HELP! Any chance of this Bonsai bouncing back?

[Miyama Mangetsu]

Hello everyone,
I’m a Bonsai beginner.
I received this Azalea as a gift last Christmas. It was bought online and the only information I could get from the vendor is the name, it supposed to be a “Azalee Satsuki Miyama Mangetsu”. I kept it in an protected corner in the balkony and the winter wasn’t that harsh but the bonsai completely turned brown (The picture is from a few minutes ago) is that normal over the winter? Maybe I should have watered it more often even when it was cold outside?
I googled the name Miyama Mangetsu and didn’t find any information about it, I guess it needs the same care as a common Azalea? If not, what’s the proper care?
Thank!

 

[rockm]

Dead. No chance that's coming back. Looks like lack of water, or overwatering to me. Miyamamangetsu is a variety of satsuki azalea.

 

[Gabler]

That tree looks crispy. Is there any green tissue under the bark? Scratch a twig to see. If it’s green under the bark, the tree is still alive. If not, there might be some living tissue on the trunk, but the branch is dead.

That said, this tree looks dead. I’d hazard a guess it was the cold. It looks possible the roots froze and, unable to take up water, the branches desiccated. Many satsuki azaleas need protection in the winter. A balcony won’t offer any protection from the cold. At a minimum, they need to be mulched on the ground to cover the roots. Some will need to be brought into a cold greenhouse or unheated garage to keep the roots from freezing.

Hopefully, someone else can offer more insight. I just have one satsuki azalea, and it’s cold hardy, so my first-hand experience is limited.

 

[rockm]

Most likely a combination of cold and lack of water. Dried out soil means roots freeze exponentially more quickly. Water is an insulator. Even one or two cold nights below 29 F or so will kill roots. Some satsuki varieties are cold hardier than others.

 

[Miyama Mangetsu]

That tree looks crispy. Is there any green tissue under the bark? Scratch a twig to see. If it’s green under the bark, the tree is still alive. If not, there might be some living tissue on the trunk, but the branch is dead.

That said, this tree looks dead. I’d hazard a guess it was the cold. It looks possible the roots froze and, unable to take up water, the branches desiccated. Many satsuki azaleas need protection in the winter. A balcony won’t offer any protection from the cold. At a minimum, they need to be mulched on the ground to cover the roots. Some will need to be brought into a cold greenhouse or unheated garage to keep the roots from freezing.

Hopefully, someone else can offer more insight. I just have one satsuki azalea, and it’s cold hardy, so my first-hand experience is limited.

Thanks for the detailed answer. I actually did cover the roots but maybe I did it wrong. That’s how the scratched bark looks like, any diagnostic?

 

[Srt8madness]

It's dead, sorry.

 

[Gabler]

Thanks for the detailed answer. I actually did cover the roots but maybe I did it wrong. That’s how the scratched bark looks like, any diagnostic?

Dead as a door nail. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. I’d recommend you look for a cold-hardy species for your next attempt, so you don’t need to worry as much about the roots freezing. That, or go for a tropical tree you can bring inside when it’s cold.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Yep, so sorry. Should show bright green yellow.

Miyamamangetsu is a pretty resilient azalea when treated properly.

As far as winter care it is explained in this downloadable resource which goes over the subject in detail.

Basically most youngish potted satsuki azaleas do their very best when protected from wind, direct sunlight, freezing roots and dessication during the winter. I have quite a number of azaleas both in the ground and potted.

Even the some of the hardiest in ground can take a beating during the winter. While most recover well, the recovery to full health period takes at least a month to a month and a half in our area away from their development (and yearly growth) as a bonsai.

Just as a very gross example to help folks understand what is meant by the above paragraph.

Three azaleas in the ground. Most exposed to least exposed. First is a hardy hybrid, next two are satsuki azaleas

…. …..

Next are two Hino Crimson Kurume azaleas. First one more protected and a bit sheltered from the wind via this simple screening (who’ve thought a simple screen would help… it was there to protect from rabbits.). Second one less protected, but not in the open.
Note the first is just 1 week short of blooming, while the second is about a week behind.

….

Next various potted azaleas etc in a simple poly cold frame. Note the no damage compared to the very first set of photos. These are healthy and undamaged.



Finally azaleas in pots just pulled out of the greenhouse yesterday. No damage, way ahead of the other azaleas. First over 50years old, second ones around 4-6 years old.


Hope you have better luck next time!

cheers
DSD sends

 

[penumbra]

A lot of talk about the cold here. Perhaps others have looked up your climate ... I have not. I would be reluctant to saying anything about the cold without knowing your climate and what your bottom temps were. It is certain that the plant died of desiccation, but as stated by others, there are various causes, including cold. I suspect it was a water issue, but even here the causes are opposed. Lack of water is most probable, but too much water, causing the roots to rot, also causes a shortage of water in the leaves.
It is unfortunate, but we all lose plants.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Checked…

Freiburg im Breisgau Zone 8a: -12.2°C to -9.4°C

cheers
DSD sends

 

[rockm]

Thanks for the detailed answer. I actually did cover the roots but maybe I did it wrong. That’s how the scratched bark looks like, any diagnostic?

Dead.