Hey, first post here. =] I'm relatively beginner with bonsai (maybe a year+). I asked around in Discord & on Reddit but to no avail

So over the summer my Barbados cherry was healthy & thriving. I pruned it lightly a couple times. The suddenly since fall began the leaves started shriveling up, as if it's slowly dying. Some of them also look like there's a silky sheen across the surface. Since the days got shorter I switched it around 16-8 hour cycle, with grow-light. Watering is conservative (roughly every 3-5 days) as to avoid over-watering etc. I occasionally add in some liquid fertilizer, and the substrate is a gravel type.. I took it under the microscope to check for an infestation but can't see anything living; e.g spider mites. Possibly some type of fungi? Apart from that I'm starting to consider temperature fluctuations &/or humidity levels.

Something else I considered is that it may prefer full spectrum LED vs RB-spectrum? I currently have it under RB but I have at-least one full spectrum light.

Well, it looks dry.
Most people in bonsai avoid artificial light; as I live in a tropical place my Barbados Cherry get watered every day and thrive outdoors.
Sorry, I can't help you more than that.

Clicio wrote: Sorry, I can't help you more than that.

Same here.

On this forum, there will not be a lot of people who grow Barbados Cherry.
Of these people, only a few will grow them under artificial light.
Of this small group, only very few will grow them succesfully under artificial light.

So, chance you get a useful answer is slim.

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll try getting it more humidity & under a full spectrum light.

An update: since around 1-2 months ago the tree has been growing many new leaves! So much in fact that I needed to do a pruning. Difference now is that it's under a different grow-light (not fullspectrum though), a more consistent light cycle & higher humidity. The humidity may have been the main factor.

~