Repotting Recovery

[JuniperSol]

I recently had to do an emergency repot for my Grewia Occidentalis as the soil my bonsai arrived in hardened and wouldn’t take water. That being said, I did have to repot this tree a bit sooner than it needed, but I had no other options at the time. Now it’s getting a lot of yellow leaves and I want to try and assist it the best possible. What is something you guys would recommend to help my tree?
Additional info: it’s a semi-tropical tree that is cold sensitive. I keep it in front of a south facing window and my house stays 68f. I have kept it over a humidity tray and have made sure to water it as normal. I did not prune the roots as I thought it would not be needed. Outside of pulling dead leaves I have not done anything else to it.

 

[Cypress187]

Are you sure it isn't an elm of some sort? I wouldn't pull dead leaves either.

 

[JuniperSol]

Are you sure it isn't an elm of some sort? I wouldn't pull dead leaves either.

It’s definitely a Grewia Occidentalis

 

[sorce]

and have made sure to water it as normal.

What is normal?

Could be too little now.

Sorce

 

[Cypress187]

It’s definitely a Grewia Occidentalis

Cool, even better. I like flowers in bonsai.

 

[JuniperSol]

What is normal?

Could be too little now.

Sorce

I have a chop stick in the soil to let me know when it’s too dry. I replace it to continue to ensure I water it at the right time. I do a through watering so water drains from the bottom.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Some trees, especially tropical and semi-tropical varieties, will drop their leaves when repotted or moved to a new location. I am not familiar with this species, but it could be completely normal to lose some leaves. Keep it moist but not wet and see what happens, then put it outside as soon as possible, the dry air created by HVAC is not good for it after repotting. Small humidity trays are a joke in an open room in your house. You would have to have one as big as the whole room to increase the relative humidity against the moisture removing capabilities of your HVAC system. If it is a semi-tropical, it should be able to handle some coolness.

Next time when one arrives dry and compacted, try placing the tree in the sink, submerging the whole pot in water, and leaving it there for an hour or so. This will usually allow the soil to rehydrate and break the surface tension that the dry soil has. You should be able to water as normal after that. Or, you could use a chopstick and poke holes all over the surface of the soil to let water in.

A trip in the mail is very stressful to plants and repotting right away may be one insult too many.

John

 

[JuniperSol]

Some trees, especially tropical and semi-tropical varieties, will drop their leaves when repotted or moved to a new location. I am not familiar with this species, but it could be completely normal to lose some leaves. Keep it moist but not wet and see what happens, then put it outside as soon as possible, the dry air created by HVAC is not good for it after repotting. Small humidity trays are a joke in an open room in your house. You would have to have one as big as the whole room to increase the relative humidity against the moisture removing capabilities of your HVAC system. If it is a semi-tropical, it should be able to handle some coolness.

Next time when one arrives dry and compacted, try placing the tree in the sink, submerging the whole pot in water, and leaving it there for an hour or so. This will usually allow the soil to rehydrate and break the surface tension that the dry soil has. You should be able to water as normal after that. Or, you could use a chopstick and poke holes all over the surface of the soil to let water in.

A trip in the mail is very stressful to plants and repotting right away may be one insult too many.

John

Thank you so much. Right now it’s too cold for it so sadly I cannot put it outside. Also windy, which I know isn’t good for it when recovering

 

[JuniperSol]

I honestly feel really bad about my bonsai. I didn’t realize how quickly the inorganic soil dried up so I was watering every other day when it needed daily. Half the leaves are yellow. I really don’t want it to die and I wish I knew about the soaking trick sooner with the old soil. If this one passes away I want to attempt again with another grewia if possible