Help! My Bonsai is dying??

[Maddie.]

Hello, I am new here and trying to figure out what is wrong with the Bonsai I was given.

Background: I work in an Office and one of my coworkers gave me her Bonsai tree because she is moving.

The tree looks really pretty even though I dont know what type it is.
But its roots are completely brown and one of them is partially squishy, there was a completely dead root but I removed it and trimed the dead leaf(s).
The rest are still solid but really brown with some spots shedding bark.
The leaves look healthy and growning but unsure how to save the roots from whatever is happening to them??

Please help identify the Bonsai I have? And help figure out what is wrong with it?

Thank you so much!

 

[HorseloverFat]

That is a Pachira Aquatica, or the “Good Luck” or “Money Tree”

They can tolerate most conditions.. but prefer the brightest that INDOORS has to offer, but will still grow in low light.. what is it’s lighting situation like?

If that soil is all gravel, I’d consider getting it into another substrate.. I actually just repotted MY Pachiras.. so depending on where you live in the world... the time may be near.. or past.

Pachiras are also temperamental about overwatering. One should wait until quite dry.. then water THROUGH..

I feel it worth mentioning that although Pachiras are marketed often as “Indoor Bonsai”.. most Bonsai Artists/Practitioners do not consider them a suitable plant for standard “bonsai reasons”... they are regarded more as neat houseplants. Mine are treated this way.
I actually UNbraided the “planting” I had... BLIP! ....4 Pachiras.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Welcome to the site!

Adding to what @HorseloverFat is saying... it is likely that the gravel is just a top dressing, and there is solid soil underneath. See if you can gently dump the gravel off onto a paper towel, and see what is underneath. When you start talking about "squishy" that can sometimes be the sign of rot, so we will want to see the condition of the soil to provide the best advice.

 

[sorce]

Mmmmmm.... squishy.

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[Maddie.]

Welcome to the site!

Adding to what @HorseloverFat is saying... it is likely that the gravel is just a top dressing, and there is solid soil underneath. See if you can gently dump the gravel off onto a paper towel, and see what is underneath. When you start talking about "squishy" that can sometimes be the sign of rot, so we will want to see the condition of the soil to provide the best advice.

I removed the little tree from its pot! It looks like the soil was really wet and the plant is all taped up on the bottom.

 

[Maddie.]

Welcome to the site!

Adding to what @HorseloverFat is saying... it is likely that the gravel is just a top dressing, and there is solid soil underneath. See if you can gently dump the gravel off onto a paper towel, and see what is underneath. When you start talking about "squishy" that can sometimes be the sign of rot, so we will want to see the condition of the soil to provide the best advice.

The lighting is really bright but the plant was in my office, I brought it home to take it apart and let it dry out.
It had tape on the bottom forcing them all together so I took that off and will let them have more space between each other.

How often are you supposed to water these? Looks like mine was over watered.
My grandma said she waters hers with an ice cube every other day so it doesnt over flood the soil??

 

[Shibui]

Water when the soil starts to get dry. You cannot water to a schedule as it will dry out faster at some times of the year. Check soil with a finger or leave a skewer in the soil to test soil moisture down in the pot each day to see if it is still damp. Only water when soil feels dry.
Change the soil if you have not already to get rid of the fungi that have attacked the roots. Letting it dry out will help. Changing the soil and letting it get slightly dry will be better. Hope the damage has not spread too far up the trunk yet.