Bonsai dying?

[Rac]

My bonsai's lost most of its leaves. Is it dying? Does anybody know what the problem may be?

 

[Endoftown]

Do you keep it inside or out?

 

[Cadillactaste]

Some history may offer some peek into what is going on.

How long have you had it?
Where did you aquire it from?
What is your location/climate/season right now? (No clue where Malta is located sorry.)
Where is this being kept?
What care have you offered it since in your care?

 

[Wulfskaar]

What is your location/climate/season right now? (No clue where Malta is located sorry.)

Malta is right smack in the middle of the Mediterranean sea, south of Sicily.

 

[HorseloverFat]

I’d love to try and help...Just need some of that information that has been mentioned.

But what IS this?

Looks like hypericum foliage.. but I DID JUST spend an hour or so “on” a Hypericum...

 

[Rac]

I've had the tree as a present in mid December. I'm not sure where they got it from. The clomate here in Malta is quite warm and humid yet the last couple of weeks the temperatures have been colder but I keep the plant inside on a window sill, during the day I open the window. I water the plant once weekly and mist it's leaves once everyday and 2 weeks ago I put some fertiliser in the soil. I was also told the species of the tree is australian bush cherry.

 

[Graft]

Hi Rac,

Welcome to Bnuts, I have looked at your weather. currently Highs around 15C and night around 10C. This tree needs to be kept outside. It can survive mainly frost free areas. It needs wind, rain, and most importantly sun. It might still die, but it's best chance is outside. Best of luck with it.

 

[Graft]

Also forgot to mention. Once outside without rain it will need to be watered more often. If the soil is very free draining that could mean everyday. If it needs repotting look at Akadama, pumice etc. Very free draining but also water retentive.

 

[Rac]

Ok I will put it outside should i prune the branches with no leaves and do you reccomend repotting now or should I wait to see if it gets better?

 

[Graft]

I'm no expert. But I would leave it to recover for a year. Just make sure that the soil remains moist. Especially in your HOT summers, Bonsai dry out very quickly. When it is roasting outside put it in midday shade.

 

[Cadillactaste]

I would do as suggested and put it outside. As for pruning. I personally would allow it to recover so you aren't removing live branches by assuming they are dead.

 

[sorce]

australian bush cherry

I'd ask @Shibui to be certain, but I don't think the soil is appropriate.

Has this been incremental since December or did it (leaf drop) come at once?

Incremental will be roots, at once will be temperature or environmental.

For me, soil watered once a week is not offering the plant everything it needs, everywhere, all the time, it's "impossible".

Upon Shibui's recommendation, if that is in fact an Aussie Tree he's familiar with, I'd switch the soil.

Sorce

 

[Shibui]

Does not look like any of the Aussie species but there are a number of South American Myrtacea species - Eugenias and probably others. New ones still being described and named.
The leaves on this one appear to be much more narrow than any of ours.
I normally repot myrtacea species in summer when possible. I am told that in frost free area they can be root pruned any time of year.

 

[Gustavo Martins]

Does not look like any of the Aussie species but there are a number of South American Myrtacea species - Eugenias and probably others. New ones still being described and named.
The leaves on this one appear to be much more narrow than any of ours.
I normally repot myrtacea species in summer when possible. I am told that in frost free area they can be root pruned any time of year.

I have repotted and cut back hard the roots on a brush cherry about 2-3 weeks ago. It seems to start pushing new leaves so it is apparently ok. I am on a frost free area.