On 12 Oct 2004 at 7:18, friendly wrote:

I hope that someone can help me. I've got a 8 year old Serissa (the
kind that gives white little roses). My bonsai has 2 main branches and
the problem is that all the sub-branches on the second one seems to be
dying. The second branch only has dried up leaves on it and seems very
bare next to the other main branch that seems to be florishing. I
might be paranoid, but I think it is happening to the other branch now
as well. What also bothers me is that my Serissa hasn't given any
flowers in quite some time.

The only 2 factors that I can think of that might be causing this is
the following:
1. I pruned off 2 dead sub-branches off the second main branch, just
before this started happening.
2. My bonsai is due for repotting at the end of this year.

But off course there could be others.

I have tried the following:
1. Used a little bit extra vertilizer.
2. double checked its rate at which it gets water.
3. Got rid off all the dead leaves.

Can anybody please help.

For some reason, Serissa questions seem to have fallen to me (of
ALL people) to answer, lately.

How long have you had the tree?

Can you describe the leaves as they "die?" Do they turn yellow,
then fall off? Do they turn brown, and stay on the plant?

Have you moved this tree -- as to inside the house from outside,
or even from a sunny window to one with more shade, or from a
warm room to a cooler one?

Serissa are tough plants, so it may not be "in trouble." They
tend to drop leaves as often as a Hollywood gossip columnist
drops names, and at the slightest provocation -- as in moving a
tree from point A to point B.

BUT . . .

1. Fertilizer is NOT medicine for a plant. Sick plants more
often do better without fertilizer than with. So hold off on
any more fertilizer.

and

2. Leafless, or ailing plants usually don't need (use) much
water. ONLY water when the soil feels dry. Otherwise you risk
root rot, and your tree WILL be "in trouble".

If the leaves have turned brown and are staying on the tree, it
may well be in trouble, and a likely cause is overwatering and
root rot. This is fairly hard to do with Serissa, who like wet
feet -- at least in the summer. In fall, however, it is
possible to overwater.

If this is the problem, you might want to repot right away
because root rot only gets worse. Remove ALL of soil and all
dead, mushy roots. Wash remaining roots thoroughly in clear
water. Repot in good bonsai soil -- free draining and very
granular.

After repotting water thoroughly, then only water when it feels
dry. Keep the tree in a warm, bright spot away from drying
winds. In 2-3 weeks give some fertilizer, following label
directions.

And, as always, unless you've had it from puppyhood, I ask how
you know it is 8 years old.

Good luck.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.

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