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.

Thanks.

Morné

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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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.

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Boon Manakitivipart++++
************************************************** ******************************
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

Jim Lewis wrote:

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).

it is a japanese one more resistent to the cold than

ches 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.

probably you have a s amny people in this period a problem of root decay..
teh weather is changing but not the watering habits

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.
I do not think this might have affecte dteh flant unless teh tools
were infected by some virus

2. My bonsai is due for repotting at the end of this year.
I sgould check teh root pad first
if roots a re brown as rotten when you slightly pull them , you
should cut until find the white and sound root
wash all teh pad properly apply e disinfection product or powder with
root hormons
and make a good draining soil and put teh serissa in teher again
water and wait for next watering until teh soil is 80% dry
take a wider pot o wooden box fill it with peat or decaided roots a
nest your serissa pot inside
I did taht with my 4 cuttings last november 03 and stayed out in
Geneva winter all teh time till today... zone 7 all grew wonderfully
and are flowering now..
Serissa roots easily but hates soggy soil


But off course there could be others.

I have tried the following:
1. Used a little bit extra vertilizer.
never use fertilizer on a sich plant
if small roots are dead she has no mouth to eat it so fertilizer will
stagnate and built up sats and your start the infernal cycle
2. double checked its rate at which it gets water.
give water only when teh soil is 80% dry
soak it well and neve add water until the follwoing time..
adding sips sometimes to times makes you loose teh control on watering
3. Got rid off all the dead leaves.
yeah take 'em away from the soil
keep the plant is half shadow OUTSIDE according where you live

Can you describe the leaves as they "die?" Do they turn yellow,
then fall off? Do they turn brown, and stay on the plant?
yellow and fall is normal
turn balck can be root decay bad watering fungus or others

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?
she does not like to be deplaced I leave her for teh moment in teh
same place outside since 12 months and is great !
I have 5 cuttings all took roots


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Private Mail :
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(Jim Lewis) wrote
For some reason, Serissa questions seem to have fallen to me (of
ALL people) to answer, lately.


I take pity on you, Jim. So I will take over.

It is not widely known, but I once had a serissa. It lived outside in
the summer and in a glassed-in porch in the winter. It was no problem
at all until I moved to a house that didn't have a glassed-in porch.

I don't think botanists wander in the semi-tropical forests of China
and say "Look at those finicky serissas dropping their leaves! I
wonder what's wrong with them?" I suspect Serissas aren't finicky at
all when they are given the proper conditions. They like high
humidity and they like to be cool in winter. In summer, they like
dappled sunlight OUTDOORS.

Nina, who has to fit a bonsai in the front seat of her miata and drive
way the hell to Blooming Grove, NY this weekend.

Nina, who has to fit a bonsai in the front seat of her miata and drive
way the hell to Blooming Grove, NY this weekend.



We'll see you there.

jim

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Jim Lewis wrote:


Nina, who has to fit a bonsai in the front seat of her miata and drive
way the hell to Blooming Grove, NY this weekend.


We'll see you there.

jim


Ok, I'm taking the bait. Anita and I are looking forward to this representation
from the IBC at the wedding. We'll be posting pics on the gallery when we get back
from Maine and Arizona.

Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37

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I agree with Nona
I had my cuttings outside one year around to test and all is fine and
a re flowering right now in zone 7..
I have 2 articles one in Italian and one in french the later is 2
pages about serissa and states as we just said..
both the the information are good ones..
my first serissa 20 years ago was kicked out in dispair,
morover indoor develope a lot of little pests like spiders white
flyes loose leaves and root decay suffer heat trought teh glass
panels and dry air and cold treads .. house are a lethal environment
for serissas
Theo

Nina Shishkoff wrote:

(Jim Lewis) wrote

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



I take pity on you, Jim. So I will take over.

It is not widely known, but I once had a serissa. It lived outside in
the summer and in a glassed-in porch in the winter. It was no problem
at all until I moved to a house that didn't have a glassed-in porch.

I don't think botanists wander in the semi-tropical forests of China
and say "Look at those finicky serissas dropping their leaves! I
wonder what's wrong with them?" I suspect Serissas aren't finicky at
all when they are given the proper conditions. They like high
humidity and they like to be cool in winter. In summer, they like
dappled sunlight OUTDOORS.

Nina, who has to fit a bonsai in the front seat of her miata and drive
way the hell to Blooming Grove, NY this weekend.

--
MSN messanger / or ICQ 25 666 169 4
Private Mail :
«»«»«» Just for today... don't worry .....be happy «»«»«»

I agree with Nona
I had my cuttings outside one year around to test and all is fine and
a re flowering right now in zone 7..
I have 2 articles one in Italian and one in french the later is 2
pages about serissa and states as we just said..
both the the information are good ones..
my first serissa 20 years ago was kicked out in dispair,
morover indoor develope a lot of little pests like spiders white
flyes loose leaves and root decay suffer heat trought teh glass
panels and dry air and cold treads .. house are a lethal environment
for serissas
Theo

Nina Shishkoff wrote:

(Jim Lewis) wrote

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



I take pity on you, Jim. So I will take over.

It is not widely known, but I once had a serissa. It lived outside in
the summer and in a glassed-in porch in the winter. It was no problem
at all until I moved to a house that didn't have a glassed-in porch.

