AusBonsai

Hallo,
Trim my Turkish Oak bonsai earlier this week. It had Just started to get leaves. It was very pot bound, so ended up cutting 80% of the roots...
Now wilted and leaves starting to brown. Also switched to mainly inorganic soil and put in some osmocote.
Being watered sifficiently.
Can anything else help?
Thanks
Ginny

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Hi Ginny
When trimming that much off the root mass most folks do it some time after leaf drop in autumn.
Personally I have killed more than one deciduous tree by waiting too late into spring so try to get in early now
From your description of what you have done thus far, well
I would keep the soil damp, not wet and leave it in a shady spot out of direct sun
Then maybe say a prey if so inclined.
Next time around do the root cut/repot just before the tree leafs out, when buds are swelling preferably or before that
Hope others have better news for you

I think that oaks don't like having too much cut off the roots at one time - Less than 50% is probably safer.
Thy are resilient so hopefully it will survive but from my experiences you may have some parts die and it may take a few years to start growing strong again.

gin_boon wrote:Hallo,
Trim my Turkish Oak bonsai earlier this week. It had Just started to get leaves. It was very pot bound, so ended up cutting 80% of the roots...
Now wilted and leaves starting to brown. Also switched to mainly inorganic soil and put in some osmocote.
Being watered sifficiently.
Can anything else help?
Thanks
Ginny

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Oaks should be treated like pines. Your tree sounds like it's dead.

treeman wrote:

gin_boon wrote:Hallo,
Trim my Turkish Oak bonsai earlier this week. It had Just started to get leaves. It was very pot bound, so ended up cutting 80% of the roots...
Now wilted and leaves starting to brown. Also switched to mainly inorganic soil and put in some osmocote.
Being watered sifficiently.
Can anything else help?
Thanks
Ginny

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Oaks should be treated like pines. Your tree sounds like it's dead.

Mike proberly is right . Get it into just filtered light , keep it somewhat moist but no soggern and see if time is one your side . It may rebud and if its still green under bark theres a chance , if not its done and a lesson learnt . We have all killed a bonsai or two

Well, we will now have to wait and see. The slow deaths are the worst.

Though I did find this article, so have placed him in water.

http://www.bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/ATquer ... otting.htm

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The example you posted is of a tree in full leaf collected out of season. It’s treatment will be different to what your tree requires.
Removing 80% wow! That’s a lot for an Oak, your tree is currently under a lot of stress. Oaks like Pines have a symbiotic relationship with the microbes in the soil and the roots removing so much may well kill this tree.
If there are no leaves on your tree I would not sit it in water. You need leaves before the roots will draw on the water. If you have no leaves you run the risk of drowning the little roots you have left. You are better to sit the tree in semi shade and water with Seasol to encourage root growth, watering only when required, you must allow it to dry out a bit before watering again, don’t over water. Too many stressed Bonsai are killed due to, too much after care. Over watering, too much shade, over feeding. A stressed tree needs care but in moderation, not extremes, better to resist over kill and give it a chance to recover. Good luck.
Cheers
Kirky

Thanks Kirky, he has wilted green leaves, but I've left him for a week so may return to a read tree. Given trees rely on microbes and fungus in soil, does transferring to inorganic soil type impede this?

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Good news, the oak survived and is thriving. Bad news, my maple just does not seem to be bursting into leaf, only one leaf but doesn't look dead. Any suggestions?

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A photo of your Maple would help. But I would say if only one leaf at this time of year it will probably die. Could be a fungus hard to say without more information.
Cheers
Kirky

no sun, hide it away under the bush with no light

Not sure I understand

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