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Hello and Please Help :-)
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Author:  Dave C 84 [ 12 Dec 2017, 15:23 ]
Post subject:  Hello and Please Help :-)
Hi Ladies & Gents

I'm new to Bonsai and wanted to join the forum to learn how to properly care for them.

Most of the time I am found Mountain Biking, Gold Panning up in the Highlands or Metal Detecting near my home in the South West.

I got into Bonsai by chance after wondering around my local garden centre last Spring where I saw a couple of Bonsai in the corner with SALE stickers on them and ended up leaving with a lovely looking informal upright Ficus Retusa. I did a little reading around caring for it, bought some feed pellets and all summer it stayed in really good shape on my South Westerly facing window sill.

I watered it regularly, not letting the soil dry out and have been pretty careful not to over water it.

Around mid November I noticed the leaves starting to dry out and curling up, although they weren't going brown or even dropping off. Its now December and they are all dry and there doesn't seem to be any new growth coming through.

The only noticeable change is that now winter is here it receives less sunlight through the day and it is not taking on as much water. I have also kept it away from the radiator.

I am keen to get into the hobby, learn the basics and in time move into the more creative side of wiring and carving but its not a great start in the hobby if I have already killed my first tree within a year.. :-s

If anyone has any suggestions to help me save my wee tree, I will be very grateful.

Here's a few pics for reference

Many thanks in advance.

Dave
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Author:  Gary Jones [ 12 Dec 2017, 16:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: Hello and Please Help :-)
Hi Dave

Welcome to weetrees and to Bonsai as a hobby. At first glance it looks very dry to me. I'd be tempted to soak it in water to see if that restored it although it might be too late.
Author:  Paul B [Swindon] [ 12 Dec 2017, 16:31 ]
Post subject:  Re: Hello and Please Help :-)
It looks like it has got a bit cold next to a window, it will warm up during the day and then get cold over night. Made worse if curtains are closed round it.

They don't need huge amounts of heat but maybe find it a better place with a more regular temperature. It will still need some light which is awkward in the winter months. During the Spring, Summer and Autumn they can go outside to get the best light.

Most of us only grow trees that are natural to the UK and they then stay outdoors all year. Some like a little shelter from the cold winds and rain. This makes them a lot easier to keep
Author:  Dave C 84 [ 12 Dec 2017, 18:14 ]
Post subject:  Re: Hello and Please Help :-)
Thanks Gary & Paul

Much appreciated, I did think it might be difficult to keep it healthy through the winter months after learning that it wasn't native to the UK but hoped I could keep it going.

After the photo was taken I gave it a good soaking and will try to re position it somewhere with better light and give it some time.

During the summer I collected a hawthorn, weeping willow and a few cuttings from a very large contorted hazel I have in my garden which all seem to be doing really well but id like to get a few already established bonsai, particularly native trees.

Will have a look around.

Thanks again :201thumbup:
Author:  Paul B [Swindon] [ 12 Dec 2017, 19:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Hello and Please Help :-)
If you are close to Paignton there is a good club, they will help with where to source new trees.

Use this link, zoom into your area and click on the dot nearest to you for details

There is a bonsai shop at Cheriton Bishop just off the A30...... http://www.devonbonsai.co.uk/

The other alternative is to get to one of the shows, with traders and club sales
Author:  richardb [ 12 Dec 2017, 21:00 ]
Post subject:  Re: Hello and Please Help :-)
Hi Dave and welcome to the bonsai fraternity
I keep a ficus indoors all year round ( could go out in spring and summer ) and have looked after this for about 3 years. It sits on a north facing windowsill in the kitchen . The kitchen is probably the best environment in the house due to steam from cooking and open doors etc. Looking at yrs I would suggest too dry. Do not feed anymore and as Gary said sit it in a bath of water for a couple of hrs. I water mine with a 200ml syringe and give it 4 or 5 every few days. This way I can water it slowly and let the water fully absorb into the pot without running off. I then put it in a bowl of water every 2 - 3 weeks to give it a complete soaking. If it comes back from its current position I would repot it in spring in a good bonsai soil. Mine is in pure akadama, the benefit of this is the water gets into the pot very easily and you can see from the soil surface when it is drying out. Good luck.
Imagedec2017 by richard borrell, on Flickr
Author:  Dave C 84 [ 12 Dec 2017, 21:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Hello and Please Help :-)
Many Thanks Richard

I gave it a good soak last night and taking your advice moved it to my North Facing Kitchen window this evening, I really hope it recovers as it was a cracking looking tree throughout the summer, the leaves haven't dropped off despite being dry, but I don't want to disturb the tree anymore than I have too by removing them or causing further damage.

Cheers

Dave
Author:  stymie [ 12 Dec 2017, 23:24 ]
Post subject:  Re: Hello and Please Help :-)
My F. retusa lives outside for most of the year and I brought it onto an unheated landing recently. They can cope with a couple of degrees of frost but in my case, I bring it in when frost is forecast for the first time. It will be back outside as soon as temperatures remain above freezing at night.
Your's may not be retusa Dave. Could you supply a photograph close up of the bark near to soil level? I find this a good way to identify the variety of Fig.
Author:  Dave C 84 [ 13 Dec 2017, 16:55 ]
Post subject:  Re: Hello and Please Help :-)
Hi Don

So in the event of my tree recovering would you suggest that I consider keeping it outdoors except for occasions where we get colder temps ?

Having a close look it appears like its still green layer beneath the bark, hoping that means that there is still life in it yet.

Below is a pic of the tree before it took a turn for the worse and then a few of the bark near soil level, interested to find out your thoughts.

Many Thanks
Image
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Author:  Gary Jones [ 14 Dec 2017, 09:42 ]
Post subject:  Re: Hello and Please Help :-)
For frost sensitive trees bring them in as soon as it gets frosty then back out when the threat has passed. My own very rough rule of thumb is when the clocks go back I start thinking about bringing them in and when the clocks go forward I make sure I'm thinking about putting them out again.

I'm sure many people would advise you to remove the rock. It's taking up a lot of space the roots could use and possibly the cement may have chemicals in it that aren't helpful. The bark has been lost a little at the base which of course will limit sap flow in that area and may be contributing to the drying out (is it recent damage?).

A good re-pot into better soil in spring would be useful as well as previously mentioned.
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