Hi, I'm new to the UBC forum and wanted to pose the question about my recent aquistion of a small bonsai tree (Neea buxifolia). Last Saturday (Sept 26th) I attended short introduction course to bonsai at a local nursery. After following the general instructions and after bringing the plant home leaves on the majority of the plant have have progressively turned black over the past several days. Some background information: Location: Medium/High Light (approx 10-12 hours) Medium: Pine bark, Fired Clay, Fired Shale Height: 5.5 inches Trunk width: > 1/4 inch Container: Ceramic, well draining We were instructed to immerse the bonsai in water every 2 days for watering purposes for about 2-5 minutes. My wife's Fukien Tea Carmona microphylla has shown no signs of stress or loss of leaves. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated.
Hi KiwiAdam, I'm guessing that in your introduction course you repotted this tree? Stress shows differently in different trees, it's hard to predict how one tree will react to the same condition as another, and even more so with different species of trees. But black leaves are normally not a signal that your tree is stressed. Black is normally a sign of infection, normally a fungal infection. This can be caused by root rot, but you can trace that. Make small scratches around your trunk, not all at the same height and DON'T scratch a ring around it as this will kill it. Try to get at least 4 different sides at varying levels and check for black under the bark, it should be green. This is an article to help you with watering your bonsai, submersion, while it has it's uses, is not good on a bonsai all the time, this explains why and when yo use it. Watering Your Bonsai Overwatering is another possibility, there is a test mentioned in the article which I have been using for a while now. Works great. Also If you are misting the foliage, stop for now, run a humidifier or set up a humidity tray. Hope this helps and isn't too late :)
