Half dead bonsai? Help!

[pocketlucy]

Hi, I would be so grateful for some advice!

I've had my bonsai (Chinese ligustrum) for about 14 months. Around 3 months ago the leaves at the top started shrivelling and dropping off - I wasn't sure what was wrong, as I wasn't doing anything differently! I repotted it March/April time and cut off some of the roots that didn't look too healthy, but since then it has continued to loose leaves, from the top downwards. I have tried scratching the bark - at the top it's all brown underneath, but halfway down/at the bottom it's green.

I'm not sure if it's got a disease or something that's spreading downwards, or whether it's a problem with the roots, or something else! It's my first bonsai and despite reading lots online, I feel like I still don't really know what I'm doing! Should I cut off the whole top half - would that save the bottom (I don't mind having a shorter tree)? Or is there hope for the top half? It seems pretty dead, but the bottom half seems happy and healthy and is having lots of new leaves.

I've attached two pictures to give some idea of what's going on.

Thank you in advance for any tips or advice!

 

[Potawatomi13]

Where are you located? If weather is consistently 45 F or higher leave outside in location of morning sun only. Keep watered but not wet or soggy. Would not suggest cutting anything until health appears recovered as this would be additional insult after repotting just now. If this does not liven it up I hope another will have better help to offer.

 

[Alain]

I feel your pain unfortunately the only Chinese privet I had I killed it in no time so I hope some better at keeping them alive will answer your prayer.

The only thing I'd say is that moose (?) at the surface of the soil looks like a mop to me, I would remove that.
And also that the leaves that are here seem very healthy so I would see that as a good sign.


and welcome btw.
and yes, indicate your location please

 

[eferguson1974]

Could the top be jinned or used as a deadwood feature? If its dead up top that is. Someone who knows the species could help with thay. Could turn out cool...

 

[Alain]

Could the top be jinned or used as a deadwood feature? If its dead up top that is. Someone who knows the species could help with thay. Could turn out cool...

That's a good idea if the top is actually dead.
But if it's dead it's because something went wrong, I would wait to be sure that the remaining tree is healthy before starting the process

 

[sorce]

Looks n sounds a kept indoors?

Good news is....

There was a lot of unfixable knotty branching up there anyway!

It looks way better now!

When it regains health, you can cut that dead off.
It won't hold a deadwood feature like a jin.

More good news? It's raining....no lugging water down stairs for me today!

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[aml1014]

I would cut the top off when you know it's healthy and build the tree off of the remaining 2 branches. I agree with sorce that this thing losing the top half was a good thing style wise!

Aaron

 

[pocketlucy]

Hi everyone, thanks for your replies! I live in London and my bonsai is kept indoors (I don't have a garden or balcony, so no chance of it going outside at all!).

Aaron and Sorce - you said I could cut off the dead bit when I know the tree is healthy - as the bottom half seems ok now, can I go ahead and chop the whole top bit off? Or do you think it's best to wait a bit longer? I'm just worried whatever has happened to the top bit will spread down and I'll lose the rest of the leaves!

Thanks again

 

[M. Frary]

Pocket Lucy. Are you tiny? Can I really carry you around in my pocket?

 

[Cypress187]

Shouldn't tropicals be repotted in the summer? Also if that moss is alive it most likely is getting (too) much water.

 

[petegreg]

I think this is another soil issue. The soil it's potted in is just "transport soil". I used to have many loses due to this issue... You can check carefully how the soil holds water, in many cases this kind of a cube full of roots doesn't "drink" water, the water runs down the walls of pot when watering. The plants of this origin use to be sold rootbound...another issue... The first thing I do with it is repotting to bonsai soil. But it's weak...lottery.

 

[sorce]

I think the inside killed the top.

They say these are hard to kill....
But you may be doing a fantastic job at it!

Don't know if the bottom will get as healthy as it should....

But if you do cut it....


http://www.bonsainut.com/posts/342437/

Sorce