Dying Pemphis Help

Hi everyone,

I have a problem which I really have no clue on what to do. I've lost a tree recently - Pemphis and my second one is starting it seems. I don't know what to do, everything is status quo - didn't touch, repot, just trimmed maybe but that's all.

Clumps of leaves start wilting - they're still green but wilting then just fall off.

Is this an issue of watering or a disease. Please help. I think at this stage it is still saveable but it won't last long if it continues...really need help

It happens in clumps so you will see some leaves doing well some not...

Hi everyone,

I have a problem which I really have no clue on what to do. I've lost a tree recently - Pemphis and my second one is starting it seems. I don't know what to do, everything is status quo - didn't touch, repot, just trimmed maybe but that's all.

Clumps of leaves start wilting - they're still green but wilting then just fall off.

Is this an issue of watering or a disease. Please help. I think at this stage it is still saveable but it won't last long if it continues...really need help

It happens in clumps so you will see some leaves doing well some not...

first of all i feel that this is in the wrong section and the post is not getting enough attention, maybe fiona can move it ???   but how long is it since the tree was first collected and how long has it been in that pot . it looks to me like its a fairly newly collected tree and not much root ??? if so it wants some shade and plenty of water , at least twice a day and misting often, what soil is it in , also have you given it any feed, if its a newly collected tree dont feed it until its strong or you will burn the new roots . give us some more information please   john

John,

Thank you for finally replying. Here's some history of the plant:

1) It's been potted for 9 months now. I got it potted from the seller 3 months in. The plant has been under my care for the past 6 months.
2) Watering 2x a day / 3x a day during the summer. 3x a week salt misting.
3) Weekly pinch of urea, probably about 10 granules around the far edge of the pot.

This was doing quite well until last month, clumps started dying off slowly. I've lost the first tree already. This is the second tree so I made a quick net research and I saw a disease called "verticullum wilt" - with no idea whatsoever, I tried using Agri-fos systemic fungicide once a week. I'm on the 2nd week now. The wilting seems it may have stopped but I am not sure still if it is what I think it is.

What made this disease weird for me was the pot was undisturbed for the 6 months it has been with me. No repotting, no clipping, none whatsoever so I will say I really don't know what I'm doing and I'm hoping that I am doing the right thing.

Bing

hi , stop the urea now, dont give it any fertilizer till its strong again, then only use some organic feed, guano or cow manure is good . i think maybe salt spray i week one time is enough , i would put it in some light shade for 2 weeks . i know you said that the trader had it for 3 months and you had it for 6 months but how long ago did the first tree die, i do feel that traders sell stock before they are strong because the want to make a profit, in europe the traders will not sell yamadori until they have been collected for 1 year . in thailand they sell them the day after they dug them up and tell you they collected them 3 months ago . hope everything goes well, john

John,

1) Ok, I will stop urea. I do have guano so I can work with that.
2) At this point, I guess the origination of the plant would be academic. I really can't confirm or deny that at this point but what I do know is that it was under my care since January of this year
3) The wilting happened 3rd week of May and I left it status quo for 2 weeks when the lower branch was almost completely wilted and this was when I started with the Agri-Fos fungicide.

Thank you for sharing your suggestions. I really appreciate them at this point. I am actually currently closely monitoring the plant and the upper branches where the leaves are healthy, there is actually new growth of baby leaves and yet the lower portion is dead. What it seems is that the dying has ceased...for now. Will continue to apply fungicide for the next 2 sundays.

Bing

John,

where did you placed your tree for the past 6 months? full sun. And yes stop using urea. It will slowly kill your tree.

regards,
jun:) 

direct sun for about 4 hours a day? between 10am-2pm? until the shade of the house covers the sun?

I can see from your pictures that your trees are in the terrace of the house with adjacent walls from all sides, It has a complete bonsai stands. that's why I asked, If it is stationed there it will slowly die, exactly as what happened. They need full sunlight as in whole day sunlight.


regards,
jun:) 

in this kind of situation, the poor trree must be rotting under.
air circulation, proper sunlight and well aerated medium are vital for the tree to thrive.
and it looks like your tree is a bit etiolated from lack of sunlight, and the branches and leaves less succulent relative to healthy trees.
urea is also insufficient.

i'd use a complete organic fertlizer if i were you and mist the tree with a diluted balanced water soluble fertlizer with micro-nutrients every two weeks when it is strong enough, and maybe repot it in a training pot with proper medium and remove the rocks you used as top dressings.


it'd be a shame to lose this tree. they're already endangered in the wild and over poached by self-proclaimed bonsai hunters for money.

I think it's overwatered ... or maybe it needs seawater

Anyway, this article from manila might help:


http://www.bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/ATPemphis.htm

And this one too, also talking about seawater or salty water ...

http://ofbonsai.org/species-specific/tropical/pemphis-acidula-%E2%80%93-pearls-in-the-tropics

there's no evdence that salty environment is required for a pemphis tree to thrive. and mangroves are optional halophytes. (we used to have forest mangroves here thriving in freshwater)
adding salt does not hurt though.
th frequency of watering salt water depends on the medium used. medium with more organic material holds better nutrients and salt too.

http://www.actahort.org/books/64/64_12.htm

(also, i'd restyle this tree if it were mine.)

Well, the last article said it will survive without seawater, but it will be healthier with it ...

Just passing the article along ... I still think it's overwatered ... I had one plant lose a branch like he described, due to overwatering.

Anyway, just realized this topic is last year. Wonder what happened to the plant ...