Hello.
I received a Bonsai tree as a gift, and have had it for about 4 months now. This is the first bonsai tree I have owned, so I tried my best to read up on how to care for a tree, but I fear something may be going wrong.
Recently I have noticed that my tree has begun to drop a few leaves, and the base of the trunk has become a darker colour (as seen in the pictures attached). Some places I have visited have pointed towards overwatering as the issue.

Could anyone advise if this is the issue, and how to help the tree recover?

Thanks for the help

Ryan

Ryan181 wrote: Some places I have visited have pointed towards overwatering as the issue.

Ryan;

Welcome.
By the pictures you show, you are drowning your plant.
As wet as wet can be.
One of the things that most kills bonsai is excess TLC.
Let it breathe, please.

Thanks for the help, I will refrain from watering it as much.

Just wondering how I should know when to water it, as when I leave it over a week, the soil becomes dry and cracked.
Am I watering it too much at once or too often?

Too often, I guess .

You should be between what you have now, and dry and cracked

Look for info on soil: People use very specific substrate on bonsai, as it is hard to get the watering right in the soil you are using.