Hello everyone,
New member here. Please could anyone offer any advice about a maple bonsai I have bought?
I got it about six weeks ago. It seemed to be doing OK, but just recently the ends of the leaves have started to go brown and curl up a little. They also seem very dry.
I have been watering it about twice a day as directed when I bought it. I have tried to make sure the soil doesn’t dry out but also tried not to overwater.

I have searched online and it seems like one possibility is ‘leaf scorch’. The only thing is, I have had it in quite a shady part of the garden that only gets the morning sun. I have also noticed that small slugs seem attracted to the bonsai feed and some of the leaves look like they have bites out of them. I go out and do battle with them every night.

I would be grateful for any advice on if the bonsai seems ok or not.

Many thanks in advance.

Chris

Looks like it is authum now where you live. Or at least the tree think so.

Looks like very heavy organic soil. For a maple in athum, in a shady spot and organic soil, watering two times a day is far to much.

Hello,

Thanks very much for your reply. It is autumn now where I am, although we are still getting some days of 32 degrees which seem to dry the soil a lot. I’m in Japan.

I was following instructions on watering and about the feed from the guy I bought it from. However, I did feel a bit unsure about it. Thanks again, I will alter what I am doing.

Just out of interest, this is where I got it:
daikaen.crayonsite.net/p/4/

This is the time to stop fertilizing.

I am not totally aware about the climate in Japan. But watering should always be done according to the trees need, not on a scedule. Wait until surface of the soil is slightly dry. Water abundantly until water pours out the drainage hole.Here its athum and I have reduced watering to twice a week now. 32c sounds very warm for authum, that is peak of the summer here.

Thanks again. The advice is much appreciated. Definitely taken on board.

Back home in the UK, the 31 degree days were few and far between. Here this is the tail end. It’s only a few days here and there though. Mostly 25-29 degrees.

Hello again,

I am just checking in to ask see if anyone wouldn’t mind having a look to see if my bonsai is still ok?

I tried to follow all the kind advice from Tropfrog, above, and I at least got the tree to here! I stopped fertilizing straight away and followed the advice about watering. However, recently, the leaves seem to be curling up, going quite crispy, and looking like they might die.

I realise it is autumn now, but there are many other maples near where I live (not bonsai), and they don’t look the same at all in terms of sick looking leaves.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks in advance,


Chris

Maples dont follow a strict scedule. In october I had one maple that had allready shed all leafs while one not even started to turn colour. I would not worry for now. Just focus on good watering routines, which would mean less and less watering going into winter.

I see. That’s very interesting and good to know. Thanks a lot again for your help with this.

Much appreciated.

Chris