Help: Extremely stressed Serissa. Is there hope?

[Pinay]

Hello everyone, this is my first tree. It was gifted about 3 weeks ago, travelling from Portland, OR all the way down to southern California.

The weather has been a huge shock. The first few days consisted of leaves dropping. About 2 weeks in, I noticed the leaves curling. I took it out a few times to get fresh air ... that was my mistake as I was unaware of how serissa's don't like to be moved.

'm wondering if my tree has hope? Also, just yesterday, I noticed something that appears to look like black molding underneath the bowl on the wooden platform stand. It wasn't like that the day before so I found it strange how that formed so sudden.

 

[Scrogdor]

Where are you keeping this?

 

[Pinay]

Where are you keeping this?

In a room, away from the window (saw online that it prefers to be away from window)

 

[Scrogdor]

In a room, away from the window (saw online that it prefers to be away from window)

I don’t think any bonsai like to be indoors let alone far away from a window. From the couple places I researched your tree needs bright light unless someone with more expertise knows otherwise.

you are correct that plants don’t like to be constantly moved around, so I’d find a spot against a bright window and let it hang there for 4-6 weeks. Don’t move it around. It has to adapt to its situation and alter its resource management.

Make sure you aren’t overwatering it either. I’d do some research on your tree, but for now just let it rest in a bright spot.

 

[Scrogdor]

That mold is because water is dripping on that wood and it’s probably warm inside. Damp wood in a warm environment is a great place for mold to grow

 

[Pinay]

I'm unsure how to edit this into my original post but here is more information:

Serissa serissoidess

Indoor Bonsai

Age: 5 years

Training : 3 years

 

[Pinay]

That mold is because water is dripping on that wood and it’s probably warm inside. Damp wood in a warm environment is a great place for mold to grow

Ah ... that makes sense.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Do not see holes in pot. Does tree have drainage?

 

[sorce]

It could probably be left outside all year in Socal.

Welcome to Crazy!

"Indoor Bonsai" is a myth!

"Tree like shrubs stuffed into pots and called indoor bonsai" is not.

Sorce

 

[Pinay]

Do not see holes in pot. Does tree have drainage?

Yes the tree has a drainage, there is a platform on the bottom of the pot that holds the water.

 

[Pinay]

It could probably be left outside all year in Socal.

Welcome to Crazy!

"Indoor Bonsai" is a myth!

"Tree like shrubs stuffed into pots and called indoor bonsai" is not.

Sorce

After I had leaving it out a couple times, I noticed the leaves turning yellow... that is when I noticed it going under more stressed signs and symptoms such as wilting and curling ... sigh

 

[sorce]

After I had leaving it out a couple times, I noticed the leaves turning yellow... that is when I noticed it going under more stressed signs and symptoms such as wilting and curling ... sigh

No worries, you're just feeling the runaround from...hiyaa... misinformation!

It was probably just getting sun stressed from leaves built for indoors.

I'd bet if you stripped it naked and left it out, it would restart you with no more runaround.

What are your temps for the next month or so?

Sorce

 

[TinyArt]

I've never heard of stripping the leaves off serissa... You leaves look healthy yet.
Maybe this article by a central Florida nursery owner could be of use -- this is zone 9 or so --

Serissa Bonsai Care Guide [Snow Rose Bonsai] Updated

Serissa is a genus that includes flowering plants from the Rubiaceae family. It is also known as the “Snow Rose” and “Tree of a Thousand Stars” due to its tiny white flowers. It is a popular Bonsai tree due to its small leaves, beautifully gnarled trunk, and continuous blooms. There are two...

www.bonsaimary.com

Best wishes!

 

[Pinay]

No worries, you're just feeling the runaround from...hiyaa... misinformation!

It was probably just getting sun stressed from leaves built for indoors.

I'd bet if you stripped it naked and left it out, it would restart you with no more runaround.

What are your temps for the next month or so?

Sorce

Ranging from 60-80F dropping and raising in between

 

[sorce]

Ranging from 60-80F dropping and raising in between

I'd verify with a Socal serissa keeper, or a combo of the 2, but I think you'll be golden outdoors!

Sorce

 

[Katie0317]

Serissa's like a lot of light. You'll need to get a grow light if you want it to live.

It doesn't look good right now. Moving it from Ca to Oregon caused stress and living indoors is extremely stressful.

For this tree to live through the winter it will need a lot of light and the only way to do that is a grow light. In spring (if it's still alive) it needs to me moved outside which is where serissa's live...they are not indoor plants.