Is my Ligustrum still alive?

[Punkyskully]

Hi there,

I bought my first Bonsai nearly two weeks ago, but unfortunately had to go away for a week. It was watered for the first 3 days, but then left for 4 without water, but it had feed left upside down. I returned to find all it's leaves either dead, or dying, and the compost really dry.

It was also sold as in indoor plant, but i've later found out it's not, or at least i'm assuming so from what i've read. It's called a Ligustrum Bonsai on the plant label.

I've attatched a picture of the plant, can anybody see if it's alive or not?. From what i can see, the leaves are all dead, but there's seems to be shoots growing from the compost, and from one of the stems.

Can you also advise me on how to care for this plant?, i've been watering it each day, and feeding it once a week as it says on the label. Is this correct?

Thank you

 

[bennybenben]

I think you could bring it back to life if you water everyday and keep it humid using the tray and mist it everyday too.

 

[PaulH]

Privets are nearly indestructible. I'd be surprised if it doesn't come back.

 

[coh]

Privets are nearly indestructible. I'd be surprised if it doesn't come back.

They are pretty tough, and the fact that at least some shoots are growing is a good sign. Some of the branches are probably gone, but if the trunk is still green under the bark (if scratched) it should come back.

I don't know about watering every day, though - that might be too much if there are currently no leaves. I'd keep it a bit drier, only watering when the soil dries out some.

Chris

 

[Punkyskully]

Thank you for your replies

How much should i be watering it?, i'm misting it with a spray bottle a few times a day, but only on the leaves?

Should i be feeding it while it's the way it is?

 

[Punkyskully]

How can i use the tray to keep it humid as well?
I currently put water on the tray?, is that correct?

 

[bennybenben]

How can i use the tray to keep it humid as well?
I currently put water on the tray?, is that correct?

yes that is correct and you could mist it to improve the humidity.

 

[coh]

Where are you located? What kind of conditons is the plant subject to? Are you in the Arizona desert, tropical Florida, northern Montana?

As for your other questions...in my opinion...if there are no or few actual living leaves on the tree, it won't need much water. How much, I don't think anyone can really say. Just try to avoid keeping the soil waterlogged. Is it in bonsai soil or peat based potting soil?

I guess misting won't hurt. The humidity tray, though - if you've got the plant outside, you'd probably need the tray to be about an acre in size to make any meaningful contribution to the humidity around the tree.

Chris

Thank you for your replies

How much should i be watering it?, i'm misting it with a spray bottle a few times a day, but only on the leaves?

Should i be feeding it while it's the way it is?

How can i use the tray to keep it humid as well?
I currently put water on the tray?, is that correct?

 

[Zach Smith]

Hi there,

I bought my first Bonsai nearly two weeks ago, but unfortunately had to go away for a week. It was watered for the first 3 days, but then left for 4 without water, but it had feed left upside down. I returned to find all it's leaves either dead, or dying, and the compost really dry.

It was also sold as in indoor plant, but i've later found out it's not, or at least i'm assuming so from what i've read. It's called a Ligustrum Bonsai on the plant label.

I've attatched a picture of the plant, can anybody see if it's alive or not?. From what i can see, the leaves are all dead, but there's seems to be shoots growing from the compost, and from one of the stems.

Can you also advise me on how to care for this plant?, i've been watering it each day, and feeding it once a week as it says on the label. Is this correct?

Thank you

It's almost sure to live, based on what I see in the photo. Keep outside and water when the soil surface is dry. Also, privet do best with annual repotting so if yours has not been done in a while you'll need to take extra care as you've no doubt got a thick root mass with less soil than ideal. You can tell the condition of the roots by gently lifting the tree from the pot.

Oh, and keep outdoors but protect the roots in winter if you're above about Zone 7.

Good luck!

Zach

 

[Punkyskully]

I'm not actually from America, i live in the UK, and our weather here is no where near as hot as you all get. It's generally overcast, we get a few sunny days, and then rain for the rest. It's not very nice at all, and very rarely humid unless we have a sunny day.

I don't know what soil it's in, i bought it from a garden centre, and it only came with a label to advise on when to feed.

I currently have the plant inside, on my window ledge, basically so the window gives off good heat for the plant, as it's cold outside. I've been misting the plant and using water on the tray. should i change any of this?

Should i still be feeding the plant weekly as well? - I read that when it's stressed you shouldn't feed?

 

[coh]

Generally it is advised to not fertilize plants that have just been repotted or have undergone a major stress like yours has. I don't know how much difference it makes, but if it were mine, I wouldn't start feeding until there was a fair amount of active new growth (with new leaves opened).

Curious, what kind of temperatures are you talking about? Even if it's somewhat cool, the light will be much better outside, so once leaves start forming I'd want to get it out there.

Chris

 

[Zach Smith]

I'm not actually from America, i live in the UK, and our weather here is no where near as hot as you all get. It's generally overcast, we get a few sunny days, and then rain for the rest. It's not very nice at all, and very rarely humid unless we have a sunny day.

I don't know what soil it's in, i bought it from a garden centre, and it only came with a label to advise on when to feed.

I currently have the plant inside, on my window ledge, basically so the window gives off good heat for the plant, as it's cold outside. I've been misting the plant and using water on the tray. should i change any of this?

Should i still be feeding the plant weekly as well? - I read that when it's stressed you shouldn't feed?

Your privet should really go outside. Keeping bonsai indoors is a challenge and a high-level skill (art?) for the most experienced growers. Your biggest problem will be light, not a need for heat. Right now, you have a stressed tree being kept indoors with insufficient light. The prognosis isn't good.

As for feeding, the tree will only take what it needs so if you feed now it's not likely to cause harm, just do no particular good. It's going to take a solid two weeks or more for new growth to appear (after you put the tree outside; no telling what will happen if it stays indoors).

Zach

 

[Punkyskully]

Well at the moment we have 19C, but that's because we are having a very rare couple of days of sun. Normally it's under 10C each day. Generally at the bottom of that scale. Autumn/Winter, goes below 0C.

I will definitely put the plant outside, go with all of your advice and hope for the best.

Is there any type of bonsai that is good to grow indoors?. We have a lot of cats in our neighbourhood who enjoy digging up flowers and plants, so that was my real reason for wanting an indoor bonsai. I'm just hoping this one survives the clan of cats in my street