Bonsai loosing leaves- help needed

[needsomehelp]

I'm having some problems with my bonsai- some time ago it started loosing big amount of leaves, especially at the top. I got it as a gift in the spring and are completely clueless as to how to maintain bonsais. I've tried to trim it, and it helped for a day or two, and then it's back to loosing leaves again. After the trims I've started seeing some new leaves, but they usually go brown before they get to fully develop. The leaves that fall off are usually brown at the bottom. Tried to take pictures that show the problem. What could be the cause of it?

 

[GSCarlson]

It looks like a Fukien Tea Tree. They are very temperamental. I swore off of them after I lost a few. Give it as much light as you can and don’t overwater. Other than that hope for the best and don’t be too disappointed if it doesn’t work out.

 

[needsomehelp]

From what I know it's a duranta, it's leaves are rather thin and delicate. Aren't the fukien tea trees ones more sturdy?

 

[penumbra]

From what I know it's a duranta, it's leaves are rather thin and delicate. Aren't the fukien tea trees ones more sturdy?

Yes Fukien tea has a small but leathery leaf.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Can you give some insight as to where you are keeping it, how often you water, if the pot has drainage, how much light it gets?

 

[needsomehelp]

Can you give some insight as to where you are keeping it, how often you water, if the pot has drainage, how much light it gets?

The pot does have drainage. Nowadays I water it more or less once a week- I checked the soil, it is moist so it's definitely not under watering. I thought it could be low humidity, so I started spraying it with water and I put a air humidifier running under it from time to time. As to where I'm keeping it- it used to be near a window, but it started getting burnt leaves so I moved it further into the room, it still gets a fair amount of indirect light- well, as much as one can get in western Europe this time of the year.

My only ideas right now is that it could be over watering (which I don't think is likely, the soil it's in seems to let water through, but I guess it's a possibility, and the problem has been going on for about a month), or maybe some kind of pests- so I did give it a thorough shower and sprayed it with water + dish soap. Are any pests likely to affect the leaves in that kind of way?

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Lack of light is my best guess. I would supplement with artificial light and get it outside during the warmer times of year.

 

[needsomehelp]

Lack of light is my best guess. I would supplement with artificial light and get it outside during the warmer times of year.

What do you recommend in terms of artificial light? I've found an 30W led lamp online, 660nm red light and 450nm blue light. Would it be okay?

 

[penumbra]

What do you recommend in terms of artificial light? I've found an 30W led lamp online, 660nm red light and 450nm blue light. Would it be okay?

I would get a full spectrum LED light, not a blurple light.