Maple in dire condition ...

[legoman_iac]

Hey all,

My work place has had a few bonsai which I had been helping with earlier in the year however have been away from them for a few months. Noticed on Friday the Maple was looking very, very sad. So I've now been asked to try rehab at home, to get it away from the aircon it keeps getting dragged into, and to offer it some more attention and TLC than I can do at work.

Keen for any advice on how best to treat it. Was thinking it is well over due for a re-pot but not sure it will survive just yet. Or perhaps "slip pot"?

I've just brought it home and soaked it for a good 10 minutes, plus a generous misting. While soaking I spotted an odd looking bug which soon went the way of the dodo but not knowing what it is, wonder if it means the tree is infested, which is part of its condition (and I should keep it well away from my own trees?). Pics below ...

Maple as it was last Friday:



Maple today:



Today - close up of leaves (what's left):



Today - close up of soil / dried roots:



Unknown bug (some kind of cockroach?):



Any advice muchly appreciated, and sorry for such sad and sorry images.

Regards,
Daniel

[shibui]

Looks typical of a tree trying to grow new leaves and has been dry. While producing new leaves they seem to need extra moisture.
Your treatment was correct - soak rootball to rehydrate the tree.
Prognosis depends on wheter you got to it in time.
Don't give up hope yet. I have seen tridents drop all the leaves and look dead but then sprout a second set of leaves and not look back. Keep it just damp for a few weeks. If it recovers you will be the office expert. If it does not recover you will have another pot.

[legoman_iac]

Haha, thanks shibui, positive results either way ... will hope it pulls through though. So wait to see it happier before thinking about repotting it?

[legoman_iac]

Ewww, looks like the bug is a baby/nymph german cockroach. At least it's not some kind of termite right? Any recommendations about it, should I spray with Confidor, or similar?

[Boics]

If you scratch the trunk is it still green?

[kcpoole]

Looks like dry roots and very root bound

Do nothing but soak in Seasol for at leas 15 mins every 3 days or so to make sure the entrire root mass gets fully wet.
defoliate and once you see new growth I would repot. Take off the outside of the root ball and pot into fresh soil.

Ken

[bodhidharma]

You talked about aircon? which would mean the tree's home is an office and inside/foyer etc? First rule of Bonsai is to not keep a tree inside. I would carefully defoliate the tree and cut it back lightly and even consider slip potting into a larger container.

[legoman_iac]

Yes, I've bee doing my best to educate on the outdoor-ness however there's only so much i could do, which is why i think they asked me to take it home.

Ok, Seasol and defoliate ... got it. See how it goes. Guess it depends how dry etc, but any rough time line re: new growth?

[legoman_iac]

Just had a week of rain in Sydney, so the soil is looking mitch better. Defoliated last week, though just went through cutting off a lot of old dead stumps. It's currently soaking in Seasol.

Will post pics when/if new growth appears.

Thanks again all for your advice!

[legoman_iac]

Quick update: no sign of any new growth yet. Did another round of trimming back some of the branches in case the signal didn't register that leaves had been removed. Trunk is still green when scratched.

[Beano]

Just tell them it died and keep it

[legoman_iac]

Hehe, was thinking that ... see how it goes.

[legoman_iac]

Bahaha ... I just realised I misspelt the heading of this thread, my apologise ... should be "dire" not "desire".

Does anyone have a rough timeline on when to expect new growth?

I noticed this tree sprouted new growth over Christmas last year, guessing wait until then?

- Daniel

[shibui]

I would expect new shoots on a trident in 2-3 weeks but it did look pretty bad so maybe give it a few more just in case.

[legoman_iac]

Thanks shibui, will keep watering and seasoling few more weeks then. Then post some pics online.