Shipping Aftercare: Bonsai NL-> UK

[IbraheemOfAndalus]

I've just received the below bonsai to my home in London, UK, from Bonsai Plaza, based in the Netherlands. The trees were shipped to the UK last Monday, and arrived in two days, but were stuck in customs at the UK border for about 8.

I'm concerned for the health of these trees, as they were in such conditions for 10 days, and all plants were individually inspected, having the plastic covering around the pots removed for viewing by border control for the duration of the inspection.

Pictured below: Deshojo Maple, Trident Maple, Korean Hornbeam, and Cork bark elm.

I have a few concerns with the below trees specifically, and would also appreciate advise on general aftercare of shipped trees, from watering, sun exposure, pruning, repotting and fertilizing.




The Deshojo Maple lost a fair bit of foliage, as I found in the shipping box, and a lot of the foliage that's remained on the tree doesn't look too healthy. Hopefully it'll bounce back. Should I do any pruning or cleaning? Or just leave it. General aftercare for a plant of this health?




As for the trident maple, there is visible 'fungus' of some sort growing in a patch on the pot, and apologies for my ignorance, but I'm unaware of what those white growths are. I'm assuming that's not what maple roots look like... I've never owned a maple before so I could be wrong. There are roots growing out of the bottom of the pot though... Will this tree be okay to wait until spring before repotting?




This is the least concerning to me... It's definitely lost foliage but I think it's otherwise okay. Please do advise on general aftercare regardless.

My concern for the elm is one, the mould or fungus growth (which has a pretty bad smell I may add), similarly to the trident maple. But also, when UK customs were rewrapping the plastic growing pot, they've clearly damaged it, cracking one size of it completely. Is this something that warrants a repot? Or can it wait till spring?


Thanks for taking the time to help me with this. And let me know if you need any more information to better understand the situation and how that may affect aftercare moving forwards.


Peace

 

[ShimpakuBonsai]

Did all trees arrive with a bone dry soil?

I think that those trees will recover.
Take of the fungus with a tweezer or something like that would be my advice.

The last tree can be slip potted into another pot (don't do anything to the roots) if you have one that fits the tree.
Otherwise you could wrap some ducttape around the pot to get the tree through winter.

 

[rockm]

That white growth is mold. Nothing more. The dark humid conditions in the box caused a mold bloom on some of the organic material on the surface of the soil. Not a problem. It will go away with more air circulation and sunlight.

I'd just keep the trees in morning sun and afternoon shade and keep them watered adequately--not soaked. They should be fine. The dead and yellowing leaves are a loss, but the trees aren't in real trouble. I wouldn't repot any of them at this point, just be careful with the cracked pot. Duct tape around it can help with support.