Hello everyone, I'm a bonsai beginner and I'm afraid my tree might be dying.
A little context first, earlier this summer a very dear friend of mine passed, he was an avid bonsai fan, having a garden with over 20 trees.
we decided to split his bonsai garden so each of us would get a memento of his that would stay with us. I've always been interested in bonsai as well and before his passing he and I were talking about me becoming his pupil, sadly this never came to be.

I took 4 trees a Chinese elm, a juniper tree and 2 oak trees. all the trees were fine until I had to leave the country for a week due work, leaving the trees at the care of my mom, and when I came back the trees were a bit dry and one of the oaks was without leaves and its pot was gone, apparently she grabbed it by the trunk and the pot wasn´t secure and it fell.
i have no idea what to do make it grow again. I've been watering it and even fertilized it about a week a ago but so far no signs of growth, also I havent been able to buy a new vase since they are quite expensive and I'll only have enough money available next week.

any help would be appreciated.
I've sent a picture of the tree as well

MiguelMC wrote:

Hello everyone, I'm a bonsai beginner and I'm afraid my tree might be dying.

Hard to tell. I only see a trunk and a branch that have been cut.


Isn't it autumn where you are?

not yet, officially it will start September 23rd but this year has been quite warm and dry, we are still having days with temperatures above 30ºC

MiguelMC wrote:

not yet, officially it will start September 23rd but this year has been quite warm and dry, we are still having days with temperatures above 30ºC

Guess all you can do is wait till next spring.

Auk wrote:

Guess all you can do is wait till next spring.

Yes, I agree.
But if it were mine, I would put it into a colander for a season or two so it could gain strength.
But this is me, in my climate and no harsh winters.

hopefully it will bloom
what should I do until then, just light watering and no feeding?

MiguelMC wrote:

what should I do until then, just light watering and no feeding?

as a rule of thumb never feed a unhealthy tree.

Why cant we feed an unhealthy tree, I understand why not doing it will its in its dormant phase, but wouldn't feeding help the tree gaining some vigor? are there any post or threads that I should read to learn more about this?

Don't use fertiliser on a sick bonsai tree.
You can google it, but I will save you the work:

"Are there times when I should avoid fertilizing my bonsai?
Yes.
Probably the most important rule about fertilizing is to never feed a tree that is under stress. You should never feed a newly repotted tree, a dry tree, or a tree during dormancy. After repotting, leave the bonsai alone for at least a month before starting feeding again."

If a plant is not actively growing there is a big risk of the plant not taking up fertilizer. Only when in leaf is there fotosynthesis and thus energy to grow and use the fertilizer. No uptake means a risk of salt buildup in the substrate.

In general oaks are not kept for their flowers. For now i would not hope for flowering and acorns, but just for groeth. Do put it back in a pot though. Pots can be had for a few euro's. And if you really do not have that, put it in tje ground for the time being, or at leasr wrap the roots in plastic.