Hi James,

I took a good deep look at the first picture your posted. One person made a suggestion that there might be mold on your tree. I cannot see the details because the compression is too high. But to me it looks like you have calcium / scale problem, rather than a mold issue. Also on the pot I see clear pieces of scale. Do you guys have hard water? And do you use that water (Or ground water) instead of rain water? Then most likely the soil got too much calcium carbonates in them. Better would be to use rain water, if the water really is as hard as it seems.

Hello,

I am unable to get rain water as there is not enough around at the moment so I am using normal tap water. Ever since the first repotting I have cleaned out the pot both times so the soil is going into a fresh and clean pot. I will post back when I have more news on my bonsai as it has a few little leaves coming through...

If it is a calcium / scale problem how would I get around the issue?

Many Thanks

James

It depends, I think, on what the texture of the white build up was like when you cleaned it off...was it soft and powdery, maybe a little mushy and were you able to get it off with just the old toothbrush or, was it hard and scaley which would be very difficult if not impossible to get off with a toothbrush?

Leslie

Lesley,

It come straight off with a toothbrush without any problems however once it was off I went around it with the mild detergant like you suggested as well and made sure it was all off...

So I am taking it from that it was mould?

Many Thanks

james

Hi James,

Scale is very soft when moist; there is no clear way to tell without actually seeing it up clase. The fact that there was clear schale on the pot and also on some of the soil arount the trunc, combined with the fact that your plant recovered very quickly after repotting, gives me the strong impression it was a salination problem (Scale issues) of the soil, rather than mould. But once again: Without seeing the tree or getting much better close-up of the original white ring; Hard to be sure.

I will take some close up pictures when I get home so you can have a look at the trunk and you can let me know...

Many Thanks

James

well.. the trunc has been cleaned now..

True however I took a good look at it this evening and its starting to grow new little branches and such so hopefully my little tree will pull through and be happy and healthy once again!

I will update you more when I have more news

Many Thanks

James

awsome nice to see it didn't take a turn for the worse...by the way if you have hard water try distilled water from the store it is recaptured steam so it is devoid of minerals it runs abou 1$ a gallon. i use it for misting my trees so i don't get a white film on the leaves

Indeed it is good news I am rather happy that my little tree appears to be getting better

Ahhh right thats a good idea and I may try it if I can find it lol however as my bonsai is coming through at the moment I will see how it plays out as it may not be the water...

Many Thanks

James