Any help available

[Mark Wells]

Hi guys,
I was given this plant as a gift with the instructions to leave it outside and treat it like a normal tree (let it get rained on full sun etc). The sun seems to brown the leaves within an hour so I've canned that idea - can anyone tell me what type of bonsia this is so I can work out how to care for it? Thank you. At this rate I will have killed it in less than a week.

 

[Beng]

Where are you located? It looks like some kind of rust. But at the same time it could be frost damage followed by strong sun... Hard to tell maybe someone else will chime in.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Looks like a sunburned azalea. Keep it in shade, outside, high humidity and keep an eye on the water...not too wet and not too dry. You may know, but in case not, dry leaves will fall off and new leaves should grow in the next few weeks if it's still alive.

 

[Mark Wells]

Thanks for both replies - very helpful. I am in Sydney (Australia) and only 50 meters back from the ocean (I did wonder about salt damage, but we have had no big swells, or waves to salt up the air). I will stop putting it in the sun and see how I get on. There have been no frosts here, so cold should not be an issue?
Thanks again

 

[bradisarobot]

I second sunburned leaves. That's what you got there. Azaleas loooove shade so keep it shaded.

One question: are those white rocks.... glued on?