Bonsai rehab
When we last spoke about my bonsai I had just inherited it from my sister in law with an apartment and no outdoor space😂
I’m glad to say it has now developed new leaves and branches and is beginning to fill out. I also fertilized it for the first time since it’s been in my care a few days ago.
As I’m sure you can also see, it’s looking a little bald in what I would consider “the front” if it wasn’t all dead😂 Is that part of the tree a goner or is there some way I can encourage new growth?
If I can’t encourage some growth from those points what would your next steps be? More leaving it alone?😂 #NoPatience #Bonsai #DwarfWisteria #Wisteria #update #rehabplants
I’m glad to say it has now developed new leaves and branches and is beginning to fill out. I also fertilized it for the first time since it’s been in my care a few days ago.
As I’m sure you can also see, it’s looking a little bald in what I would consider “the front” if it wasn’t all dead😂 Is that part of the tree a goner or is there some way I can encourage new growth?
If I can’t encourage some growth from those points what would your next steps be? More leaving it alone?😂 #NoPatience #Bonsai #DwarfWisteria #Wisteria #update #rehabplants
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@br3nna Hi Brenna- if those two limbs aren’t creating new leaves at all, I would chop them off. The plant will give that part of it too much of its energy and it will grow slower than ever. If you chop them off the plant doesn’t have to worry about them any longer and can concentrate on new growth 😁
@Ponytailmom sorry I forgot to mention one of them is producing the tiniest baby leaves but only at the bottom of that limb.
The ones that aren’t growing anything new I will definitely chop!
The ones that aren’t growing anything new I will definitely chop!
@planthoe40 this bonsai came from a small local greenhouse in my area! Have you checked yours to see if they can have any shipped? I’m all for supporting small businesses when I can!
Dieback on the lower branches and is sitting in a temporary plastic nursery pot placed inside a decorative glazed pot.
Here is a step-by-step plan to help it recover and thrive:
1. Scratch Test & Pruning (Immediate Action)
Check dead wood: Gently scratch the outer bark of the lower bare/brown branches with a thumbnail or clean shear blade.
If it's green underneath, the branch is alive—leave it alone.
If it's brown, dry, and brittle, that branch is dead.
Prune dead growth: Snip off the completely dead, crispy twigs near the trunk using clean, sharp pruning shears. This stops fungal issues and helps you see the actual healthy structure.
2. Fix the Potting & Soil Setup
Check drainage: The plastic nursery liner sitting inside the green ceramic dish can trap standing water at the bottom, which leads to root rot.
Watering technique: Ensure water can drain out completely every time you water. Do not let the inner pot sit in stagnant water collected in the outer dish.
Repotting: Avoid full root pruning right now while the plant is stressed, but consider slip-potting (lifting the root ball out without disturbing it and placing it into proper bonsai soil with fast drainage) during its proper growing/dormant season, or once it stabilizes.
3. Light & Watering Care
Light: Place it in a location with bright, indirect sunlight (or partial direct morning sun). If kept indoors, place it near a bright window or under a quality grow light.
Watering: Water thoroughly only when the top inch of the soil feels dry to the touch. Pour water until it runs out of the drainage holes, then discard any excess water from the outer dish.
Humidity: If humidity is low, light misting or placing a humidity tray nearby can help tropical/subtropical bonsai bounce back.
4. Fertilizer & Recovery
Hold off on strong fertilizer: Do not apply high-nitrogen chemical fertilizer while the plant is recovering from stress, as it can burn vulnerable roots. Wait until you see steady new leaf growth before introducing mild organic plant food.
Here is a step-by-step plan to help it recover and thrive:
1. Scratch Test & Pruning (Immediate Action)
Check dead wood: Gently scratch the outer bark of the lower bare/brown branches with a thumbnail or clean shear blade.
If it's green underneath, the branch is alive—leave it alone.
If it's brown, dry, and brittle, that branch is dead.
Prune dead growth: Snip off the completely dead, crispy twigs near the trunk using clean, sharp pruning shears. This stops fungal issues and helps you see the actual healthy structure.
2. Fix the Potting & Soil Setup
Check drainage: The plastic nursery liner sitting inside the green ceramic dish can trap standing water at the bottom, which leads to root rot.
Watering technique: Ensure water can drain out completely every time you water. Do not let the inner pot sit in stagnant water collected in the outer dish.
Repotting: Avoid full root pruning right now while the plant is stressed, but consider slip-potting (lifting the root ball out without disturbing it and placing it into proper bonsai soil with fast drainage) during its proper growing/dormant season, or once it stabilizes.
3. Light & Watering Care
Light: Place it in a location with bright, indirect sunlight (or partial direct morning sun). If kept indoors, place it near a bright window or under a quality grow light.
Watering: Water thoroughly only when the top inch of the soil feels dry to the touch. Pour water until it runs out of the drainage holes, then discard any excess water from the outer dish.
Humidity: If humidity is low, light misting or placing a humidity tray nearby can help tropical/subtropical bonsai bounce back.
4. Fertilizer & Recovery
Hold off on strong fertilizer: Do not apply high-nitrogen chemical fertilizer while the plant is recovering from stress, as it can burn vulnerable roots. Wait until you see steady new leaf growth before introducing mild organic plant food.
Glad to see it’s recovering! You must be giving it some excellent care. The die back sucks but the new growth near the trunk is fantastic sign that’s it’s recovering and starting to thrive.
Since it’s summer I would leave the those branches for now, remove them next spring or late winter when it’s dormant.
One thing you can do, if you notice new growth near the base, often called suckers, those you can just pinch off.
Since it’s summer I would leave the those branches for now, remove them next spring or late winter when it’s dormant.
One thing you can do, if you notice new growth near the base, often called suckers, those you can just pinch off.
@Succulent_Soul I do want to encourage new growth near the trunk on some of those limb so I am going to leave them at least for a little while longer since there is new leaves on one of them!