Hello All,

I am first time bonsai owner and this is my first time posting. I have had my bonsai about 2 weeks but only 3 days in I noticed the leafs were browning on some branches. I then noticed soon after that there were black and gray insects on the bonsai. I tried treating the bonsai with a home made bug killer in the form of a soap and water mix sprayed well on to all the branches (top and bottom, all around). But after a few days the insects came back and more of them. I have continued the spray treatment but I don't think it is helping. I make sure my bonsai gets water when it needs it and plenty of sun light.

I would welcome any help ID'ing these insects and recommendations on how to kill them, and keep them coming back plus preventing other pests. I have attached images of the bonsai and the insects.


Thank you,
Zach

I dont know the insect. But I dont think they are causing that browning foliage.

It looks like a standard "stick in a pot" sold cheap at standard nurceries. Those trees are not considered bonsai here. They are cuttings with far to little roots and bad soil. Most of Them are already dead when sold. The fact that conifers keep their foliage up to 3 months after death is good for short term business, but not really for a long term hobby as bonsai.

If there is life in it, you proboably need to repot it soon in good soil to save it.

Br
Magnus

And....soap and water treatment in combination with strong sunlight is accelerating death of your plant. Allways spray it of between treatment and sun exposure.

Br
Magnus

I bought it from a Japanese man that I see often at our local markets so I think that is true because he would have to deal with pissed off customers too often.

It is not strong sun light, it is coming through a window well in my basement that gets sun light each day, and I am watering and spraying it with water, in between the soap treatments as well

Tropfrog wrote: And....soap and water treatment in combination with strong sunlight is accelerating death of your plant. Allways spray it of between treatment and sun exposure.

Nonsense

The insects are 99% certain juniper aphids

Not a bonsai blah blah does not belong indoors yada yada

leatherback wrote:

Tropfrog wrote: And....soap and water treatment in combination with strong sunlight is accelerating death of your plant. Allways spray it of between treatment and sun exposure.

Nonsense

The insects are 99% certain juniper aphids

So what in the statement is noncense?? I dont get it. And I dont get how that kind of attitude serves any purpouse on a discussion forum or in the bonsai hobby.

Br
Magnus

Everything. Water& soap does not kill a tree. In sun or shade.

leatherback wrote: Everything. Water& soap does not kill a tree. In sun or shade.

Yea you are totally right. But I never wrote that it Will kill the tree.

Water and soap left on photosyntesis surface in the sun inhibits photosyntesis and gas excange. It Will not kill the plant unless it is not already very week. And in that case the soap and water spray is not the cause, just an accelerator.

So please read on a forum with the intention to understand your "counterpart". Acusing People to be lying does not really make a sound discussion.

Br
Magnus