Parrot's Beak- Gmelina philippensis, leaves keep falling off!

[Oddly_Aude]

I received this parrot's beak on the 15th. It seems like everyday it's dropping leaves. At least 1 or 2. It's 6 inches from a really good grow light from 6 am to 7 pm, and I've been watering it every other day or every two days depending on how dry the soil feels.




Why is doing this? Too much love? Not enough water? Too much light? Are the leaves just old and it's settling in? Nothing else is dropping leaves like this!

 

[Ken Duncan]

I received this parrot's beak on the 15th. It seems like everyday it's dropping leaves. At least 1 or 2. It's 6 inches from a really good grow light from 6 am to 7 pm, and I've been watering it every other day or every two days depending on how dry the soil feels.

View attachment 581380View attachment 581381


Why is doing this? Too much love? Not enough water? Too much light? Are the leaves just old and it's settling in? Nothing else is dropping leaves like this!

The leaves look a little off to me they should look very green, see pic, maybe some type of sucking insects like leaf miners or something else.
I keep mine in full sun in the summer so I don’t think it is too much light maybe it is too wet. Carefully pull it out of the pot and see if the bottom is wet.
Watering not only provides moisture but also pulls fresh air to the roots and flushes out the bad air this keeps the roots healthy and therefore the plant healthy and happy.

 

[Oddly_Aude]

The leaves look a little off to me they should look very green, see pic, maybe some type of sucking insects like leaf miners or something else.
I keep mine in full sun in the summer so I don’t think it is too much light maybe it is too wet. Carefully pull it out of the pot and see if the bottom is wet.
Watering not only provides moisture but also pulls fresh air to the roots and flushes out the bad air this keeps the roots healthy and therefore the plant healthy and happy.

Thank you! The white on the leaves is mineral build up from the water used at the nursery. I asked around different bonsai groups and even called the nursery, and the general consensus is too much water.

I really appreciate the input! Thank you so much!

 

[Carol 83]

I asked around different bonsai groups and even called the nursery, and the general consensus is too much water.

All of the pots in the picture look really saturated.

 

[Oddly_Aude]

I

All of the pots in the picture look really saturated.

Just watered them this morning after two days of no water right before the photo. I'll be testing more thoroughly from now on. The other ones don't seem to have the same issue though.

 

[penumbra]

The leaves are definitely off color and the soil is suspect. But if this plant has only been with you since the 15th, I suspect it is suffering at least partially due to a difference in light between where it was and where it is now. Was this plant in Florida when you bought it? It looks as though it was. Wigerts?
Occasionally mine throws off older leaves, as do most plants. A couple of times mine has thrown many leaves from drying out excessively, but it always bounces back. Excessive drying for mine can happen in about 3 days. If I were you, I would thin it out a bit to let light penetrate the interior and give it as much light as you can.
The one I am showing was over potted last summer because it was drying too fast. But mine is in a well draining bonsai mix. Yours in in potting soil and needs repotting. Unless you can excellent control over light, heat etc, you will have to wait for that until it warms up a bit. The one pictured was grown from cutting and has never seen a ray of sunlight. But it is under 4 T5 bulbs where it has been for 8 years.

 

[Oddly_Aude]

The leaves are definitely off color and the soil is suspect. But if this plant has only been with you since the 15th, I suspect it is suffering at least partially due to a difference in light between where it was and where it is now. Was this plant in Florida when you bought it? It looks as though it was. Wigerts?
Occasionally mine throws off older leaves, as do most plants. A couple of times mine has thrown many leaves from drying out excessively, but it always bounces back. Excessive drying for mine can happen in about 3 days. If I were you, I would thin it out a bit to let light penetrate the interior and give it as much light as you can.
The one I am showing was over potted last summer because it was drying too fast. But mine is in a well draining bonsai mix. Yours in in potting soil and needs repotting. Unless you can excellent control over light, heat etc, you will have to wait for that until it warms up a bit. The one pictured was grown from cutting and has never seen a ray of sunlight. But it is under 4 T5 bulbs where it has been for 8 years.

Yes it is from Wigerts! The off coloration is due to mineral build up from their water. The new leaves don't have it.

It definitely needs repotting. I guess I'll give it a go. Thank you!

 

[Carol 83]

It definitely needs repotting. I guess I'll give it a go.

Tropicals are best repotted in the summer when they're growing strong as @penumbra said. Your tree is still getting acclimated to it's new home, let it settle in.

 

[Oddly_Aude]

Tropicals are best repotted in the summer when they're growing strong as @penumbra said. Your tree is still getting acclimated to it's new home, let it settle in.

True. I missed that part before I posted my response. I'll just cut back on watering for now. Hopefully it makes it!