Why did my Bonsai trees die?

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mr_norris

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And is it possible to revive them?

Somehow I decided that I wanted a bonsai tree months ago. To start off, I bought one from Woolworths for mothers day last year. Later, I bought one for myself.

This is what mine looked like a day or two after I'd bought it:

Pic Link

About a week later, the leaves started fading. The same thing happened with my parents one.

I decided that I'd take my parents one home and try revive them both at the same time. Every day or two, I gave them a little bit of water, and every week I'd feed them (with woolies plant food).

I tried taking them out their pots, mixing up the soil, and popping them back. As the leaves were all completely dead (they broke apart in my fingers), I figured they were of no use being on the trees any more, so I plucked them off in the hopes of new leaves growing when summertime arrived.

I thought it was just a winter phase, but months later, they look absolutely dead. I'll take a pic tonight so you get an idea of what they look like.

I'm completely stumped, because I followed the instructions that came with it to the tee!

Perhaps it was just a bad Woolworths batch, or they didn't acclimatise very well?
 
No :( But they sat on the windowsill in my bathroom.

Full sunlight, lots of air (windows are big and always open - no I'm not an exhibitionist :P)

They're still sitting there, like tree corpses. I was going to plant them in the garden to see if that helped.
 
I agree - but they're looking that bad... I honestly think the only thing that can bring them back is divine intervention.
 
mr_norris said:
No :( But they sat on the windowsill in my bathroom.

Full sunlight, lots of air (windows are big and always open - no I'm not an exhibitionist :P)

They're still sitting there, like tree corpses. I was going to plant them in the garden to see if that helped.
Click to expand...
North facing window? I've got two in the office that have been doing well for around 5 years, they're near a west window (afternoon sun) but don't get direct sun.
 
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Direct sun is not good for Bonsai trees.
Woolworths is probably part of your problem not to mention the plant food.

Taking them out of the pots and mixing the soil?
Also not a good idea for bonsai as they grow restricted which causes the bonsai effect.

Did you research this before hand or was it just an impulse buy?
Bonsai trees are great but need a fair bit of care to keep them growing.
 
mr_norris said:
And is it possible to revive them?

Somehow I decided that I wanted a bonsai tree months ago. To start off, I bought one from Woolworths for mothers day last year. Later, I bought one for myself.

This is what mine looked like a day or two after I'd bought it:

Pic Link

About a week later, the leaves started fading. The same thing happened with my parents one.

I decided that I'd take my parents one home and try revive them both at the same time. Every day or two, I gave them a little bit of water, and every week I'd feed them (with woolies plant food).

I tried taking them out their pots, mixing up the soil, and popping them back. As the leaves were all completely dead (they broke apart in my fingers), I figured they were of no use being on the trees any more, so I plucked them off in the hopes of new leaves growing when summertime arrived.

I thought it was just a winter phase, but months later, they look absolutely dead. I'll take a pic tonight so you get an idea of what they look like.

I'm completely stumped, because I followed the instructions that came with it to the tee!

Perhaps it was just a bad Woolworths batch, or they didn't acclimatise very well?
Click to expand...


Firstly there's dead and there's dormant...especially right after repotting many people freak out thinking they killed their plants which isn't always the case. Keep watering them and you should be fine.

Secondly the Woolworths plants are a bit of a sham as they aren't potted correctly and simply imported "as is" since soil is on the ban list they use that weird cotton wool packing stuff. So you did the right thing repotting them, however if you repotted it at the right time of the year which you probably did depending on the plant in question then there's a good chance they will go into shock and appear dead.

Depending on the size of the plant you want to give them about half a cup of water every three days or so. You can if you want "bath" them once a week by letting them sitting in water (the entire bowl) for about twenty minutes so the roots really soak up the water. Personally I water mine every single day instead but with much less water obviously.

I also have some Bonsai specific nutrients that go in the plants one a week.

Lastly "in the window" is a terribly bad idea due to refraction. You either want them entirely outside or in an inner space where they won't get refracted sunlight from the window which will either burn them to death or not give them any beneficial light whatsoever.
 
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Remember that there is no such thing as an indoor plant - only plants that can tolerate indoor conditions. You probably were not watering it enough.
 
MickZA said:
North facing window? I've got two in the office that have been doing well for around 5 years, they're near a west window (afternoon sun) but don't get direct sun.
Click to expand...

