My Olive Bonsai drops all leaves in first week

[DJHouston]

This is my first bonsai purchased from a reputable dealer near me. I am new to bonsai but I have read several books and every forum post I could to educate myself. So, brought the bonsai home and all was well for one week. It went from an outdoor, well ventilated, partly shaded greenhouse to my covered back patio. Light and moisture levels didn't change much. After first week, I decided to transplant into larger pot to encourage trunk growth. Olive tree went from good bonsai soil into new bonsai soil very similar to original, but in a pot twice as large. I tried to heed all the advice about not overwatering, but I probably erred on the over-watering side because I felt the soil provided good drainage. Within 3 days, some leaves started curling back perpedicular to the stem. Within 6 days, almost all leaves were curling and many had dried and turned brown. Within nine days, many leaves had dropped and the ones that were left were brittle and fell off if touched. The original soil from the first pot was very loose and literally fell off the roots when I repotted it. I didn't actually intend to bare root it, but the soil was so loose and grainy that it just fell off. I tried to pack the new soil well around the roots, but it was also very loose and gravely so it didn't compact like dirt would. What have I done to kill this poor little tree?

 

[october]

Providing there was not a huge temperature change from the vendor's conditions compared to where you kept the tree when you got it, it sounds like a double repot. Meaning the vendor had repotted the tree at some point this season. When you got it, you repotted it again. Two repots in one season can kill a tree. It is always good to ask a seller when was this tree repotted. If they do not know and the tree looks good and the soil looks good, it is always best to wait.

It might help if you gave more specifics. What part of the country are you from, what were the temeperatures the tree was kept in. What was the bonsai soil made from?

Rob

 

[DJHouston]

I live in Houston TX where it is hot and humid. So even a shaded patio gets fairly bright light Considering how loose the soil around the roots was, I think you may be correct that it was recently repotted. Am I right to assume that something like spider mites or even overwatering would be unlikely to cause such a quick decline? Also, if double repotting is the problem, how best can I baby it to give it the best chance to recover? More light, less light - warmer, cooler? Also, now that it has almost no leaves, should I keep the soil drier than if it were losing mosture through transpiration?

Thanks for all the help. I know it's hard to diagnose a problem online, but I'd at least like to get clues about what kinds of things are less likely to be the cause of the leaf drop.

DC

 

[october]

Pictures might help. Mites can do damage pretty quickly. However, if it was fine and then lost all it's leaves within 1 week I don't think it it was mites or over watering. Problems like this can be due to root problems. This kind of reaction can come from a tree severly drying out. Hwoever, you said you kept the soil moist, so that is probably not it.

For now, I would keep it in the shade or indirect sun. Also, water only when needed, when the top soil is dry. Don't give up on it. Even if it loses all it's leaves, wait for a few weeks or so. If after a couple of weeks there is no sign of new buds. Scratch a small protion of a branch or 2, if it is green, there might be hope. Also, wait until it starts growing again before you fertilize.

I wish you luck with your tree. However, if it was a double repot, it goes beyond normal stress to the upper tree. So, usually the tree does not come back.

Rob