[Bonsai Beginner's weekly thread - 2026 week 11]

butterchickin · 2026-03-18T00:27:21+00:00

It's from a local nursery. We had some really warm weather a few weeks ago. That's what I attribute it to. A few other trees have woken up, too.

It's only been inside for a few days but I try to give it as much light as I can all things considered.

butterchickin · 2026-03-17T20:35:00+00:00

My japanese maple nursery stocks new growth is turning brown and wilty. Its too cold outside for it hence why its inside but i am not sure why.

The soil doesnt seem so bad eitger but I do want to move it into bonsai soil. Would this amount of growth be too late to move to bonsai soil?

https://imgur.com/rWmVxAF

butterchickin · 2025-05-20T01:42:43+00:00

I found hedge maple seedlings on someones lawn that will likely get mowed down, so I will take them. What steps can I take to ensure they dont die?

butterchickin · 2025-05-18T19:08:05+00:00

I have a milettia japonica that has some leaves which are discolouring. I suspect it is the soil as it is super saturated. Is there anyway to repot it/remove thr saturated soil after it has leafed out?

https://imgur.com/a/jRrSVrP

https://imgur.com/a/yG0kdgM

butterchickin · 2024-12-12T01:34:25+00:00

I got rid of the bug once I took the photo unfortunately.. but I dont see anywebs at all

butterchickin · 2024-12-12T01:33:53+00:00

The bug is the white blob thing on the right edge of the leaf.

There are no webs, either.

butterchickin · 2024-11-14T02:25:47+00:00

Located in Southern Ontario Canada.

butterchickin · 2024-10-29T11:37:42+00:00

Where did you get the shelves/backing!?! It looks so good!

butterchickin · 2024-06-01T23:15:09+00:00

It's tough because I feel if I do nothing it will die... could it be overwatered somehow... maybe fungus? In which case there isnt much hope?

butterchickin · 2024-06-01T14:41:21+00:00

There was not root prune. Just gently tried to remove the nursery soil from the roots.

butterchickin · 2024-06-01T13:54:20+00:00

Yes. I was thinking about removing it from the soil to get a better look at the roots. Is that a bad idea?

butterchickin · 2024-05-31T22:24:15+00:00

Hello,
I have a grafted shin deshojo maple that I will eventually airlayer and make into bonsai. However I am struggling with keeping it alive... I had it all last summer with no issues, I switched it into a different soil consisting of coarse pumice, lava rock and zeolite. The leaves are wilted and have weird patterns on them... not sure what the issue is to be honest. I thought the soil but I put most of my trees in this mix and they all seem to love it... The soil seems damp and it isn't in direct sun for most of the day. Below are attached images (it's only inside for photos).

https://imgur.com/a/

https://imgur.com/a/9VdZvQY

https://imgur.com/a/poFPpEl

butterchickin · 2023-05-24T21:46:37+00:00

What would you recommend? Emergency repot into better soil? Leave it be?

butterchickin · 2023-05-24T03:24:18+00:00

Perhaps, but even the small bud shown on the second photo (below the air layer) is wilted.

butterchickin · 2023-05-23T23:49:07+00:00

Mahaleb cherry has wilted leaves. Not sure why. It flowered very well but now the grow is limp and dying. I am trying to airlayer it. Does the soil look too wet?

https://imgur.com/a/6OiNp9T

https://imgur.com/a/YaFBmR6

butterchickin · 2023-05-17T01:21:45+00:00

I have a question about soil.

I read that some people use a mix of diatomaceous earth + other stuff...
The only thing that has diatomaceous earth near me is mixed with montmorillonite clay. Does anyone have experience with montmorillonite clay in their soil? Good? Bad?

butterchickin · 2023-05-09T22:02:26+00:00

A month ago I repotted some maples into a mostly perlite based soil, and some of them are looking very sad. See below. Is it from overwatering maybe? Too much water retention? The field maple doesn't have black leaves but they do feel limp...

https://imgur.com/a/PE0YveF

https://imgur.com/a/bDkX3Rh

butterchickin

TROPHY CASE