AusBonsai

Hi all,

Sorry if this isn't right, I haven't posted on this forum before.
 i got a kyoto serissa and chinese elm bonsai from Aldi today. They look very sick, esp the serissa, and are the cheap kind with the glued pebbles on top. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to save them?

Thank you and stay safe!!

These thing can be real sulky if it comes good it may take awhile.
Firstly pull off all the stuck down rocks on top. Your plant looks very dry I suggest you water it and then sit it in a tray of water over night. No it wont drown then tomorrow repot into fresh soil water and leave it to settle outside. Semi shade pending where you are from so can’t say much more due temp in your area.
Cheers
Kirky

Serissa are quite tough and it should recover from this.
As recommended soak immediately to rehydrate your trees.
Trees belong outside and bonsai are just trees in pots so do better outside. You will need special conditions if you want to keep either serissa or Chinese elm inside the house.
The world is a big place. Even Australia has vastly different climates. Adding a general location to your profile will allow members to give recommendations more tailored to your climate and area.

I disagree with Kirky and shibui..... the first thing you should do is get it off the ceiling and stand it the right way up. Trees don't like being upside down.

I believe serissa comes from China - northern hemisphere.
After coming down under it can take years of training to get them to grow the right way up

Apologies for the jokes Dustbunny Not trying to pick on you or make light of your tree's problem. Ausbonsai appears to rotate pictures back to the original orientation so probably not even your fault the photo is inverted.
Good luck with getting both your trees back to healthy condition.

shibui wrote: ↑March 21st, 2020, 9:54 pm Serissa are quite tough and it should recover from this.

I could call Serissas a lot of things but tough wouldn't be one of them. They are one of the most touchy things I grow. I do like them though. How many old Serissa bonsai have you seen?

Dustbunny wrote: ↑March 21st, 2020, 5:34 pm Hi all,

Sorry if this isn't right, I haven't posted on this forum before.
 i got a kyoto serissa and chinese elm bonsai from Aldi today. They look very sick, esp the serissa, and are the cheap kind with the glued pebbles on top. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to save them?

Thank you and stay safe!!

20200321_141508.jpg

People who glue pebbles in bonsai pots should be arrested for atrocities to plants. Serrisas don't like drying out and they don't like being wet. Their roots are as fine as threads and very susceptible to changeable conditions in the pot.

treeman wrote:

shibui wrote: ↑March 21st, 2020, 9:54 pm Serissa are quite tough and it should recover from this.

I could call Serissas a lot of things but tough wouldn't be one of them. They are one of the most touchy things I grow. I do like them though. How many old Serissa bonsai have you seen?

I’ve never been able to keep one alive. My parents had a big one in their garden but I think they are hard to grow in a pot.


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They sulk if you look at them sideways. I have two and if I move them I have to make sure I put them back exactly in the same place or boom all the leaves drop off. Miss a watering boom all the leaves drop off. I still don’t know why I bother with them except they are lovely when in flower.
Cheers
Kirky

I've never been able to keep them alive for some reason..... I just thought they hated me and stuck by that for quite some time.

One was given to me in a large bonsai pot. It produces lots of suckers so I've potted up lots and they have all done well. Got some more from a garden I was cleaning up - rooted suckers from around the original plant. All are doing well.
In the poly house, outside in the frost, under the benches in the nursery. All seem to be alive and growing. Development is disappointing though. They don't seem to ramify much and I've given up thinking about a thick trunk.
I've read about them being difficult but have not seen that in the plants I have here.

Maybe it's because I don't look at them much at all Kirky?

I’ve given up on them Neal they get watered, feed, and repotted after repotting they drop their leaves. When I cleaned my benches, general clean up took a couple of weeks moved them about 4-5 feet from where they were leaves dropped.
I only have two of them, one I thought was dead as it was bare for months if not a year and then there was life. I think they only survive to torment me. Jokes on them I don’t care anymore they seem to like that. Rotten things at least here in Melbourne. They may be going in my next cull.
Cheers
Kirky

Thanks so much everyone for your help!
It's been soaked overnight, and put outside (can't believe anything you read on the internet ) so will have to wait and see.

I knew they were very sick when I got them, but figured if they die it was still worth it for the pots. So no tears if they die, but they will receive all the tlc I can give them.

Pls don't apologise Shibui! You and Raging Bill made my day! Nice to hear something funny in these strange times.
I still don't know why the photo ended up upside down though. Which makes me feel old..

I agree Treeman! I don't understand why they do it! They shall be coming off asap.

Thanks everyone for helping a newbie!

Just a note on the Chinese Elm you never posted a photo. At this time of year the leaves will yellow and drop being deciduous they wont need as much water with no leaves. So don’t over water during winter leave out side and water weekly especially if you leave them in these tiny pots.
Cheers
Kirky

I caution anyone who purchases "bonsai" from shops like ALDI, as they are not really into horticulture but into a fast buck. If you want decent bonsai material then buy from a reputable source. Bonsai associations can help here.