig with dead leaves

Post by legoman_iac »

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
User avatar
Rory
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2807
Joined: January 23rd, 2013, 11:19 pm
Favorite Species: Baeckea Phebalium Casuarina & Banksia
Bonsai Age: 24
Location: Central Coast, NSW
Has thanked: 22 times
Been thanked: 456 times

Re: Fig with dead leaves

Post by Rory »

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.
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
legoman_iac
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 550
Joined: January 18th, 2011, 9:21 am
Favorite Species: Banksia, Fig, Jacaranda, Maple, Oak
Bonsai Age: 12
Location: Sydney
Has thanked: 344 times
Been thanked: 149 times

Re: Fig with dead leaves

Post by legoman_iac »

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!
Andrew Legg
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1404
Joined: June 24th, 2010, 6:23 pm
Favorite Species: The ones that don't die
Bonsai Age: 15
Bonsai Club: Oyama Bonsai Kai, Ausbonsai
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Been thanked: 2 times

Re: Fig with dead leaves

Post by Andrew Legg »

Leave it. Repot when it is actively growing in Dec/Jan.
legoman_iac
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 550
Joined: January 18th, 2011, 9:21 am
Favorite Species: Banksia, Fig, Jacaranda, Maple, Oak
Bonsai Age: 12
Location: Sydney
Has thanked: 344 times
Been thanked: 149 times

Re: Fig with dead leaves

Post by legoman_iac »

Ok ... will leave it for now, thanks!
legoman_iac
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 550
Joined: January 18th, 2011, 9:21 am
Favorite Species: Banksia, Fig, Jacaranda, Maple, Oak
Bonsai Age: 12
Location: Sydney
Has thanked: 344 times
Been thanked: 149 times

Re: Fig with dead leaves

Post by legoman_iac »

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?
legoman_iac
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 550
Joined: January 18th, 2011, 9:21 am
Favorite Species: Banksia, Fig, Jacaranda, Maple, Oak
Bonsai Age: 12
Location: Sydney
Has thanked: 344 times
Been thanked: 149 times

Re: Fig with dead leaves

Post by legoman_iac »

Slip potted the fig into a larger pot over the weekend, lot's of room to grow now and get big and strong.

Image

- Daniel
Post Reply

Return to “Tips, Techniques, Maintenance and Advice”