Rabs Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 I know we have a few enthusiasts here so thought id ask.. My mum has this tree. All the leaves went a month or so ago.. Im assuming this is its winter behaviour and it will come back too life when the days get longer again? Or is it just dead? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tman Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 I know we have a few enthusiasts here so thought id ask.. My mum has this tree. All the leaves went a month or so ago.. Im assuming this is its winter behaviour and it will come back too life when the days get longer again? Or is it just dead? Grim reaper came calling. (my best estimate not having had the chance to actually examine the patient). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bill Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 Been dead long time. Throw in fire. Keep warm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted February 9, 2018 Author Share Posted February 9, 2018 Darn it.. Ok cheers... There is a reason I ask though since on the back of the feed bottle it says do NOT use feed during off season or something along those lines and shows on the back that its between about December and February... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 I'd hang back from turning it into kindling until Farns has had a say on the matter... Best send him a PM, Rabs! Pip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Farnsbarns Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 This appears to be a fig. Ficus retusa (I think, tricky without leaves) which is a tropical plant. Must be kept away from temps lower than about 10c. Looks like it's indoors so that's fine. Needs lots of light, a windowsill is good as long as it's not drafty. Must be kept away from heating such as radiators and fires. This species tends to drop it's leaves when anything changes, even moving it across the room. Also drops leaves if over or under watered. The soil is completely wrong. Needs to be in very fast draining soil. I can help with that. Now then. Is it alive? Scratch a little tiny bit of bark off towards a branch tip. If it's green that's the cambium layer and it has life. If not, probably dead. Scratch a little further down the branch towards the trunk, and again and again until you find green. No green means "sorry buddy, ya trees dead". It looks very dry in the picture. Put the entire pot in a bowl of water so it just comes to the top of the soil and leave it there until all the bubbles stop. This will ensure water gets into every bit of the root ball. Does water seem to soak in easily or does it try to run off or round the edges? Could be loss of percolation due to poor soil or being root bound. How long has she had it? Also, join my Facebook group. I have over 5k members including some ficus experts. I only do outdoor (proper) bonsai really :D . That's a joke, it's a bonsai thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Farnsbarns Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 Also. I spy a little pot of liquid feed. Do not feed it until it's healthy again. I won't bore with the science but C6H12O20 (carbs) :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Farnsbarns Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 Btw, Pippy, I know you like a Japanese maple... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Farnsbarns Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Farnsbarns Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 And while I'm showing off ;) , here's a little Chinese elm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Farnsbarns Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 Best send him a PM, Rabs! Pip. Oh how right you were. Sorry. Got carried away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 Btw, Pippy, I know you like a Japanese maple... Very Nice! You could write a story about a tiny-guitar-building mouse - a la Beatrix Potter - entitled 'The Luthier From Gloucester'... Pip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zigzag Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 I killed my first in the first three months. You can't just feed them once a week and watch them grow. They almost need daily care. Like owning a pet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 I know stuff all about tree care, but Ive spent the last few months uprooting some. Your mum's bonsai looks like a root. Are you sure its not upside down? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Farnsbarns Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 I forgot this little twin trunk trident maple. Taken last autumn. And a Shimpaku Juniper while I'm looking at tree pics.... Ahhh, and this lonicera nitida... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Farnsbarns Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 Boulevard cypress... Seems a lot of my bonsai are tonewood species. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Farnsbarns Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 Here's another Chinese elm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Farnsbarns Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 Last pic. I promise. Here's a larch group I've been working on... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 ...Seems a lot of my bonsai are tonewood species. ... I already told you; 'The Luthier from Gloscester'.......... I like the lonicera nitida. Pip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinch Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 Dunlop Ultimate Lemon Oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bill Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 Farns is trying to make Rab's mom feel bad... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted February 9, 2018 Author Share Posted February 9, 2018 I'd hang back from turning it into kindling until Farns has had a say on the matter... Best send him a PM, Rabs! Pip. Yes I know Farns would be able to help and was waiting for his response and to see if anyone else had an idea... So, yes it gets watered, actually sprayed... Shes had it for just over a year and yes the leaves fall off if you even look at it in a funny way :) As I say this happened in about December and beacause it has on the bottle "do not feed in winter" or what ever it says I thought maybe it will come back to life when the longer days start kicking in.. It show on the bottle that the winter time is between November-February. Its not near a radiator or a draft.. And if anything cos my parents are getting old its always hot in that house. I will do a scrape tomorrow.. Cheers peeps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Farnsbarns Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 Farns is trying to make Rab's mom feel bad... No I'm not. I just thought a few pics in a bonsai thread would be nice. Catoneaster... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Farnsbarns Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 Yes I know Farns would be able to help and was waiting for his response and to see if anyone else had an idea... So, yes it gets watered, actually sprayed... Shes had it for just over a year and yes the leaves fall off if you even look at it in a funny way :) As I say this happened in about December and beacause it has on the bottle "do not feed in winter" or what ever it says I thought maybe it will come back to life when the longer days start kicking in.. It show on the bottle that the winter time is between November-February. Its not near a radiator or a draft.. And if anything cos my parents are getting old its always hot in that house. I will do a scrape tomorrow.. Cheers peeps. It looks like the soil is very dry. Are you saying it only gets sprayed? You might be surprised. Submerge the pot to give it a really soak for 10/15mins or until it stops producing bubbles. Then water whenever the top looks dry. It might just bounce back. Give it loads of light. The scratch test I mentioned before is pretty definitive too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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