The foliage of some bonsai trees are naturally yellow and should not cause you concern.
If your bonsai's foliage has begun to yellow, and is not naturally golden, it is indicating that there is a problem in its environment. Depending on the type of bonsai you have, yellowing foliage can be a sign of a lack of nutrients, a root-bound root system or too much water. If caught early, the ailing bonsai can recover from its struggles. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Inspect the bonsai thoroughly. Remove any foliage that has completely lost its green color. Use sharp, sterile shears to remove the leaves or pinch them away with your thumb and forefinger.
2. Prune the branches and stems to remove any deadened or suffering areas, as this will help redirect the tree's energy to viable areas.
3. Prepare to repot the bonsai as this will give you an opportunity to inspect its roots. Select a new, well-drained potting container for the bonsai. Be sure to choose one with several drainage holes at the bottom. Line each of the drainage holes with wire mesh to keep the roots in and pests out.
4. Create a loamy, well-drained soil environment for the bonsai. Select a nutrient-rich potting soil, clean sand and clean pine bark or leaf mulch and incorporate the materials thoroughly. Line the bottom third of the prepared bonsai container with soil and set it aside.
5. Remove your bonsai from its container and place it on a clean, flat surface. Crumble the soil gently from around the root system and inspect the roots thoroughly. Comb the top and bottom of the root-bound system with a sterile root hook, removing no more than a third of the mass.
6. Cut away any dead, wilted or mushy roots back to the root mass. Trim back the healthy roots about a half-inch or less from the tip to provide fresh entry points for water and nutrients. Trim back no more than a third of the healthy roots to prevent stunting the bonsai's growth.
7. Set the newly pruned bonsai in the prepared container and fill the container with the prepared soil mixture. Check that all of the roots are covered and then press the soil firmly around the bonsai's base to secure its position.
8. Allow several days to pass before watering the newly repotted succulent bonsai. Irrigate all other bonsai trees immediately after repotting. Give the bonsai a deep irrigation with tepid water. Pour the water, with a low stream, evenly across the surface until it begins to run from the drainage holes.
9. Place the bonsai in a warm, sunny location that receives full morning sunlight and intermittent shade in the afternoon and evening. Allow the soil to dry slightly before irrigating again to prevent over-watering.
10. Allow the bonsai to establish before introducing fertilizers. Feed the bonsai periodically throughout the growing season but only according to its needs. Cease winter feedings to prevent root burn. Select slow-release fertilizers for drought tolerant bonsai trees and water-soluble fertilizers for water-loving bonsais.
Tags: bonsai trees, drainage holes, container with, healthy roots, inspect roots