每日吃瓜

Hello everyone,

I’m pretty new to bonsai, and I’ve had my Carmona bonsai for about six months now. I got it from a garden center, and since then, I’ve really become hooked on the hobby! I’m now up to four bonsai trees.

This Carmona has done really well over the summer, with lots of new growth, beautiful leaves, and even berries. However, it’s struggling a bit now that fall has started and temperatures have dropped to around 18°C here.

I keep it in a southwest-facing window where it gets plenty of light, though slightly less now as some outdoor trees are casting shade. I water it whenever the soil feels slightly dry, using the immersion method by placing it in a tray of water for about 5 minutes. I track its water intake, and I also fertilize with liquid fertilizer every 1.5 weeks. Additionally, I mist it twice a week.
Recently, though, I’ve started encountering some issues. There’s been an insect infestation, and despite treating it twice with insecticide, they don’t seem to be completely gone. Mold is also starting to develop on the soil, and I’m noticing more leaf drop than usual.

I’m wondering if my watering technique could be part of the issue. Should I keep using insecticide, or might there be a better approach to manage the insects? Any advice or tips you have would be much appreciated!

Thank you!

Yes, your water technique is part of it, but not the only reason.

Correct watering of bonsai is: when the surface looks dry, with a fine strainer water abundantly over the whole surface until there is a steady stream pouring out of the drainage holes.

Bottom watering depleat the soil and roots from oxygen.

Your Carmona might be stressed from cooler temps and less light, which can make it more vulnerable to pests and mold. Try letting the soil dry a bit more between waterings, reduce misting, and improve airflow. For insects, insecticidal soap or neem oil is safer for repeated use than harsh chemicals. Repotting into fresh, well-draining soil can also help prevent mold and make the plant healthier overall.

The thread is more than a uesr old and the member has not been active sinze.

The tree is most likelly dead by now as 99,9% of the imported carmonas are after one year.

If you know how to keep carmona long term healthy in temperate areas, pleas share your findings in a separate thread. We are many that would like to know how you do it.?

Several years ago I mentioned a Carmona that I had inherited which I had kept alive well over a year. About a week later it started looking sick, and about two weeks later it was dead, leaving me with a cheap pot.

It is a difficult species,

It is not a dificult species. Actually it is invasive in some places.I would say it is an easy species that is mass imported into countries where it just cannot be grown long term healthy.

We had a plant colector locall that said "there are no hard to grow species, just hard to create environments".?

The most obvious difference between carmonas natural distribution range and temperate europe/ north america is a mild and wet winter. Humidity through the roof all winter. That is not easy to maintain in a temperate climate.

What happened with mine was that during the winter the temperature outdoors did what it does here. I had moved it in then out and one night it must have dropped too low, or maybe the humidity change got it.

I don't remember exactly what it was then, but two weeks ago here it was low of 13F/-10" high 34F/1C, this week highs 74F/23C, next week one day 53F/14C to 31F/-1C. Humidity yoyos along with rainfall. I usually depend on the nightly forecast which is pretty accurate. I have tried running a humidifier during the winter. It only raises 2 or 3 percent.?

And what if one succeed to get the humidity up in winter close to what can be found within this species natural distribution? Our houses is not bild to cope with that. Wallpapers that curls off the walls and mold is to be expected.

I think a humid terrarium is the only way to get them trough winter.