Help with PreBonsai Premna

[BonsaiOnTheBrainTX]

Hello everyone! This is my first post. I’m a beginner in Central Texas zone 9A.
I recently purchased a prebonsai Premna from Wigerts Bonsai online. It seemed in good health when I received it. Except I pulled it out of the container and could see it was extremely root bound. The soil was like a rock. I let it acclimate for 4-5 days outside then decided to repot it and do some root pruning. I have done that with about 20 other plants/trees that I’ve purchased and all were ok except a Cotoneaster. It was very root bound aswell. Anyway, I probably removed about 60% of the root mass, then repotted in fresh bonsai soil.
Since then its leaves has been slowly turning yellow and dropping off. A little more each day. Is this normal with Premna when root pruned? Or did I cut off too many roots?
Any help is appreciated. The first picture is before repotting, the 2nd two pictures are after.
Thanks

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Welcome aboard! I've only repotted my Wigerts Premna once (only had it two years) , and I took about 50% of the roots off. Yours doesn't look that bad. My Premna will get yellow leaves from over watering, and yellow to brown from under watering. It sulked after I repotted it, and I did loose some leaves, but it bounced back pretty fast. Premna are really strong root growers, and they like water so, don't let it dry out. How long ago did you repot it?

 

[BonsaiOnTheBrainTX]

Welcome aboard! I've only repotted my Wigerts Premna once (only had it two years) , and I took about 50% of the roots off. Yours doesn't look that bad. My Premna will get yellow leaves from over watering, and yellow to brown from under watering. It sulked after I repotted it, and I did loose some leaves, but it bounced back pretty fast. Premna are really strong root growers, and they like water so, don't let it dry out. How long ago did you repot it?

Thanks! That’s cool to know some other people here have bought some of their prebonsai too. had read that they were pretty hardy plants so I was kind of surprised. I repotted it about a 7-8 days ago. It took a day or 2 before I noticed the leaves yellowing and each day I’m finding more. They are the ones that if you touch they just immediately fall off like they were about to drop. If things keep going this way it will be leafless a week from now thank you for the feedback

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

It shouldn't drop all it's leaves but, 30% may be on the menu, doesn't look like it though. Don't panic, leaves will grow back, and trees drop leaves for a variety of different reasons, stress from repot is one reason. Since it's only been one week I'd keep it in the shade for a few more weeks to help it recover. You seem to be on top of it so it's in good hands.

 

[BonsaiOnTheBrainTX]

Good news, my Premna pulled through and is pushing out a ton of new shoots. Not sure what direction I’m going to go with it yet. I’m kind of leaning towards making it a single trunk tree next year. Either by air layering or chopping the big branch off. I suppose I could cut the diagonal branch back to the lowest shoot to try and get some movement and taper. But the large diagonal branch/trunk just feels awkward to me. Im open to suggestions if anyone cares to chime in!

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Nice! Looks good, way to go on your first repot. As far as styling, single trunk seems like a good idea. I'm the worst at styling so I'll leave that up to you, or someone artistic. I actually pruned some branches off mine today, because some of the branches do seem to grow really thick & that looks like what you have going on. When I do chop branches I do leave a 1/8 inch nub for die back, instead of cutting it flush with the trunk. I'm new with this species so I'm not 100% sure you have to chop this way, but from observing prior cuts it seems like the safest route.

 

[BonsaiOnTheBrainTX]

Premna Update::: this tree is starting to grow on me. Originally when I got it I wasn’t sure how to deal with it. I felt like it had such an irregular growth pattern that it was going to be very difficult to work with. But after having it a number of months, watching it grow then pruning a couple times I’m much more comfortable with it. These things back bud like crazy and this one has been growing very vigorously. I should have taken some before pictures, I ended up removing quite a bit of new growth. I took off a few sizeable branches and pruned back a bunch of shoots to 2-3 nodes. Then wired it. I’m still pretty sure I’ll be removing the giant diagonal side branch in spring. The inverse taper is just too aesthetically displeasing, unless someone is seeing something I’m missing. I may decide to air layer it off but, it’s pretty straight and thick so perhaps it’s not worth messing with. The main vertical trunk and accompanying branches I do like pretty well and think I’ll be able to develop into something enjoyable over time.

 

[JariP]

Premna Update::: this tree is starting to grow on me. Originally when I got it I wasn’t sure how to deal with it. I felt like it had such an irregular growth pattern that it was going to be very difficult to work with. But after having it a number of months, watching it grow then pruning a couple times I’m much more comfortable with it. These things back bud like crazy and this one has been growing very vigorously. I should have taken some before pictures, I ended up removing quite a bit of new growth. I took off a few sizeable branches and pruned back a bunch of shoots to 2-3 nodes. Then wired it. I’m still pretty sure I’ll be removing the giant diagonal side branch in spring. The inverse taper is just too aesthetically displeasing, unless someone is seeing something I’m missing. I may decide to air layer it off but, it’s pretty straight and thick so perhaps it’s not worth messing with. The main vertical trunk and accompanying branches I do like pretty well and think I’ll be able to develop into something enjoyable over time.

