My Bonsai Looks Dead

While dead leaves at the bottom of your bonsai are perfectly healthy dead leaves on the upper parts of new growth are a sign of a problem usually over or under watering.

My bonsai looks dead. Invariably someone will suggest the bark scratch test. Trimming the dead spots you can trim away the parts of your bonsai tree which are dead to encourage and nurture future growth and development. Below the bark is often a light green layer which people think is the cambium it is not. Step 1 use sharp sterile pruning shears to remove any areas of the bonsai that are cannot be saved such as dead or broken branches and wilted foliage and stems.

Some species may be able to live through that kind of drought. It might not be. The juniper is one of the most common bonsai trees for beginners but it is an outdoor tree. There s a very simple test which can quickly help you determine whether your bonsai is actually dead.

Start by selecting the tip of a twig the size of a pencil. You should post a photo. For deciduous trees like maples discoloration in the foliage could be caused by continued exposure to the afternoon sun. Not every bonsai can be saved from a dying state but with some care and attention your bonsai may have a chance.

To check if your plant is dead or just dormant oklahoma state university suggests what they call the snap scratch test. You scratch off the bark. Look for signs of disease in your dying bonsai including curled leaves white powder yellowing foliage and discolored spots which could indicate diseases such as leaf curl powdery mildew or. It might only look like it because it s lost all its leaves.

This layer of green is not present when a tree dies and dries out. Soil can also cause problems for bonsai s as i explain in this article. Post a picture and between us we may be able to tell. You might see something like this and think is the branch on this bonsai tree dead it could be a sign that you re overwatering your tree and causing the roots to rot from being constantly soaked in water.

Pinching away brown and wilted leaves from the stems and using pruning shears in trimming away any dead leaves stems or branches are helpful for the survival and revival of your bonsai tree. When placed inside its needles will turn yellow and the tree will slowly die. One of the questions often asked when growing bonsai is is my bonsai dead. After 2 3 months without water it s probably dead but you never know.