Leaves turning to yellow then dry

[alvintyh]

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Hi, im newbie on bonsai. Just bought a pot of bonsai 3 months ago. Recently, i found the leaves turning yellow (As attached) and then dry out.

Kindly help to advise what is the main problem and how to heal it?

Thanks in advanced.

Alvin Tan

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[KIRKY]

Hi Alvin,
A bit more information would help. Firstly do you know what type of plant it is? Can you also advise where you keep it?
Inside/outside/shade/full sun/morning sun etc.... How often do you water it? And how do you water? Do you mist or give it a good soaking when you water. Have you feed it yet and if so with what.
Lets start with above and see if we can find whats happening.
Cheers
Kirky

[alvintyh]

Hi Kirky,
Thanks for your replied.

I keep the plant outdoor. Sunlights from 10am - 4pm. Water twice a day morning and evening. Watering from top of plant until the soils wet.

Im not sure the name of plant.

Thanks.

Alvin Tan

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[tgward]

possibly scale?

[KIRKY]

Hi Alvin,
I have one more question what is your location??
I will take a guess and say you have a Murraya. If you look it up on google you should be able to confirm if it is or not.?
I would say looking at it, it may be too much water. Cut back a bit on watering and liquid feed the next time you do water.
I don't know where you are located but watering a plant twice a day is too much for Murraya. These plants are drought hardy. Although they do like a drink twice a day does not allow the soil to dry out enough. I have mine in full sun, I water every other day. This goes for all my bonsai unless we have temps over 28-30. Then once a day, unless over 35-40 then twice a day. I'm in Melbourne.
Murraya are hungry they like liquid feed on a regular basis. I also feed with pallet Seamungus. They do also once/twice a year have leaves yellow off and drop. Not all leaves I would say a third and then green up again.
They dont really have major pest problems. Someone here has suggested scale so you could check for brown spots under leaf and on trunk/branches etc... If it is scale Confidor or Scale Gun? By Yates should fix it. I'm sure someone else here may have other suggestions too.
Cheers
Kirky

[Grant Bowie]

Ilex crenata is my guess.

Grant

[alvintyh]

Thanks for yours advise. I think probably is scale. Should i cut those scale trunks? Or just apply Confidor?

Hi Grant, i think the name you mentioned is correct.

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[shibui]

Treat the scale. The branches will recover if you let them.
I think confidor is listed for soft scale but no mention of hard scale insect on the label - I'm not sure why though, it is a pretty thorough systemic.
Horticultural oils are recommended for scale - white oil, pest oil, scale oil are a few labels you could try. Remember that oils can burn foliage in hot weather so read the label carefully before use.

[Grant Bowie]

For safety's sake I would never use White Oil just in case you do it at the wrong time of year, day, type of plant etc.

Pest oil is the product I use when necessary and stopped using White Oil about 20 years ago after gaining first hand experience.

Grant

[Pearcy001]

Even if you think it's scale you probably need to cut back on that watering anyway. As Kirky is trying to advise, they are drought hardy and no harm will come from letting the roots get some air. Twice a day seems excessive to me, but that's all depending on the medium, how deep the pot is, position etc etc.

If I were you I'd just stick with once a day, either first thing in the morning or once in the evening - but probably not both. There are many variables that can change the best watering advice for you, the more information given the better. Also with watering twice a day you are going to wash all the nutrients out of the soil quicker than any can be used. You will need to liquid feed often to stop them being flushed out.

A tip for when you require guidance in the future is to put your location in your profile, so people from your area can give you the best possible guidance as they know your climate.

Good luck with its recovery I hope it pulls through fine.

Cheers,
Pearcy.

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[KIRKY]

I have used both pest oil and confidor with good results on all types of scale. Just make sure to spray under the leaves as well.
And reapply every couple of weeks, as you will be watering it off. I water infected plants with a watering can just on soil to give the confidor/pest oil a chance to do its stuff. Then resume back to watering with a hose.
Cheers
Kirky

[alvintyh]

You guys are expert. Thanks for so much info to cure my little bonsai. I will update again once it recovered.

Thanks everyone.

Alvin Tan

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