Dwarf Wisteria

[NeoGroves]

Hi there! New to bonsai here and my Dwarf wisteria started started showing signs of yellowing on its leaves about 2-3 weeks ago and it still has not gone back to the regular green it had when I got it. Some leaves also have dark spots on the tips. I do not recall changing any watering routines and I have not been using any kind of fertilizer at all as well. I live in the PNW and temperatures lately have been ranging from mid 50s to mid 60s sometimes 70s lately. I have kept the plant outside. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Chlorosis from the outer ends going inwards is usually a sign of root problems.
Either the pH of the water is off, or for some other reason it's unable to take up iron and magnesium.

If you give it a good allround nutrient mixture, that contains these elements, it should stop from expanding. If that's not the case, you should investigate the root system for any issues. It might be rotting away, it might not get enough water or the whole plant might have been moved from the shade to full sun. It's hard to tell sometimes.

If there's a lot of chlorine in your water, this could also be a cause for the yellowing.

Time to investigate and report back to us when you know more.

 

[NeoGroves]

It’s been in full sun everyday ever since I got it. Should it not be in full sun?

Regarding the water, I have not changed the source so that might not be the problem? I hope not. Unless the composition of the water changes with the seasons?

I have noticed roots growing above the soil so not sure if that’s a cause for concern too. I have thought about repotting because of this but not sure if it’s the appropriate time to be repotting season-wise.

Sorry for the multiple questions.
But thanks again good sir for your reply!

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

It’s been in full sun everyday ever since I got it. Should it not be in full sun?

Regarding the water, I have not changed the source so that might not be the problem? I hope not. Unless the composition of the water changes with the seasons?

I have noticed roots growing above the soil so not sure if that’s a cause for concern too. I have thought about repotting because of this but not sure if it’s the appropriate time to be repotting season-wise.

Sorry for the multiple questions.
But thanks again good sir for your reply!

The composition of water changes with the seasons over here, it becomes richer in salts and chlorine near the dry part of summer.
Once the rains come back, it changes to softer water again. This has to do with the way our tap water is managed.

It should be in full sun, but if it wasn't before.. It might have experienced some shock.

I don't know if repotting is required. You can only know by taking it out of the pot and checking how full the soil is. It could be pot bound, but usually that doesn't turn plants yellow. Roots look for damp spaces with lots of air, so if the soil is rotting it might be the reason for the yellows and the roots looking for better places.

 

[WNC Bonsai]

I suggest you start using some fertilizer. A shot of nitrogen and iron might help. Also what is the pH of your water?

 

[Shibui]

My wisterias grow roots real fast. As the pots fill with roots there's less spaces for water and air in the pot so keeping the plants hydrated becomes increasingly difficult. It is possible the symptoms are because the tree is very pot bound.
Nutrient deficiency is the other possibility. @Wires_Guy_wires mentioned some factors that can stop trees taking up nutrients but no nutrients available also causes yellowing. Has the tree been fertilised this season? how often? with what?

Full sun seems to be a bit much for wisteria down here but 'full sun' varies a lot around the world. I don't think PNW is known for being real hot and dry though, so maybe full sun is OK for you up there.

 

[Cadillactaste]

My Wisteria is looking ratty...as it heads into fall and soon dormancy. It does it every year. I wouldn't worry overly as it's about to go dormant. Now if it wasn't end of the season for deciduous...I might be more concerned. But...my own is ratty...with browning foliage.

 

[NeoGroves]

I used a PH tester that I bought from Amazon and based on the color it is somewhere between 6.5 to 7.0, I believe. Will start using iron chelate tomorrow if that helps.

I have not fertilized this Wisteria ever since I got it but I think it came with fertilizer when the plant was shipped to me. So, the last time it was fertilized was late April or early May of this year. Shoot! I was too scared to trim the roots when I repotted it yesterday. I had a bad experience of cutting too much in the past and a bonsai dying because of it.

I did read somewhere that they do go dormant but most of the articles I’ve read said they lose leaves in winter and not in fall.

Thank you all for your replies!
Hopefully it gets better after the repotting and iron chelate application tomorrow.

 

[fredman]

You said in your opening the leaves were green. Has it been green and growing all season?
If so.... its just going dormant....and don't need fertilizer

 

[NeoGroves]

You said in your opening the leaves were green. Has it been green and growing all season?
If so.... its just going dormant....and don't need fertilizer

Yes, it’s been green and growing all season.
Is it not too early for it to be going dormant? The leaves started turning yellow and having dark spots at the tips around late September maybe.

 

[Warnold]

Your little guy is going into dormancy. It will drop all of it's leaves in the next few months. Here is one of mine from last November turning yellow before shedding all leaves. I think you have a healthy plant.

 

[JanetI]

The leaves on mine turn yellow and drop off every Autumn. It’s deciduous. My profile picture is how it looks at present because we are in Spring here. I got my tree in 1999 and keep it in light shade since our summer can get pretty hot. (40C+).