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#1
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Please help! ...trying to revive an abandoned bonsai
I need some help on how to revive a dying bonsai. It is a ficus
macrophylla about 40 cm tall. It doesn't look good. It has no leaves but the scratch test reveals that the trunk and most major branches are still green. A friend of mine left it in a garage where it got only a little light and almost no water for over a month. This is when all the leaves went brown but stayed attached. The last 3 weeks I have been watering it correctly (watering till the water soaks and runs through only when the soil is dry) and have moved it outside to a sunny position (seeing as I read OUTSIDE is best and it likes the sun). I read that this variety doesn't like temperatures below 15C, and am worried because winter is starting here in Sydney and the temperature at night is 13C and only gonna get colder. I have been searching forums on the net for over a week now and haven't really found definite answers to the following questions... They a Should I leave it outside or inside near a window? Should I trim off the dead branches now or wait? (and if I wait then wait for... new growth? spring?) Should I remove the wiring on the branches? Or should I just take it to a professional seeing as it used to be a very nice looking plant!? Any help from someone more experienced than myself would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Lee and Paul |
#2
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Please help! ...trying to revive an abandoned bonsai
Paul, I am no expert but I believe Ficus defoliate as a response to
dryness. I mean, at least some species, go through a dry season, drop their leaves, and go dormant. If it begins to grow again (a month is rather long), gradually re-introduce it to bright light, and keep it inside for the winter. I'm not sure, but I think most Ficus are tropical or semi-tropical plants. As far as reviving it, it sounds like you're doing what I would do. Just move it inside before you start getting frost. If you decide to remove the wire (if it's not too tight, why bother?) cut it do not unwind. I wouldn't do it now unless it was really necessary. As for cutting dead branches - if you are sure they're dead, then go ahead. Otherwise wait for new growth. And finally, relax. Just like it takes time for plants to show stress, it takes time for them to recover from it. I think raising the relative humidity around the tree would help too. I wouldn't feed it until you see new growth. Hope this helps! Bob Campoli Paul wrote: I need some help on how to revive a dying bonsai. It is a ficus macrophylla about 40 cm tall. It doesn't look good. It has no leaves but the scratch test reveals that the trunk and most major branches are still green. Should I leave it outside or inside near a window? Should I trim off the dead branches now or wait? (and if I wait then wait for... new growth? spring?) Should I remove the wiring on the branches? Or should I just take it to a professional seeing as it used to be a very nice looking plant!? Any help from someone more experienced than myself would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Lee and Paul |
#3
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Quote:
If you are not able to protect it outside, then sure take it inside - but put it in a sunny but draught free position. Don't prune off any dead stuff yet - wait till spring and see where the new leaves shoot from. If the branches have wire on them, yes, take it all off. If you really think you need some professional advice then try contacting one of the Sydney based Bonsai clubs, or if you PM me (with your suburb), I can give you a few addresses of some very experienced Bonsai people that would be only too pleased to give you some assistance. Hope your tree recovers - Figs are great to work with. As an aside, While I lived in Darwin a magnificent Ficus Macrophylla won Champion Bonsai in 1991 - the leaves had reduced to about 15mm in length! |
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