Hi there. I recently purchased a Japanese Red Maple bonsai, and have been taking care of it for roughly two weeks. I'm concerned about it because it does not seem healthy. I've been giving it morning sun, and afternoon shade, and watering it very conservatively - I put my finger in the dirt to see if it is damp, and if it is I don't water it - so roughly a tablespoon or a little more of water every two to three days.

The following pictures are what it looks like currently. (Click to enlarge)

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Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

if this tree is kept indoors? that is your problem.

marmalade wrote:

The following pictures are what it looks like currently.

It looks very, very sad indeed.
JRP should be always kept outdoors, never overwet, and as much sun as possible.
Slow grower, yours is going to take 10 years to be bonsai like, I guess.
Sorry for the bad news.

marmalade wrote:

I recently purchased a Japanese Red Maple bonsai

You did not buy a Japanese Red Maple bonsai. You bought a maple seedling.

Clicio wrote:

JRP should be always kept outdoors,

I am very sorry, I misread and was thinking Japanese Red Pine, sorry.

Clicio" wrote:

Slow grower, yours is going to take 10 years to be bonsai like.

Again thinking pine instead of Maple. If by "Red Maple" you mean Deshojo, then in 4 to 6 years it could be a nice bonsai in training.

It is being kept indoors. I wasn't aware it was only a seedling. I'm not sure what else I might be doing wrong with it.

marmalade wrote:

It is being kept indoors. I wasn't aware it was only a seedling. I'm not sure what else I might be doing wrong with it.

at this point place the tree outside and leave it outside. only water when soil is dry to the touch. your tree should be going into dormancy pretty soon here (depending where in the world you are located) so the leaves may start drop soon and wont grow back till spring. good luck.

marmalade wrote:

It is being kept indoors. I wasn't aware it was only a seedling. I'm not sure what else I might be doing wrong with it.

It must be outdoors, indoors, it will not survive in the long run.

Seedlings will not just grow out to become a bonsai, they grow to become big trees. I requires years of dedicated work.to create bonsai out of them.