AusBonsai

My beloved bonsai is not doing to well, it might be due to neglect which seems to have attracted possibly Mealy bugs? Anyways, as a beginner I have trouble figuring out issues, more so now that I have a few bonsais (I caught an addiction to constantly buying a few.....to many possibly). My first one has had issues but is doing quite well, the others not so much, particular is my largest one. I've been rather busy, & haven't had time to check on my bonsais like I use to, I even forgot to water them for awhile. I've gotten back to watering them for a few weeks now, only doing it once a week, as well as checking their soil, to be sure they need it. One of my bonsais that shriveled up a while ago, is now picking up again, I've noticed small new green leaves (this is not my first bonsai, it is in rather good health from what I can tell). Anyways getting back to the one that isn't doing well, I've noticed it has become mushy & the bark has shriveled up where there is white cottony stuffy. As stated only have watered once a week & to add to that I have used rain water & only rain water. When I do water it is either only gentle misting, or using a Showering based water can, or straight from the rain water tank's tap. Another thing is climate, I keep my bonsais inside allot, (I don't have very good lightening, nor does the sun bring enough light through the windows); but where I live in SA, there is constant weather change, from sunny to windy to constant raining, but mostly it is cold & I know bonsais down't like cold weather.
Below is the issues that I have noticed on my largest one: Also it hasn't produced any leaves, the tips of the stems have gone a blackish-brown & are mushy :/.

Your bonsai needs to be outside and watered more than once a week. You also need to make sure water runs out of the drain holes when you water it. Take it outside and water it every day as well as soaking in seasol

are you serious?

Bougy Fan wrote:Your bonsai needs to be outside and watered more than once a week. You also need to make sure water runs out of the drain holes when you water it. Take it outside and water it every day as well as soaking in seasol

OK, thank you, will look into buying Seasol. Also I'll be watering more often, even though I have read countless times, that watering it once a week is better if they are indoor more often then not, but either ways I'll water it more if it helps

Guy wrote:are you serious?

Hello & yes I am serious, after all I have hardly any experience & would like some help on the matter. I've looked into google, searching up what I've noticed on my bonsai. I'm left with more questions then answers; since a few sites mention that mushy is associated with root rot, & then root rot apparently is from over-watering, however I have stated in my post that I've been lacking on giving my plants water. So besides needing more water (and yes I'm little worried about over-watering now), I wonder what else could be causing issues, or whether my bonsai is going to need other additional attention. Possibly receive some advice on any issues my tree is showing, that someone with more experience can pick up on.

Thank you

It could be that it needs a root prune and a repot with fresh mix. How long since it has been repotted ? It is a bit hard to tell from the photos.

Sorry I'm pretty sure it's dead-mushy trunk = rotting.
Any outdoors is better than no outdoors.
Re watering....you are doing the right thing by checking on the soil dryness but this can also be deceiving-wet on top doesn't mean wet in bottom-and dry on top doesn't mean dry on bottom.
The best thing to do is have a nice free draining mix and a regular watering schedule-that will also depend on pot size etc
Don't worry-we all loose plants to over water and under watering

Bougy Fan wrote:It could be that it needs a root prune and a repot with fresh mix. How long since it has been repotted ? It is a bit hard to tell from the photos.

Hello Bougy Fan
To be honest I was worried it might be due for a repot soon, but read Spring is a better season for it, so I've been a little worried about attempting it in a different season, in fear of killing it, but I'm guessing I'm running short on options ; however I have a Bonsai tool kit (I could only afford a cheap one), so if I need to root prune I can, plus I have a bonsai mix & a larger pot. Sadly I don't know when it was last re potted, & I have had this bonsai for about 6 months roughly so it is hard to say. I don't know if this means much as to whether it is a sign of needing to be re-potted, but width wise the trunk is about roughly 2 cm away from the pot on both sides, length wise one side is 2cm, & the other side is about 1/2 cm.