Yeah I think it is. The light hits the window in the afternoon.

Electric said:
Direct sun is not good for Bonsai trees.
Woolworths is probably part of your problem not to mention the plant food.

Taking them out of the pots and mixing the soil?
Also not a good idea for bonsai as they grow restricted which causes the bonsai effect.

Did you research this before hand or was it just an impulse buy?
Bonsai trees are great but need a fair bit of care to keep them growing.
Click to expand...

Didn't really research. I figured that keeping them alive should be relatively simple. It said feed twice a month, so that's what I did :P

SauRoNZA said:
Firstly there's dead and there's dormant...especially right after repotting many people freak out thinking they killed their plants which isn't always the case. Keep watering them and you should be fine.

Secondly the Woolworths plants are a bit of a sham as they aren't potted correctly and simply imported "as is" since soil is on the ban list they use that weird cotton wool packing stuff. So you did the right thing repotting them, however if you repotted it at the right time of the year which you probably did depending on the plant in question then there's a good chance they will go into shock and appear dead.

Depending on the size of the plant you want to give them about half a cup of water every three days or so. You can if you want "bath" them once a week by letting them sitting in water (the entire bowl) for about twenty minutes so the roots really soak up the water. Personally I water mine every single day instead but with much less water obviously.

I also have some Bonsai specific nutrients that go in the plants one a week.

Lastly "in the window" is a terribly bad idea due to refraction. You either want them entirely outside or in an inner space where they won't get refracted sunlight from the window which will either burn them to death or not give them any beneficial light whatsoever.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. Very helpful. I hope they're just dormant, feel like a bit of a failed parent :P Will try watering as you suggested, and hunt around for the Bonsai specific nutrients.
 
mr_norris said:
Thanks for the advice. Very helpful. I hope they're just dormant, feel like a bit of a failed parent :P Will try watering as you suggested, and hunt around for the Bonsai specific nutrients.
Click to expand...

How often do you currently water and how much?
 
Ancalagon said:
Remember that there is no such thing as an indoor plant - only plants that can tolerate indoor conditions. You probably were not watering it enough.
Click to expand...

Yeah I think so as well...

Ancalagon said:
What species of tree is it?
Click to expand...

I think it's a Wild Olive. Will confirm once I'm home though, can't see the label in my pic.

SauRoNZA said:
How often do you currently water and how much?
Click to expand...

I used to give them a bit of water every night (like a third of a cup), then I stopped.
 
if you took them out of the soil it should've been to kiss them goodbye. they wouldn't like that at all.
 
Pls learn about life cycle of trees.It would be a good option to start one from seed so that you can watch it and learn.

What i do with Bonsais from the shop :

Get home, mix new soil mix (compost,peat,some perlite)
Trim roots
Repot and water till soaked.
How to know when to water?
Put finger 2 cm into soil, if feeling bone dry add water.Adjust for hotter/colder days.

Pls start with Ficus next time, they are move forgiving for beginners.:p
 
Batista said:
Pls learn about life cycle of trees.It would be a good option to start one from seed so that you can watch it and learn.

What i do with Bonsais from the shop :

Get home, mix new soil mix (compost,peat,some perlite)
Trim roots
Repot and water till soaked.
How to know when to water?
Put finger 2 cm into soil, if feeling bone dry add water.Adjust for hotter/colder days.

Pls start with Ficus next time, they are move forgiving for beginners.:p
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice... back then I wasn't active on myBB, wish I was though... I think I'd have living trees :'(
 
mr_norris said:
Thanks for the advice... back then I wasn't active on myBB, wish I was though... I think I'd have living trees :'(
Click to expand...

Lol cool, that nightly watering definitely drowned the roots.Only water every 3-4 days and always test first.
 
So here is a photo I took a few minutes ago. Apologies for the bad quality. My phone was dying so flash wouldn't work.

The one on the left is mine. It's the only one I have much hope for, as the one on the right is my parents - and unfortunately it got rained with soapy water (my dad... he wasn't looking, put it in the sink, and emptied soapy water all over it). It still has the leaves, but they're all dead.

I would say I'll follow everyones advice and report back in a week or so with progress, but after months of absolutely no change, I don't have much hope.

At least the rock is nice :P
 
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