I’ve got this Lonicera and Buxus short time ago from a Lady. She was nice and told to me that she’s always dunking them while watering. The soil have a good chunk of organic... I’m not sure if I can correct the situation without repotting them offseason, but looks like by the leaves, they have troubles already.

Just adjust the watering and you should be fine.

The nursery i take my classes has a very high organic component too, as thry cannot afford to water more often in summer. The trees thrive. Substrate and care need to be in balance. You are good enough with plants to make this word. Then come spring you can move them into your preferred substrate.

leatherback wrote:

Just adjust the watering and you should be fine.

Thanks LB, I’ll do like this

Interesting trunk.
The Lonicera could be really nice in the future, as long as you keep it alive!
(OK, bad joke).

Clicio wrote:

Interesting trunk.
The Lonicera could be really nice in the future,

Today I’ve inspected a bit closer and looks like it was already nice once. I know the origins of those two, and I believe the Lonicera was in development at least 8 years before the guy sold it to this Lady. Maybe I can get some photos from it’s prime-time.

Clicio wrote:

as long as you keep it alive!
(OK, bad joke).

Haha! You know it wasn’t entirely my fault, do you?
Jokes aside... I’ll try to bounce it back, but you can see on the photos, It’s really not on it’s best shape now. The few new growth looks healthy, but the remaining is just a yellow mess without any vigor. They still wet.. Two days ago when I picked them up, my first sight of them when they where underwater on a ceramic bathtub on that Lady’s garden.
I believe if I can give back his roots, I can can give back his charm also..

I took some pics today to make a judgement

when was this fertilized last?
Wondering whether that is the real reason for yellow leaves..

leatherback wrote:

when was this fertilized last?
Wondering whether that is the real reason for yellow leaves..

Shouldn’t be so long ago if I follow the lady’s words. She said she starts to fertilizing at spring (with biogold) and I also remember she said she took her trees back at April (they are overwintering at a bonsai nursery).

But LB, it’s a moment I thinking about something... How?
She said she dunk them always for watering. I saw the water was crystal clear, so she didn’t diluting the solid ferts on it.
Is she planted the cakes on the soil around the tree? If yes, the trees still can get enough micronuts after 2-3 dunking?
The soil not looks disturbed and I don’t think (feel) there are fertilizer pellets burrowed under.

How can we use solid fertilizer properly with this watering method?
Should I try to give them iron before anything else?

Felidae wrote:

How can we use solid fertilizer properly with this watering method??

You can't.
Pellets, like biogold, need to be in direct contact with the soil or inside tea bags, and must be watered from above.

In your situation i would ensure suitable watering. And start your regular fertilizer regime.

I doubt the tree has been fertilized enough.

Clicio wrote:

Felidae wrote:

How can we use solid fertilizer properly with this watering method??

You can't.
Pellets, like biogold, need to be in direct contact with the soil or inside tea bags, and must be watered from above.

Thanks Clicio, My logics cannot find a way with that watering neither, but if you say it’s impossible...

leatherback wrote:

In your situation i would ensure suitable watering. And start your regular fertilizer regime.

I doubt the tree has been fertilized enough.

Thanks I have no idea how she tried to fert them. I’ll do my best and we’ll see in few weeks if they’ll rise or fall.


Aw... I decided the Buxus will be shaved down to the first branch.. Too leggy-paddy for my taste...