Ilex vomitoria Yaupon Holly

My ilex vomitoria pendula bonsai has thrived for the 2 years since acquisition.
This winter it flowered profusely and now shows abundant berry formation.
(It is brought indoors during freezing weather in my zone 7 climate.)
Now, however, it is dropping leaves at a rapid rate with little evidence of new leaf formation,
although a few new twigs and leaves have formed.
Is this normal for this species in pots?
It was fed with a low nitrogen fertilizer at the end of autumn, not fed during the winter, and received
a dilute balanced fertilizer 2 weeks ago. Its roots have plenty of room in a large pot.
The medium is 65% inorganic and 35 % organic.
Thank you

Hi Katydad3,
I am familiar with your tree and know you have taken good care of it; it was beautiful in full flower. Since I have little experience with "yaupons", I wonder if the tree shed leaves due to the low light levels indoors? That said, after looking at your tree yesterday, I believe the new buds forming are leaf buds and the tree will "sprout" with abundance.
Todd

Your I. vomitoria should have been outside all winter, with perhaps some mulch piled over the roots. Zone 7 is well within its range. So I suspect that is your problem. It needed some colder weather.

That said, they're relatively tough and if you don't overwter, shold be fine.

Did the tree bud back well this summer.....? I have 4 large collected Yaupon's that had to be partially cut back to collect and then 2 were drastically cut back after getting them into training boxes.....Now I think I'll need to protect the new growth that is bound to happen here in the North Ga area. I was planning on bringing them inside during freezing weather.

Brian