Hinoki Sekka

[nurvbonsai]

Good morning,

I went out of town and had some people babysit my trees and this one has turned a lot more brown than I had expected. Can anyone tell me best course of actions? I kept it watered and fertilized as how I’ve come to understand best practices. Just trying to make sure it’s not going to progress worse than it appears it already has. Thanks

 

[akillas]

Good morning. I notice that the lower branches are desiccated, which means the tree is trying to survive with less than ideal watering. I would put it in total shade for a week, away from winds of any kind.

Of course keep the soil moist and consider misting a few times a day until you see signs of recovery.
Absolutely DONT do any work or disturb the tree. Leave the brown foliage and branches as they are, let the tree decide if it survives.

Just my 2 cents, hopefully someone more experienced in sekkas can jump in?

 

[nurvbonsai]

Thank you.

 

[nurvbonsai]

I’m hoping it will survive. It’s one of my favorites.

 

[akillas]

For very critical conditions, some people also soak them for 24h in water, in a tub. Dont leave it too long in there though, it would miss oxygen.

 

[nurvbonsai]

For very critical conditions, some people also soak them for 24h in water, in a tub. Dont leave it too long in there though, it would miss oxygen.

How long then?

 

[shohin_branches]

How long then?

for 24h in water

 

[nurvbonsai]

He said for not that long though.

 

[leatherback]

soaking in water will not do anything. Just make sure you water the pot well. You could water three times fully dousing the pot in 10 minutes intervals. Then do now water again untill it starts to dry op. Put in dapples shade and wait to see whether the tree re-roots. You COULD consider putting it in a plastic bag, but that causes equal amounts of challenges as solutions. (If it is really dry and windy it might help. If in a bag, do not keep it in the sun unless you like your bonsai stewed.

 

[nurvbonsai]

soaking in water will not do anything. Just make sure you water the pot well. You could water three times fully dousing the pot in 10 minutes intervals. Then do now water again untill it starts to dry op. Put in dapples shade and wait to see whether the tree re-roots. You COULD consider putting it in a plastic bag, but that causes equal amounts of challenges as solutions. (If it is really dry and windy it might help. If in a bag, do not keep it in the sun unless you like your bonsai stewed.

Thanks Jelle. I just gave it a full dousing. Will see about watering three times a day. It’s been hot in the south. I like the structure of the main trunk up to the apex. I’ve seen some hinoki’s where that is the only defining characteristic and no lower branch work.

 

[nurvbonsai]

soaking in water will not do anything. Just make sure you water the pot well. You could water three times fully dousing the pot in 10 minutes intervals. Then do now water again untill it starts to dry op. Put in dapples shade and wait to see whether the tree re-roots. You COULD consider putting it in a plastic bag, but that causes equal amounts of challenges as solutions. (If it is really dry and windy it might help. If in a bag, do not keep it in the sun unless you like your bonsai stewed.

Should I take the wire off? I heard guy wire was the way to go for Sekka and I’ve never used it. I’ve heard that sekka don’t like traditional wiring. They can die back easily bc of it.

 

[nurvbonsai]

I don’t have a good feeling about this tree after looking at this morning. Should I take the wire off?

 

[TomP]

I have never had a problem with wires on Sekkas and I have a number of them

 

[nurvbonsai]

Here is now

 

[TomP]

I don't think that is a wiring issue. It has certainly deteriorated a lot over the last week. The lower branches are dying first which makes me think it is a root issue (maybe underwatering or over watering).

The wires are loose, typically I would wire tight to the branch to avoid snapping any brittle wood. That said, you did not put major bends in that would cause any branches to snap that I can see. I think people like to use guy wires as the foliage is so compact that it makes it hard to get a wire in under it and directly on the branch. I have used both.

At this point all I can says is good luck. It has lost a lot of foliage so the biggest danger now is overwatering since it will not be using much water

 

[Jrmcmich]

Is this inside or outside?

 

[nurvbonsai]

Is this inside or outside?

Outside.

 

[Jrmcmich]

Outside.

Ok couldn’t tell from last picture. As others have mentioned only wait and water as needed. No signs of bugs (mites)? Have read where people take a white sheet of paper and tap tree to see if small red bugs fall off that are hard to see with human eye. Only skimmed top so not sure if this was mentioned or not. Never had one of those although wouldn’t mind finding one

 

[nurvbonsai]

Ok couldn’t tell from last picture. As others have mentioned only wait and water as needed. No signs of bugs (mites)? Have read where people take a white sheet of paper and tap tree to see if small red bugs fall off that are hard to see with human eye. Only skimmed top so not sure if this was mentioned or not. Never had one of those although wouldn’t mind finding one

Noted thanks for sharing with me. I guess another sekka is in my future by the look of this thing.

I did spray miticide when I saw one creature

 

[nurvbonsai]

Noted thanks for sharing with me. I guess another sekka is in my future by the look of this thing.

I did spray miticide when I saw one creature

Should I cut the lower branches off so that way the energy is focused on what is still green?