Help, my bonsai is dying – what can I do?

[basabi]

Hello everyone,

About 1.5 years ago, I received a Ligustrum Sinensis (Chinese Privet) as a gift – it was around 6 years old at the time, so it's now about 7.5 years old. It had always been doing well and growing steadily, but for the past few weeks, I’ve been really worried:

- A large branch with many leaves suddenly died and I needed to cut it (there is a hole now in the tree top)
- Another smaller branch is already dead, and a larger one is currently dying.
- The leaves on the left side are starting to wilt.

I'm at a loss and really desperate. What could be causing this?

What has changed in the past few weeks?
-End of December: I removed a very long, thin branch that had grown from the lower trunk all the way above the tree’s crown to prevent it from wasting too much energy on it.
-Fungus gnat infestation in the apartment: I treated it twice with nematodes (all other plants are fine)
-New soil: I noticed there was very little soil left in the pot. I carefully took the bonsai out, checked the roots (didn’t see any rot, but I’m no expert), and added normal potting soil. While doing this, I found a white coating at the base of the trunk and removed most of it (some can still be seen on the photo)
-Watering: Normally, there is always water in the tray so the bonsai can absorb it. I tried leaving the tray dry for a while, but then the leaves became limp.

Did I do something wrong?
Could it be a fungal infection? Or is the problem something else? I would really appreciate any advice or tips!

 

[penumbra]

If kept inside as I assume, that is what killed it. Also, wrong soil mix.

 

[basabi]

The new soil was only added a week ago, but the bonsai started declining in early January—before that, it was still in the original soil from when I first got it.

It has been indoors for the entire 1.5 years, so why would that suddenly be the cause of its decline now?

 

[rockm]

It a roots died completely. That complete collapse took a year and a half. The root mass looks rotted and dark. That is likely from overwatering and no root growth in bad soil.

Privet is extremely hardy and hard to kill. It lived a year and half in bad soil low light and too much water. It’s not really your fault as most sellers of mass marketed trees like this one don’t provide adequate care instructions and cut corners on soil. Both those handicap first time owners who don’t understand what’s wrong.

 

[basabi]

The tree was growing strongly the whole time, producing new leaves and branches. It never showed any signs of struggle until recently. Could it really have been declining all along despite all that growth?

 

[Wulfskaar]

I read that Chinese privet can be kept indoors, but need a very sunny window and well-draining soil. However, they are kept outdoors from spring to fall. This is the most common mistake that beginners experience.

The soil should also not be potting soil, but bonsai soil, which is granular. The granules soak up water, which the roots "drink" from. The granular nature of the soil also allows air to reach the roots after the water has washed out, which helps keep them from rotting in water.

My guess: Even though your roots were rotting, the tree still probably had enough stored energy to grow those leaves. Once that energy was depleted, it started showing more signs of going downhill.

These guys above have decades of experience and have helped hundreds of people, including me. It can be tough to hear this, but they are right.

 

[basabi]

Thank you for the explanation! I didn’t realize the stored energy could mask the problem for so long. I also wasn’t aware that regular potting soil or keeping him indoor could cause such issues.

Is there anything I can still do to save it, or is it already too late?

 

[Wulfskaar]

Thank you for the explanation! I didn’t realize the stored energy could mask the problem for so long. I also wasn’t aware that regular potting soil or keeping him indoor could cause such issues.

Is there anything I can still do to save it, or is it already too late?

***I'm only 4.5 years into this hobby and still have much to learn, but I have also been reading for those 4.5 years and see these same mistakes over and over again.

One of the experts here will need to answer (and also verify my theory about stored energy).

I would guess (again, I'm not the expert) that repotting into bonsai soil, trimming off dead roots, and placing in the sunniest window of your home might help. Then put it outside once it's warm enough. Maybe it would spring back?