Hi everyone, Please help us save a bonsai tree we bought from IKEA two weeks ago. We knew it was not the best place to buy one but we liked it so much that we decided to give it a try. We read on the lame leaflet that they may lose leaves due to environmental changes but our tree is losing a lot! We dont know anything about bonsai trees. We are asking for help right away in order to keep this little one healthy and growing. We have watered it twice during these two weeks by pouring approx. 1 lt into its tray each time. The soil is not dry and it is actually growing new leaves but some branches have no leaves at all anymore (see picture attached). We also attached a picture of its size and home. Any information regarding soil, water, light, temperature and further care is dearly appreciated! Thank you in advance, Kento and family.
Kento: I was hoping that someone with bonsai knowledge would have answered you by now. What sort of plant is it? Is it an azalea or rhododendron? It looks like the type of plant which might be better off outside rather than in the house. You might be better off to water the plant more frequently, and with lesser amounts of water. Do the leaves curl up when the soil dries?
Hi! I have one of these trees from Ikea, too, and I fear it's dying. I've had it almost two years and it was hearty and full. I went away for a week in February and the house-sitter didn't water it. Since then, it's gone downhill. All the leaves died and it seems that the bark is flaking off at the ends of the branches. I tried to cut it back some, but I'm afraid to cause it more trauma. I don't know the name of this plant; please help! Thanks! Amanda
the leaves look like a ficus to me, ficus are tough trees and dislike change in environment they will often drop leaves with a change in light or temperature, they are indoor trees and should pull through if they were just under watered, the tree will use less water with no leaves so do not overwater it right now, and try to keep it in the same place in your house
From your picture it looks like it may be planted in a peat moss heavy soil. Go to something that will alow more air and water flow. Try soaking it in a tub of warm water for several hours. Maybe the core of the root section has dried out. Bottom watering is sometimes not the best. Someone else chime in here. I'm faltering barb
I think we should try to start with a positive identification of the tree, which probably means reposting a photo in the Plant Identification forum. This doesn't look to me like a bonsai, because it seems that the tree or bush (whatever it is) has not had its roots constricted or pruned, or confined to a small pot, but instead has been allowed to grow to an ordinary size for its type. So we just need to figure out its normal cultural requirements. Barbara's theory that the core of the root mass may have dried out makes sense to me, and also corcor's tentative ID as some kind of ficus. The indoor-plant experts should be more helpful than us Japanese gardening fans.
