Super new to Bonsai

[Lytnup70]

I am very new to this and don't want to kill ANYTHING!! I purchased this Bullata Japanese Spiraea and within a week it's had leaves have all turned brown. Don't really know why? Online is no help other than saying don't over or under water this plant. Wife wants me just to buy a new one but I don't wanna give up on this plant. I did cut it back cause the interweb said it was basically a shrub and will grow back but...
So basically I'm asking....is it dead? And what did I do wrong?
Any help GREATLY appreciated!!!
Thank you in advance!

 

[TinyArt]

Hang in there -- sooner or later, someone who knows the species will look in.

Meanwhile, welcome!

 

[Paradox]

Yea I am not familiar with this species so I can't really help much.

Some questions that might help are: where was this tree kept? Did you keep this tree inside? How often did you water it? What kind of soil is it in?

Please put your location on your profile. A lot of bonsai information is location dependant and it would be nice if we don't have to continually ask.

 

[Lytnup70]

Thank you Tinyart
And paradox
I live in Chicago
Plants kept on patio outside
Bought a small bag of Bonsai soil from local nursery...not much by me that has ANYTHING Bonsai
Typically submerge every Sunday in sink and spritz with water as needed

 

[Paradox]

Thank you Tinyart
And paradox
I live in Chicago
Plants kept on patio outside
Bought a small bag of Bonsai soil from local nursery...not much by me that has ANYTHING Bonsai
Typically submerge every Sunday in sink and spritz with water as needed

Please put your location on your profile so it will show under your name. We will never remember where you are amongst the 100s of other members.

Did you repot the tree yourself into the new bonsai soil?

It's OK if you don't have a lot locally, lots can be bought online

 

[PA_Penjing]

Sometimes sensitive plants will drop leaves out of shock and grow new ones in a week or three. Cutting a tree back hard while it is in a weakened state is definitely something to avoid in the future though. If it was strong before the leaves fell off it may come back, IF the problem was just relocation shock. I don't buy trees online during the active growth season for that reason. Just give it time and keep it watered

 

[Lytnup70]

Please put your location on your profile so it will show under your name. We will never remember where you are amongst the 100s of other members.

Did you repot the tree yourself into the new bonsai soil?

It's OK if you don't have a lot locally, lots can be bought online

I'm not very tech savvy but I think I put location in profile?!? Please let me know
Yes I transplanted plant into pot it is in now.
Problem with buying online is...I don't know what I'm doing and like to ask questions plus I like to see what I'm getting.

 

[Lytnup70]

Sometimes sensitive plants will drop leaves out of shock and grow new ones in a week or three. Cutting a tree back hard while it is in a weakened state is definitely something to avoid in the future though. If it was strong before the leaves fell off it may come back, IF the problem was just relocation shock. I don't buy trees online during the active growth season for that reason. Just give it time and keep it watered

Seemed to be a strong tree?!? Not sure...looked healthy and all.
I thought maybe I over watered it which made it dry up? Is that possible? That's what a buddy at work told me...not sure...

 

[Paradox]

I'm not very tech savvy but I think I put location in profile?!? Please let me know
Yes I transplanted plant into pot it is in now.
Problem with buying online is...I don't know what I'm doing and like to ask questions plus I like to see what I'm getting.

Not seeing it when I click on your name. There is a spot for it. I'm on my phone right now so can't give you better instructions. Will try to do that later if someone else doesn't point it out first.

I totally understand the wanting to see things and feeling our of your element with bonsai.

There is lots and lots and lot's (did I say lots?) to learn in bonsai but that's one of the great things about it! You'll get there.

 

[Forsoothe!]

Growing seasons around the world vary widely and it is difficult to get a perspective on what someone says when we don't know where in the world they are. If you go to the upper right hand corner and click on your Icon, you can add your location and people will be able to customize advice for you, and you might connect with another local.




<<<<< It will show here.

If this tree went from inside for a long time to direct sun on the patio and watered once a week, it's dead. Maybe I'm not reading things right. A plant has to be acclimated to big changes going in or out in steps of increasing or decreasing light, -maybe 3 or 4 levels over a couple weeks: out to shade, dappled shade, half day mornings, full sun, and reverse going back into relative darkness inside a house. Inside the house water every 3 to 6 or 7 days depending upon species, and outdoors water every day it doesn't rain. Better luck next time. A fig would be a better choice for a newbee.

 

[Lytnup70]

Growing seasons around the world vary widely and it is difficult to get a perspective on what someone says when we don't know where in the world they are. If you go to the upper right hand corner and click on your Icon, you can add your location and people will be able to customize advice for you, and you might connect with another local.




<<<<< It will show here.

If this tree went from inside for a long time to direct sun on the patio and watered once a week, it's dead. Maybe I'm not reading things right. A plant has to be acclimated to big changes going in or out in steps of increasing or decreasing light, -maybe 3 or 4 levels over a couple weeks: out to shade, dappled shade, half day mornings, full sun, and reverse going back into relative darkness inside a house. Inside the house water every 3 to 6 or 7 days depending upon species, and outdoors water every day it doesn't rain. Better luck next time. A fig would be a better choice for a newbee.

Thanks for the feedback. I think I got the location in...again please let me know. A fig it is!!

 

[sorce]

Never buy anything that has "Japanese" in the plant name and is in a cheap ass Chinese Pot.

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[Forsoothe!]

Post #23 will give some different forms and leafs to choose from, and there are others, too.

 

[Paradox]

Thanks for the feedback. I think I got the location in...again please let me know. A fig it is!!

Yup you got it. I can see it now

 

[Paradox]

Never buy anything that has "Japanese" in the plant name and is in a cheap ass Chinese Pot.

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

That would leave out Japanese black and Japanese white pines which would be a shame.
Pots can be changed.
Japanese white pine would do well in his area.

 

[sorce]

Japanese white pine would do well in his area.

I'm going to have to get one!

Sorce

 

[PA_Penjing]

over watering a tree until the leaves fall off usually takes some time. They will yellow out and get limp. If that was what happened the root system may be rotten mush by now.

 

[Lytnup70]

Growing seasons around the world vary widely and it is difficult to get a perspective on what someone says when we don't know where in the world they are. If you go to the upper right hand corner and click on your Icon, you can add your location and people will be able to customize advice for you, and you might connect with another local.




<<<<< It will show here.

If this tree went from inside for a long time to direct sun on the patio and watered once a week, it's dead. Maybe I'm not reading things right. A plant has to be acclimated to big changes going in or out in steps of increasing or decreasing light, -maybe 3 or 4 levels over a couple weeks: out to shade, dappled shade, half day mornings, full sun, and reverse going back into relative darkness inside a house. Inside the house water every 3 to 6 or 7 days depending upon species, and outdoors water every day it doesn't rain. Better luck next time. A fig would be a better choice for a newbee.

Also I bought it at a greenhouse nursery so isn't that considered outside? Sorry for my ignorance...

 

[Paradox]

Also I bought it at a greenhouse nursery so isn't that considered outside? Sorry for my ignorance...

If it was inside a greenhouse, then it was inside.
Greenhouses provide protection from weather

 

[AZbonsai]

I bought it at a greenhouse nursery so isn't that considered outside

Welcome to bonsai. Not considered outside. Greenhouses are controlled environments. They control for temperature/humidity/water. Very few bonsai people have their very first bonsai tree I would imagine. We tend to kill a few before getting a handle on things.