Koto Hime Leaf Issues?

[JoeR]

The koto hime I received from Bill V. was In great condition and it was the first to push buds open.

I noticed a few of the leaves are wilting/ shrinking and I thought it was from too much Sun so I put it in some shade.

On closer inspection today, I think it is some sort of fungus because the leaves have these 'spots' on them.

Can anybody identify this? It has only affected a very small part of the tree.

This is the fungicide I got after another members recommendation.



Thanks, Joe.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Where are you keeping these trees; on the ground, on a bench, on a deck? How about a shot of your growing area? What is the soil? Temperature exposure? Watering schedule?

You were pretty adamant the shimpaku wasn't your fault, now you have a maple from another respected bonsai nursery on the other side of the country, and are having issues with it. Time to look for some common denominators...Because Brent grows the best shimpakus I've ever owned, and Bill has some of the finest maples in the country. Here are a few shimps I bought from Brent and a couple maples I photographed at Bill's place last fall.

If you're really trying to get to the root of the problem, its probably much closer to you than you've been looking...

 

[JoeR]

On a bench I just built from leftover renovation materials.

Temperature exposure has been from 40°-72° so far.

No watering schedule. Just the skewer method.

Soil is sifted perlite and potting soil, but the potting soil sifted to pretty much just pine bark. As I said I haven't bought proper soil yet.

 

[Dav4]

The black edges remind me of frost damage.

 

[Kimberley82h]

Where are you keeping these trees; on the ground, on a bench, on a deck? How about a shot of your growing area? What is the soil? Temperature exposure? Watering schedule?

You were pretty adamant the shimpaku wasn't your fault, now you have a maple from another respected bonsai nursery on the other side of the country, and are having issues with it. Time to look for some common denominators...Because Brent grows the best shimpakus I've ever owned, and Bill has some of the finest maples in the country. Here are a few shimps I bought from Brent and a couple maples I photographed at Bill's place last fall.

If you're really trying to get to the root of the problem, its probably much closer to you than you've been looking...

I love the image 1, 5 and 6 there, you have some beautiful bonsai (envy)

 

[coh]

The black edges remind me of frost damage.

Yeah, that was my first thought as well.

OP, did you repot this tree (sounds like you did)? If so, how much root work/pruning did you do, and do you have the tree in a full sun and/or windy location?

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

Are they sheltered from the wind? Probably not rooted enough in your "potting soil" and less resistant for the cold drying wind. Invest in good potting medium to prevent losses.

 

[discusmike]

Every tree I had that leaves shriveled during bud swell was due to root issues.

 

[JoeR]

Yeah, that was my first thought as well.

OP, did you repot this tree (sounds like you did)? If so, how much root work/pruning did you do, and do you have the tree in a full sun and/or windy location?

Well it came in a bag so I did repot it.

No root work has been done.

 

[JoeR]

Are they sheltered from the wind? Probably not rooted enough in your "potting soil" and less resistant for the cold drying wind. Invest in good potting medium to prevent losses.

Not really but there's little to no wind where I live (in a valley).

I am buying some soil this week.

 

[discusmike]

Night time temp.??

 

[discusmike]

Don't over water,protect from cold and it should push more leaves,watch the watering,your not using the best medium.

 

[JoeR]

Night temp never got below 40.

 

[Cypress187]

How does the skewer watering method work?

 

[JoeR]

Stick the skewer into the soil. You pull the skewer out to see if it needs watered. If it's damp, don't water. If it's dry, water.

 

[JoeR]

Well I sprayed it with the fungicide, thinking it couldn't hurt. Seems to have made a good improvement. I am still trying to figure out the Sun requirements for this one though.

 

[Dav4]

Well I sprayed it with the fungicide, thinking it couldn't hurt. Seems to have made a good improvement. I am still trying to figure out the Sun requirements for this one though.

in NC, I'd go with morning sun, then filtered shade in the afternoon.

 

[JoeR]

in NC, I'd go with morning sun, then filtered shade in the afternoon.

With my new bench it is getting early morning Sun, late morning to almost midday shade, then Sun until it goes down past the trees, So late afternoon shade.

During spring break when I can minister my trees every hour I'm hoping to
-get my bench painted,
-Mix my New soil If I find dry stall,
-maybe repot some plants if possible,
-finish my bench with some shade cloth for the plants that need it,
-figure out an automatic watering system for when I vacation (because I'm sorry to say I don't trust my family to water them)

And the list goes on, but I will figure out a way to hopefully tend to it's needs.

What do you guys do for the trees who need more shade?

 

[JoeR]

Some more pictures from today.

Not all the tree is like this, there are some very healthily leaves on it.

I noticed a few tiny tiny webs on it and my bald cypress,which is leafing out but the new buds are blackening and shrivling too, so now I'm thinking spider mites. They're not red like the ones I've seen on my houseplants and they're much smaller.

To control, I've read about using a dish soap and water solution or submerging the foliage. I have no idea if it will work, so what do you guys suggest?

I also don't know If I should put it in more Sun or shade while it recovers.

 

[JoeR]

I finally got some new soil and paid WAY too much but it was necessary. Need someone to split a pallet with next time.

Anyway, would it be a big deal to repot this maple into the same container but with all new soil? No root pruning of course.

New soil will be 45% pumice 45% lava 10% pine bark fines. Unless a different ratio or ingredient would be better?