New and struggling

[Aida Moxom]

Hi guys,
I'm very new to Bonsai and I have a Carmona, I've just moved house 2 days ago and currently have it sat in my front room window (which gets quite a good amount of sunlight)
Before moving, about February all the leaves wilted and started slowly dropping off.
The trunk of the plant is a very dry brown colour, but is green underneath.
It looks like I have little fuzz balls where the leave buds would be.
I water it with a small amount of Bonsai feed, each time I see the soil is dry/drying up.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Nera]

I recommend reading this thread - https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/why-you-cannot-keep-bonsai-trees-indoors.66924/

 

[Cajunrider]

Hi guys,
I'm very new to Bonsai and I have a Carmona, I've just moved house 2 days ago and currently have it sat in my front room window (which gets quite a good amount of sunlight)
Before moving, about February all the leaves wilted and started slowly dropping off.
The trunk of the plant is a very dry brown colour, but is green underneath.
It looks like I have little fuzz balls where the leave buds would be.
I water it with a small amount of Bonsai feed, each time I see the soil is dry/drying up.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

1. Not enough sunlight.
2. If you feed it with fertilizer each time you water, it is likely you way over fertilize it.

Bring it outdoor but in shade. Water it and check the soil. It should be moist but not soggy. Give it a few weeks to recover. If it doesn’t, it is your first casualty.

 

[Jrmcmich]

Is this same thing as Fukien tea tree? That’s what I found searching for carmona. These trees are super finicky and many here have had issues. My Fukien dropped all its leaves last winter inside. I couldnt wait to get it back outside. It now has some leafs but still doesn’t look the best. Mine also had some of those fuzz balls at leaf points and didn’t know what it was. I would say mine has put out maybe 25% of its normal leafs so far but is looking better after being outdoors. I would get it outside and monitor soil moisture and water as needed. Since not many leafs seems like sun wouldn’t be an issue as leafs would adjust as they come out. Alternately could put it in part sun if worried about that.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

FWIW, scratching the bark of a tree will reveal nothing and just annoy the tree. I wish this wive's tale had never been created

There have been a number of threads on this site recently about Fukien Tea, how it requires very specific care, and how it will die if you look at it sideways. Sadly, quite a large number are exported every year from Vietnam and other hot, humid tropical locations where they appear to thrive. I have tried keeping them outdoors in SoCal, or outdoors in the summer and moving them indoors in the winter in NC, but something always shows up after a few years and they will crash and die - while they are surrounded on all sides by other tropical trees that don't miss a beat. I would consider getting rid of that tree and finding a ficus (if you want something tropical that you can bring in for the winter). All bonsai trees will do best if they are outdoors during the summer.

Also, avoid fertilizing trees when they are dormant. For most trees - even tropicals - this will be in the winter. Wait until the tree wakes up in the spring before you start even dilute fertilization.