Thank you

Isitangus wrote:Sorry I'm pretty sure it's dead-mushy trunk = rotting.
Any outdoors is better than no outdoors.
Re watering....you are doing the right thing by checking on the soil dryness but this can also be deceiving-wet on top doesn't mean wet in bottom-and dry on top doesn't mean dry on bottom.
The best thing to do is have a nice free draining mix and a regular watering schedule-that will also depend on pot size etc
Don't worry-we all loose plants to over water and under watering

Hi Isitangus
Yeah I thought so as well, which is shame , so I'll have to look at re-potting then.
True, I usually take them out when the sun is out, & usually place them where there is part shade.
Just before I re-water them I like to stick my finger through in a spot in the soil that is not to close to the tree itself, but close enough to see for any wet spots; since I know a better indicator is more in between, rather then top or bottom, however I also know it doesn't always verify fully as to whether watering is due or not.
My problem also is that I have different size bonsais, & I forget to put in to concept that different size bonsai & their pots would indicate a little more as what is needed in watering for each plant.
I know, I just get so sad when I lose one, literally I get all teary & everything, lol. However I've lost a bonsai recently. as well as a moon cactus & some vegetable plants. I love plants, but not very good at keeping them alive, the joys of learning.

Thank you

Ficus need full sun, not shade. Bonsai is like any other hobby-you don't get good straight away.

Nafretiri_Mutnodjmet wrote:

Guy wrote:are you serious?

Hello & yes I am serious, after all I have hardly any experience & would like some help on the matter. I've looked into google, searching up what I've noticed on my bonsai. I'm left with more questions then answers; since a few sites mention that mushy is associated with root rot, & then root rot apparently is from over-watering, however I have stated in my post that I've been lacking on giving my plants water. So besides needing more water (and yes I'm little worried about over-watering now), I wonder what else could be causing issues, or whether my bonsai is going to need other additional attention. Possibly receive some advice on any issues my tree is showing, that someone with more experience can pick up on.

Thank you

apologies---I don't think your fig will recover in the short term if at all---you may have to move on to another plant--if you can, join a bonsai club --

I may have to concur - for some reason I didn't see the photos showing no foliage. In that case scratch the trunk with your fingernail - if there is no green just underneath the bark it is dead. If so it was the watering and keeping inside that killed it. Get another one, keep it outside and water it once a day.

If anything over watered and lack of light and fresh air probably killed this tree.
Looks to me like it rotted to death.


No probs chalk it up as experience and get another tree

Isitangus wrote:Ficus need full sun, not shade. Bonsai is like any other hobby-you don't get good straight away.

HI Isitangus
Funny thing, when I first got a bonsai, they have the tag & it always says part shade, so I thought part shade; but I'm slowly starting to understand they are guides that are probably more suited to their climate (the original bonsai nursery), at least that is how I feel might be the case. I purchase mine from Mitre 10, since that is the only store down in this country town that sells Bonsai, & they get their Bonsais from some nursery that is sometimes in another state.
As for the hobby bit, I know that none get good straight away, but I do my darnest to keep something going strong; then get all upset when something doesn't . Well practice makes perfect, or at least you get better at what you do .
Thanks for the help though.

Boics wrote:If anything over watered and lack of light and fresh air probably killed this tree.
Looks to me like it rotted to death.


No probs chalk it up as experience and get another tree

My granddad came up from QLD, & I showed him my Bonsai that was sick (as I wanted to get much opinions as possible), he told me the white stuff wasn't mealy bugs, but rather fungal growing on the tree from pretty much what you have stated. I just didn't think I over-watered, especially since I gave all my Bonsais once of week of water, but then again being I couldn't take it outside since I had so much cold weather & wind; I guess the water may have sat & wasn't soaking up since the tree hardly got sunlight.
I have three others, they are doing well, one got sick & is now better, one seems ok & the other is healthy. You are right though it is all in experience, so I'll defiantly chalk it up for the sake of my other trees