Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Can I rescue my bonsai?

ChilliBobChilliBob Posts: 98
in Plants
Hey guys, I was given a bonsai for my birthday in December, it's been sitting on our window ledge in the kitchen, with some sun, and been doing well. We went on holiday for a week, yep, that unseasonably warm week where it hit 20 degrees in the UK.. and I came back to a bonsai which had leaves looking like dried oregano :o

I thought the person checking on the house would have given it a drink, alas no!

So, I gave it a thorough dosing of water in the sink for a good hour, two days running, pruned *some* of the seriously crispy bits, then left some other leaves. 

Has it had it, or is there anything else I can do?
«1

Posts

  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    Keep it moist, be patient and hope for signs of life is about all you can do. Trees and plants can get dessicated and make marvelous recoveries, sometimes all the leaves grow back, sometimes the top growth dies and you get regrowth lower down.

  • ChilliBobChilliBob Posts: 98
    Cheers, still hope then! - Would you trim back the rest of the leaves which look like they've had it (which would be basically the entire tree) or leave them for a bit?

    I'm guessing feeding it chilli focus (the only plant food I have!) would be a bad idea? It's not a chilli after all! 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    What type of plant is it? There are loads of plants which can be bonsai-ed  :)

    Windowsills at this time of year can be hideously hot, even with minimal sun, and can easily fry foliage. Whatever it is, it's better to have it on a cooler windowsill until it recovers - if it recovers.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Might help to know what the plant is ?  Perhaps a pic if you can. There are a number of plants/trees sold as Bonsai :)
  • ChilliBobChilliBob Posts: 98
    This is the poorly patient.. 
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Hmm - I'd suggest that you run your fingers along each branch/twig to get rid of dead leaves.  Then check each branch to see what is alive and then re pot.  You do appear to have new growth appearing at the base on the RH side which needs to come off.
    To keep Bonsai healthy and growing, you also need to think about root pruning as well as top pruning.  It is a fine art but you could have a look round for further advice on the various specialist sites or even if you have a Bonsai Society in your area :)
  • ChilliBobChilliBob Posts: 98
    Thanks, I'll give it a hand comb and see what happens!

    Yeah I didn't really want go become a bonsai geek or specialist but this was a gift. I suppose it's way more interesting than a jumper or something like I'd usually get from my brother.

  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Let's hope it reaches a greater age than the average jumper :D
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    The problem is the shallow trays and relatively large plant for the volume, means they dry out quickly. My friends dad growing up kept bonzai outside and they needed watering nearly ever day in the growth season.

    If it's any consolation, yours doesn't look to disimilar to half the ones I see at the local garden centre.
  • ChilliBobChilliBob Posts: 98
    philippasmith2 said:
    Let's hope it reaches a greater age than the average jumper :D
    Well I'd be very happy if it did! I do have some hoodies from just over 20 years ago! 
Sign In or Register to comment.