Fukien - Watering/Soil Struggle

[Chisai Ki]

Struggling with the soil for my son's Fukien Tea. Potting type soil it came in from the nursey about did it in because of the moisture. I replaced it was "bonsai soil" that was nearly 100% calcined clay. Surprisingly, the first inch or so would be completely bone dry, but under that, it was a wet mess and packed hard like concrete - that about did it in. I then used about a 50% grit mixture of pumice, sifted coarse sand, and decomposed granite, with some non-peat organic potting mix. I am sure the extra percentage of potting mix added to the issue, but the decomposed granite really seemed to be holding water and causing the compaction. The roots did not grow at all and this about did it in...

Now I have it in a soil mix with 60-70% grit (mostly pumice with a bit of sifted coarse sand) a bit of the non-peat organic mix and a pinch or two of worm castings. The soil drains super fast and dries quicker than the other mixes. So the question now is, how often to water to keep a bit of moisture in the soil as per advice of the webs... It is losing another leaf or two as I just repotted it a couple days ago, but it has not looked well in quite a while.

Thank you for all of the advice!

 

[Baron von Smoogle]

My experience with Fukiens is, that if you look at them cross-eyed they will die on you and if you DON'T look at them cross-eyed, they will die on you.
Not really much help to you but...........................

 

[Jrmcmich]

You can put a bamboo chopstick in soil to check moisture before watering. I know mine wasn’t happy inside over winter and I did that so not to overwater

 

[Chisai Ki]

Did you put the chopstick all the way to the bottom of the pop? And you then watered when the chopstick was completely dry?

 

[rockm]

Did you put the chopstick all the way to the bottom of the pop? And you then watered when the chopstick was completely dry?

No. Put the chopstick in halfway into the pot where the plants roots are. You don’t want dry. You want some moisture on it not soggy but the “wet end”of the chopstick should be darker that the dry

 

[Jrmcmich]

Just as rockm said

 

[Attmos]

My experience with Fukiens is, that if you look at them cross-eyed they will die on you and if you DON'T look at them cross-eyed, they will die on you.
Not really much help to you but...........................

I have one that refuses to die.. despite my lack of attention at times. lol

 

[Chisai Ki]

Update: I have been keeping an eye on the soil using the suggested chopsticks method. The tree has been outside in the sun for the last several days. I have been monitoring the moisture level of the soil. I have a mix of green leaves, some yellow, and some that have turned brown and have fallen off. I am hoping the roots will continue to grow in the new soil and maybe that will help a bit with better absorption.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I am hoping the roots will continue to grow in the new soil and maybe that will help a bit with better absorption.

This is a frustrating plant to keep alive - compounded by the fact that it is one of the more common species that come in from Vietnam nurseries for big box stores like Home Depot and Target. I have had them over the years and could not keep them alive even outside in Southern California. Three years ago I bought one on a lark from Costco. I cleaned it up, repotted it, and gave it my best care. For two years it thrived... and then it crashed and died when I hadn't changed care or done anything different. I am simply unwilling to invest more time and energy in a plant species that is so fickle - particularly given the abundance of other tree species that are so much more hardy and forgiving.

Over the years I have been to numerous bonsai shows, exhibits, gardens. I don't recall ever seeing a fukien tea in a high level bonsai display. There's a reason

My fukien tea in better days prior to a summer trim. Planted in a pond basket to eliminate the risk of roots sitting in too much water. It was extremely healthy... until the day it died.

 

[rockm]

Fukien tea is indeed a frustrating species. The curator of the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum told me the museum’s Fukien tea is one of the touchiest species in the collection. They can suddenly just quit for no apparent reason. That said the museum has some spectacular old Fukien Tea bonsai. I think the secret is don’t mess with them too much. Don’t let them dry out or keep them too wet. A lot of sun. Indoors (other than winter) will weaken them considerably