Yew Pine / Buddhist Pine

[dmckelvey11]

Hi all,

I’m striking out and 0/2 with my bonsai trees this spring. I’m wondering if its a fertilizer issue? I used a 20/20/20 dissolvable mixture every two weeks - the last time the day after I watered I know the leaves turned a greyish white. Did I kill this thing? Overwatering? Any way to bring it back? I’ve been keeping it in in the window, roughly 70-75 degrees and humid, over the past few days trying to keep it alive. Any recommendations are appreciated! I’d hate to lose this one too (if i haven’t already...)

Thanks,
Daniel

 

[dmckelvey11]

Here is the picture of the leaves yesterday

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

It is easy to over do fertilizer, I would stop for a while, maybe a month or more. Then use at 1/2 to 1/4 the strength suggested on the package. Fertilizer companies want you to use a lot. Bonsai we want to grow more slowly, so don't use full strength fertilizer.

Podocarpus - Buddhist Pine, Yew Pine - is an outdoor tree, if stepped into the the sun from the shade of indoors, it can take full sun. TO avoid sunburn, start it outside in dappled shade, move it to brighter light every 2 weeks until it is in full sun. Keep an eye on watering, outdoors it might dry out more quickly than indoors. They do not tolerate drying out completely. Water when soil is barely damp.

You do not list your location, Depending on where you live, you might be able to leave it out into autumn.

Indoors, they do not grow much, sun is insufficient. In fact they get sold as house plants because they will just sit for a year or more indoors, without growing, without dieing. They will only grow well when put outdoors.

If you can not grow it outdoors, put it in the brightest window you have. It would really be happier outdoors.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Does pot have drainage holes?

 

[dmckelvey11]

Thanks all - very helpful. I’ll certainly cut back on the fertilizer in the future.

The pot actually has two drainage holes and does a decent job expelling water - it contains a lot of sand and rock but I try to keep it moist to the touch. Think its overwatered?

The leaves have stopped falling off but certainly more whitish/brown today.