Deadwood? Help please!

[Emoska]

Hi all,

I've been having some interesting issues with my bonsai (Port Jacksons) for the past few years. Whenever I defoliate them, I notice that some of the smaller offshoots sometimes don't quite make it, and shrivel up and die (not sure how normal this is?). More frustratingly, some of them shrivel and progress back to the rest of the branch. That is, when I cut the segment, there is no green color - only a wood color. I think this might be heart rot... or similar?

I'm no expert, but as my guess is that this process is heart rot- I often cut the branch up until the segment where it is living again - and have no issues so far. Until today.

I noticed that one of the smaller offshoots from a branch had died back into a larger branch, which I'd failed to notice. On cutting a little into the main branch, I can see that while still green, there is some brown in there. I've posted a photo below.

Is this heart rot? Is there anything I can do to stop it?

Thanks everyone. Am a little freaked out at the moment...

[toohey]

I try and seal larger cuts with bonsai sealer (Japanese brand). While figs do have their own latex sealant I find this helps prevent dieback. For defoliation I cut the leaves but leave on the stalks. The stalks will fall off, but this again prevents less damage to the tree. It is also important not to defoliate too early as this can also lead to damage.

[Bougy Fan]

G'Day Emo when was it last repotted and is the mix free draining ? I nearly lost 2 of my mum's figs - they were having similar problems. Turned out the mix was crap and was holding water. Once I repotted into a diatomite mix they powered on but I lost a lot of the trunks due to rot.

[Emoska]

Thanks for the input guys. I do defoliate by cutting 3/4 down the leaf, rather than at the leaf. And have made the mix free-draining, but not with great quality stone. I'll get onto that.

As for the rot extending into the branch, can anyone offer advice on what to do about it? Does the branch need to be cut off - or is there a way to save it?

[Bougy Fan]

No you can't save it - you are best to keep cutting back until you get to live bark. Check the mix or drain holes hasn't become "clogged" - especially if you are using a lot of DL. I have collected figs out of roof gutters so I didn't think a wet mix would be that much of a problem - but it was. Those figs will take years to rebuild and had really nice trunks.

[Emoska]

Thanks for help Tony. That's what I feared, but reinforces what I thought I'd have to do... just bummed to lose a branch out of this incident.

Will start looking for lava rock to mix with some fresh soil and look at re-potting this as soon as possible.

Thanks again.