Help! Bonsai dying, heart breaking

[BonsaiMama]

Hi everyone,

My Fukien bonsai went from good to bad within days and I'm looking for ways to revive it.
I usually put it next to my window, which faces south and can get really sunny, I'm wondering if that was the issue.
I tried my best not to overwater it and keep the soil moist.

Do you have any suggestions to help it get back in shape? Hope it's not too late
I'm a total beginner so any tips, recommendations for better care will be super helpful

Thanks for your help!

Grace

 

[Eckhoffw]

I wouldn’t think too much sun as the issue, unless foliage was pressed up to the glass.
even then, I wouldn’t think the whole tree would be getting fried.
Have you been checking the soils moisture between watering, or routinely watering?

 

[Gabler]

My gut is telling me to check the roots. Is the tree firmly rooted, or does it wiggle in the pot?

 

[Gabler]

Like Eckhoffw said, it’s potentially a soil/watering issue.

 

[BonsaiMama]

I wouldn’t think too much sun as the issue, unless foliage was pressed up to the glass.
even then, I wouldn’t think the whole tree would be getting fried.
Have you been checking the soils moisture between watering, or routinely watering?

Thank you so much for your reply Eckhoffw, I usually water it every two days or so and check the soil moisture with my finger. IF I overwatered it by mistake, should I check the roots and repot it with new soil to help it? I'll take pictures of the roots and share if I take that route. Thanks again!

 

[BonsaiMama]

My gut is telling me to check the roots. Is the tree firmly rooted, or does it wiggle in the pot?

Hi Gabler, thanks for your reply. It doesn't wiggle in the pot no, the store wired it down to secure it. I'll check the roots and share the pictures, just to get to the bottom. Thanks again

 

[Carol 83]

I don't think repotting an ailing Fukien tree is really a good idea. Watch your watering, don't let it go dry but don't let it stay sopping wet. Southern exposure window should be fine.

 

[ShadyStump]

Aha! I get talk about the chopstick trick again!

Stick a wooden or bamboo chopstick or skewer in the soil and leave it there. Use it as a dipstick to check how wet the soil is. Water thoroughly just before the stick is dry.

 

[ShadyStump]

Oh, also, add your location, or at least hemisphere and USDA growing zone to your profile. It will let us know exactly what conditions you might be working with.

 

[Shibui]

I believe this is something that Fukien tea do. They do not like any changes so when shifted from one place to another they routinely drop leaves but usually grow new leaves a few weeks later.
Definitely take care with watering. Definitely take care with light and heat but otherwise cross fingers and hope for the best.

 

[Gabler]

I believe this is something that Fukien tea do. They do not like any changes so when shifted from one place to another they routinely drop leaves but usually grow new leaves a few weeks later.
Definitely take care with watering. Definitely take care with light and heat but otherwise cross fingers and hope for the best.

That's good to hear some optimistic input. I've really only worked with local temperate species, so when I see the leaves looking like that, I see a serious problem. If Fukien tea trees look like that when they drop their leaves and routinely bounce back, that's pretty good news for the tree.

 

[TheAfroKing]

I'm also very new at this so may not know what I'm talking about but, are they a tropical species? They might need the occasional misting if so to simulate humidity.

Also if worse case scenario and it does die, don't give up! I killed my first tree as well but I've learned from the experience and now have a tree of the same type that I've been able to keep alive. Bonsai has a bit of a learning curve at the beginning and it's common to loose a few trees when you don't know what you're doing, you're new at it so don't feel bad for being a beginner.

Good Luck!

 

[Katie0317]

This is a finicky tree and does well with partial sun and I limit the watering on mine. Unlike most of my trees I only water my FT when it's bone dry. I also keep it away from the other trees because it tends to be buggy. Yours look like it needs to dry out completely and then be careful on the watering.

Remove all the dead leaves and check to be sure the branches are alive. If not remove them too.

Good luck.