Hi, can I ask how your Premna bonsai is doing now?

 

[BonsaiOnTheBrainTX]

Hey JariP sure thing. I made another post about it the other day. I finally did take off that large diagonal branch and have been growing out a new leader. I’ve also been trying to develop some separate foliage pads. They are very sparse right now lol but I think you can start to see a little bit the direction I am going. Here are a few pictures

 

[JariP]

Your plant looks really nice already and thank you for sharing the pictures. It's really inspiring to see pictures of other people's plants.

I've had Premna for three months. Even though I use grow lights, it's really dark in Finland right now. The day length is less than six hours. If Premna still stays alive, I'll be able to prune it maybe in March. The branch structure isn't very good at the moment.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Your plant looks really nice already and thank you for sharing the pictures. It's really inspiring to see pictures of other people's plants.

I've had Premna for three months. Even though I use grow lights, it's really dark in Finland right now. The day length is less than six hours. If Premna still stays alive, I'll be able to prune it maybe in March. The branch structure isn't very good at the moment.

I keep mine an inch or two from the lights in the winter, full sun outside as spring lets me 50F. They do backbud easily when pruned. I repotted mine (Wigerts 2022) in July 2024, still working on it. Planning on chopping/thining in the spring.

 

[JariP]

Thanks for the advice. It's encouraging to hear that someone else is able to grow Premna so far north. Luckily, the day length started to increase again. I'm already looking forward to spring.

Here are a couple of pictures of my setup. I have two grow lights on top of each other, because some of the plants don't fit under the lowest light. On the left is a cutting I took, which grew roots and also started to grow under artificial light. At least for now, artificial light alone seems to be enough for it.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Thanks for the advice. It's encouraging to hear that someone else is able to grow Premna so far north. Luckily, the day length started to increase again. I'm already looking forward to spring.

Here are a couple of pictures of my setup. I have two grow lights on top of each other, because some of the plants don't fit under the lowest light. On the left is a cutting I took, which grew roots and also started to grow under artificial light. At least for now, artificial light alone seems to be enough for it.

Nice, your light setup looks good. Is that a heating vent in the second picture? I'd be wary of drying out the plants if it is. If it's an air return vent then I wouldn't worry. I have the same issue in my home, all my heating vents are by the windows. In some rooms with plants near the windows I use these to deflect the heat. Good luck.

 

[JariP]

Yes, it is a kind of heating vent, but in fact it was installed during the kitchen renovation and the heat comes from the front edge of that shelf. The heating vent practically does not come out of the warm air and it is slightly cooler right there in front of the window than in the rest of the room.

There is a humidifier under the shelf, which hopefully helps a little with the dryness of the room. In fact, I have even managed to grow Tillandsia usneoides indoors for five years now and I have previously considered it almost impossible.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Yes, it is a kind of heating vent, but in fact it was installed during the kitchen renovation and the heat comes from the front edge of that shelf. The heating vent practically does not come out of the warm air and it is slightly cooler right there in front of the window than in the rest of the room.

There is a humidifier under the shelf, which hopefully helps a little with the dryness of the room. In fact, I have even managed to grow Tillandsia usneoides indoors for five years now and I have previously considered it almost impossible.

Well it looks like everything is working for you. Just trying to help when I saw it. Good luck

 

[JariP]

Well it looks like everything is working for you. Just trying to help when I saw it. Good luck

Thank you. I appreciate your kindness and advice, and that of all of you here. This way, we can learn more together and enjoy this interesting hobby.

 

[BonsaiOnTheBrainTX]

I keep mine an inch or two from the lights in the winter, full sun outside as spring lets me 50F. They do backbud easily when pruned. I repotted mine (Wigerts 2022) in July 2024, still working on it. Planning on chopping/thining in the spring.

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Those exposed roots look great

 

[BonsaiOnTheBrainTX]

I repotted my Premna about 5-6 weeks ago. It had a lot of healthy roots and grew pretty well over winter.
I did some root pruning when I repotted it and put it in a 10in square pond basket to promote more root growth. Once it was repotted I put it outside. I think the leaves it grew under the grow light over winter were not strong enough for the actual sun, because they got scorched super easily. Then they all slowly died. Then I was wondering if I cut off too many roots and thought it was gonna die. lol. It’s been about a month of it looking like it’s just dying a slow death, it lost every single leaf…. So I moved it into the shade and have been checking it everyday really babying it. Finally today I can see a bunch of little green buds pushing out! So I guess it’s gonna pull through. Why do these have to be so dramatic
There’s 2 pictures from when I repotted and few of it now all leafless