I don't think botanists wander in the semi-tropical forests of China
and say "Look at those finicky serissas dropping their leaves! I
wonder what's wrong with them?" I suspect Serissas aren't finicky at
all when they are given the proper conditions. They like high
humidity and they like to be cool in winter. In summer, they like
dappled sunlight OUTDOORS.

Nina, who has to fit a bonsai in the front seat of her miata and drive
way the hell to Blooming Grove, NY this weekend.

--
MSN messanger / or ICQ 25 666 169 4
Private Mail :
«»«»«» Just for today... don't worry .....be happy «»«»«»

Hi Four of you there

What is Blooming Grove and WHAT is going on there? Please share with us
all!

Anil Kaushik
Bonsai Club (India)
Chandigarh "The City Beautiful"


----- Original Message -----
From: "Craig Cowing"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2004 7:49 PM
Subject: [IBC] Serissa bonsai in trouble


Jim Lewis wrote:


Nina, who has to fit a bonsai in the front seat of her miata and drive
way the hell to Blooming Grove, NY this weekend.


We'll see you there.

jim


Ok, I'm taking the bait. Anita and I are looking forward to this
representation
from the IBC at the wedding. We'll be posting pics on the gallery when we
get back
from Maine and Arizona.

Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37


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****
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****
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++


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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

On 13 Oct 2004 at 21:28, Anil Kaushik wrote:

Hi Four of you there

What is Blooming Grove and WHAT is going on there? Please share with us
all!

Anil Kaushik
Bonsai Club (India)
Chandigarh "The City Beautiful"


Blooming Grove is a small town in the Hudson River Valley of New
York State.

What is going on there is that IBCer Craig Cowing and IBCer
Anita Hawkins are getting married this coming weekend and a few
of us other IBCers will be on hand to celebrate the first ever
IBC wedding with them.

It also may be the only wedding that has a bonsai display
associated with it. ;-)

If you hurry, you can make it, too.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Bonsaiests
are like genealogists: We know our roots!

************************************************** ******************************
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************************************************** ******************************
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

On 13 Oct 2004 at 21:28, Anil Kaushik wrote:

Hi Four of you there

What is Blooming Grove and WHAT is going on there? Please share with us
all!

Anil Kaushik
Bonsai Club (India)
Chandigarh "The City Beautiful"


Blooming Grove is a small town in the Hudson River Valley of New
York State.

What is going on there is that IBCer Craig Cowing and IBCer
Anita Hawkins are getting married this coming weekend and a few
of us other IBCers will be on hand to celebrate the first ever
IBC wedding with them.

It also may be the only wedding that has a bonsai display
associated with it. ;-)

If you hurry, you can make it, too.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Bonsaiests
are like genealogists: We know our roots!

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Boon Manakitivipart++++
************************************************** ******************************
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

Anil Kaushik wrote:

Hi Four of you there

What is Blooming Grove and WHAT is going on there? Please share with us
all!

Anil Kaushik
Bonsai Club (India)
Chandigarh "The City Beautiful"


Blooming Grove is the name of the town in New York where I live. Anita Hawkins
(long time denizen of the IBC) and I are getting married in the church I am serving
as pastor. As a part of the festivities we're having a bonsai exhibit--mostly our
trees, but Nina Shishkoff, another list member, is bringing a couple of trees as
well. We have the photographer set to take digital pictures of the exhibit, so
when we get back from the honeymoon we'll post pics!

Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37

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Jim Lewis wrote:

On 13 Oct 2004 at 21:28, Anil Kaushik wrote:

Hi Four of you there

What is Blooming Grove and WHAT is going on there? Please share with us
all!

Anil Kaushik
Bonsai Club (India)
Chandigarh "The City Beautiful"

Blooming Grove is a small town in the Hudson River Valley of New
York State.


Well, not as small as it used to be. Depends on how you describe small. It's
small enough that the whole population could fit in Fenway Park. Not that they'd
want to go there. They'd rather be in Yankee Stadium. I couldn't care either way.


What is going on there is that IBCer Craig Cowing and IBCer
Anita Hawkins are getting married this coming weekend and a few
of us other IBCers will be on hand to celebrate the first ever
IBC wedding with them.

It also may be the only wedding that has a bonsai display
associated with it. ;-)


Actually, I had a friend in Maine who used to rent out some of his better trees for
weddings. I'm sure others have done the same. But a multi-tree exhibit--maybe!


If you hurry, you can make it, too.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Bonsaiests
are like genealogists: We know our roots!


Come on over, Anil! We're having lasagna for lunch at the reception. Plus, you'd
win the prize for the person who travelled the farthest. Right now that honor goes
to Anita's sister and brother-in-law who are flying in from Colorado.

Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37

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Craig Cowing wrote:



Blooming Grove is the name of the town in New York where I live. Anita Hawkins
(long time denizen of the IBC) and I are getting married in the church I am serving
as pastor. As a part of the festivities we're having a bonsai exhibit--mostly our
trees, but Nina Shishkoff, another list member, is bringing a couple of trees as
well. We have the photographer set to take digital pictures of the exhibit, so
when we get back from the honeymoon we'll post pics!

What a lovely happy ending !
all best to both of you
Theo



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Private Mail :
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