I would like some help with Ilex Crenatas?

Hello Everybody,

I just got Ilex Crenata bonsai as birthday gift and would like to know how keep it alive and look after the tree. So all you bonsai professionals and enthusiasts please post some kind words to willing fellow of bonsai art.
Best Regards,
Audrius Razma
London, United Kingdom

I have an Ilex Crenate for a couple days now and would like to know how to keep it? It is still healthy and has moss but I have no knowledge of a bonsai.

Hi Adrius. Can you post a picture of your holly so we can get an idea of size, age etc.? That usuallyhelps people giving advice.

Many thanks.

First off, get it outside if it is indoors. Sounds basic, but many newcomers have the misconception that trees will do well indoors. Find a basic bonsai book, search the net for care instructions, see Jim's link for more info. Finding a local club to get involved in is very valuable.
One of many sources...
http://www.bonsaiprimer.com/main.html#Index

Start here:
http://www.bonsai-bci.com/species/holly.html
Iris

And for all of their good intentions, please suggest to whoever it was that gave you this little tree not to do it to anyone else -- unless they know that the proposed recipient had the required skills and the interest to keep a tree alive.

It is far better if someone has expressed an interest in bonsai to give a book and a gift certificate to a nursery.

All that said, Iris' suggestion is a good one. In the UK, the "Bonsai 4 Me" website -- http://www.bonsai4me.com/ -- is an excellent source of information for a beginner to the sport.

Dear Fiona,

My Ilex Cenata is in bad condition and I don't know where is the problem? Firstly I have it outside the window during the day to have wind and sun energy. Secondly I water enough during hot days to make sure it always have plenty of water and on the tray I have laid small stones and keep always some water there to have right humidity. Unfortunately the tree leafs are dry in areas and the tree doesn't look healthy in general. It has some moss on soil, but I don't use bonsai food or fertilizer. I know it is summer and its evergreen type of the bonsai, so I except it to be much greener and maybe have one or two flowers.

Kind Regards,

Audrius Razma

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https://i.servimg.com/u/f44/16/64/84/83/dscf1117.jpg

I hope this is enough of photographs to decide what is wrong with my Ilex.

I suspect that it is a combination of too much water (you should let it get pretty dry before you water again) and being indoors for any part of the day. I. crenata and other hollies are outdoor trees. They will decline indoors.

Your tree doesn't look like it is on death's door, but I'd try to keep it outside at all times and water only when it needs it.

i looks like this tree is more than pretty dry , its bone dry, the soil has shrunk away from the pot, the water will just run down between the pot and soil ;
it needs soaking till the soil is evenly wet (put it in a bucket of water that will cover the pot completely and leave for a few hours) .
the soil these trees are in is just like concrete when they are dry and should be replaced asap

I love Jim's analogy (written elsewhere). Your friend just gave you a violin without providing music lessons. In order to play beautiful music, join the nearest bonsai club.
Iris

Is this the same tree as in your other post, please?


The two topics are now merged.

Hi Fiona,

Yeah I made two topics because I thought it was urgent to start looking after my Ilex bonsai. If you would browse second topic I have made some pictures for you to take a look and make comment on it. I have reach the decision at the moment with the problem of falling leafs, as it is evergreen type. As many other forumers msg me it was the case of soil being to dry, so I water it well until water was running down the pot exit holes.lol And made a check of water in soil by stabbing down the soil with wooden stick to see the level of water. Now I made some editions to my bonsai by taking most of leafs off and leaving in certain areas to let my Ilex recover quicker. I have close monitoring on my tree water levels and branches with leafs to find anything else would be showing bad signs of unhealthy tree. Now to describe general picture of my bonsai would be less leafs where I discovered I need to remove some branches as this tree was never treated to grow well in areas in general and I laid some stones on top of soil where is no moss growing. I’m planning to replant the tree and have some branches removed to have healthy and beautiful growth. I will soon post few more pictures of how it is looking in next couple of days. And would like to hear some views of others to know more what would be the best moves I could make in making my tree well considerable Art of the bonsai!

Kind regards
Audrius

First, put it in a container and fill it to the top of the plants pot and let it soak for a few hours. AND DONT DO ANYTHING ELSE to if for a long time, maybe even next spring. Just leave it alone and let it recover. It could be a month or 2 before you actually know for sure if it recovered. Just make sure when you water to water until it is soaked, not just till it runs out the bottom. If this guy is root bound it will run out the bottom before it is soaked.

Do not remove any leaves. You will weaken the tree.
Follow the advice of soaking it in water, then water when almost dry.
Don't prune off any branches until it recovers.
Don't put any stones on top of the soil.
Forget the stones under the pot. This will do nothing for the humidity. You will not have a humidity problem in the summer.
Don't repot now if you can help it. Repot next spring. Get bonsai soil.
Keep it outdoors at all times.
Fertilize weekly with houseplant fertilizer. Miracid is good for holly.
Join the nearest bonsai club.
Iris

This is a interesting post so i have to say I am glad you have started into bonsai...the information you have got so far is really good... i think you said you had leaf pruned some ??? find out how well this tree buds back before doing too much..i think i would prun the small branches inside so you can see the trunk line and where the main branches start at the trunk. be careful don,t do too much...post another picture please so we can see...good luck take care john

I have made some changes as you can see in photographs of Ilex. I left it under the soft flow of the tap water for a half an hour to make the soil wet and hope it’s enough watering for now. I cut some of the leafs off without knowing I shouldn’t and thinking of having less leafs to feed and restore my bonsai would make quicker recovery. I now collect rains water as just an extra pure water and thinking of tap water it’s actually are filtered and qualify as drinkable water in my house. I would like some ideas of what to do next, please. And I await for your replies with a great eagerness to learn.

just keep it watered and dont do anything else to it . if it survives the rest of the summer then you can think about it , but as it is suffering now anything else will definitely finish it off (if its not to late)

If I were you,,i would also do nothing else to the tree now!! if you have it inside take it out now ,,put it in some shade durning the hot part of the day so it will not dry out.. find yourself something else to mess with let this one rest all season ok??? good luck take care john

Unfortunately. you cut too many leaves off the lower branches. The top should be thinned out, but DON'T DO IT WITHOUT HELP. Find the nearest bonsai club & get some hands-on guidance.
Iris

looking at the bark, i am not sure it survived, just guessing from Texas but it looks to me as if it has dried out and died and the leaves just have not finished falling off, hope I am wrong. Just leave it alone and water and see if it comes back.

Thanks for all the post, I will write and post a photo in near future. At the moment I keep my Ilex on window seal and have it plenty water. Now, the bonsai still seems very weak and have not showen a sgin of recovery. I hope in all my hear that the Ilex will have a successful come back from the grave and I wont have sadly replace it with another bonsai. I would like to know more about the first aid I could give to my Ilex and sadly maybe some ideas in case of death, what kind of replacement I should aim?

Best
Adrius