Need Help with this Bonsai

Hi All,

I am new here and to Bonsai. I had recently adopted one and to me it is in pretty bad condition as the previous owner does not know how to take care of it.

I had taken some pictures of it. Can someone help me to ID it and offer some tips to revive it.

Thank you.

Outch! I actually get a pain on the top of my head looking at this poor poor

Fuking tea...oops sorry, I mean.... Fukien tea... Ehretia microphylla. An absolute must for any bonsai enthusiast!

Let me guess the tree has always been inside a building?

Take it oustside, dont put it directly in sun now, you have to make it use to it gradually. Place a hat on it, some shade cloth, (50-70%) let it get early morning sun and the slowly move it into full sun later. Keeping the hat on between 11 and 2pm for a month, and then take it off.

Is there still wires on it? It looks as if it bit into the bark. Remove all wires.

Transplant it in fresh soil, I think you can transplant almost the whole year for you are almost Tropical? Am I right guys? Singapore?

Fertilize.....give it some food its hungry! But dont feed a sick plant, first revive it, when its sprouts then feed it.

Search this site for all the info you need. IBC will also help you with the design. But let it grow freely first

Welcome Tylorphua

Its funny in Africa we have one Ehretia called the Puzzle bush....Your bush looks puszzled.

Love and light

Haha thanks for IDing this poor fellow.
You are right, it has been kept inside a shop for a couple of months with daily sunning for between 4-6 hrs except during raining days.

I do not have much direct sun coming into my place. Can I placed it next to the window or have it under florescent light or PL light?

For transplanting, will any type of soil do? Those found in hypemart or do I need to get those specially for Bonsai? Since I'm in Singapore, do I transplant it once a year?

I will remove all those wires later. Those were there when my friend got it from the nursery.

What Andre means is that this plant has to be outdoors and not inside at all. The only time you would need to bring this plant inside is if you have very cold winters - below 0C. I live in Scoltand which isn't exactly known for its sunshine and heat, but even I keep trees outdoors all year round if possible. I've only had to bring my three less hardy ones inside (into a cold greenhouse or garage) on the few nights we had which were way below freezing.

Sadly, keeping it indoors will not help in restoring any sort of health.

Well here in Singapore, most of us stay in a flat/apartment high above ground and we do not have a luxury of a garden. Therefore plants will only be housed indoors but as close to the window as possible where the sun shines in.

Well Then you need this for your bonsai....

I done myself in when I saw this for the first time,  so hilarious.  Can you believe that people did this to children!  

Well actually, I think all children should be caged.  hihihihihihihiiii





Love and light

oh man !!!
i saw that baby thing once before and couldnt believe it...

but it is actually a really good idea for apartment dwellers
(with trees i mean...)

some superthrive might help revive it too until it is ready for fertilization...
(if you can get it in singapore)

regarding the soil, do not use regular soil...
bonsai soil is very free draining and allows the roots to "breathe" and grow
you should not have any trouble finding that...

and if possible, re-pot into a slightly larger pot to avoid doing too much root pruning until it is good and healthy.

taylorphua wrote:Well here in Singapore, most of us stay in a flat/apartment high above ground and we do not have a luxury of a garden. Therefore plants will only be housed indoors but as close to the window as possible where the sun shines in.

If that is the case then you might want to investigate growing under lights. Remember you would need a room to this in, and please note that this will limit what type of trees you can buy.

Good luck.