Emergency repotting Serissa foetida Bonsai

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3 жыл бұрын

I bought a box store Serissa foetida Bonsai which was in a poor health state. In this video I perform an emergency repot to increase its survival chances and also do a one week update on the tree.
In the month that passed since I bought it, the Serissa Bonsai has recovered somewhat and it has gained some new growth as well. However, it still shows signs of distress which I believe to be a sign of improper watering caused by the poor draining coconut coir soil.
Serissa japonica, also known as Serissa foetida (due to the odor emanated when cut) or the Tree of a thousand stars, is a subtropical species which loves humidity but hates having its roots in wet soil. Repotting Serissa foetida can be a bit tricky especially when the plant is not in its best shape health-wise. Nevertheless, I do perform an emergency repotting whenever I believe it could improve the health of a tree or even save it.
I will try my best to bring this Serissa foetida Bonsai back to health and will be posting a future video update with the outcome.
#serissa #serissafoetida #serissabonsai

Пікірлер: 55

@TheBonsaiZone 3 жыл бұрын

Nice work and a very nice tree. I think the humidity is more a factor in keeping the fine roots from drying out, you have to keep the balance between too much water in the soil and not enough. Having the tree in a humid location helps keep the soil at the perfect level of humidity where the roots will grow without rotting or drying out. I think careful watering and then misting of not only the tree but the soil, will keep your roots happy. I use rainwater, if the water is heavy with minerals, it will build up on the leaves and the roots and lead to poor health. I'm looking forward to updates!

@OddBonsai 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the info and advices Nigel. I am using rain water but I am not yet completely sure if I got the hang of the watering routine. Summer will be challenging! I remember seing your Serissa sitting on the open air benches during summer (correct me if I didn't remember correctly from the videos). So you must be wattering multiple times during hot summer days.

@TheBonsaiZone 3 жыл бұрын

@@OddBonsai Yes, I water thoroughly and then tip the pot up to drain off the excess water. I do this up to 3 times a day in summer, plus lots of misting!

@OddBonsai 3 жыл бұрын

It sounds like I'll probably have to go with the mini greenhouse option since the only way I could water the Serissa more than twice a day is if it joins me at work on working days. 😄

@koromin21 3 жыл бұрын

@@OddBonsai hi there, did it survive? I am struggling with one too.

@OddBonsai 3 жыл бұрын

@@koromin21 Hello Lluïsa, Unfortunately, it did not make it. It went from bad to better to bad again until id died a bit over one month after the repot. However, don't let this discourage you. It may be that mine was too far gone to be saved. I hope yours does better!

@Dave-if5qj 5 ай бұрын

Good advice I just bought this species of bonsai ,it's my first bonsai and I was told I had to thoroughly water it every day By the local bonsai store It started dropping leaves So repotted it I use a humidifier for all my plants

@shinjung3290 Жыл бұрын

I'm so sorry for the loss, i read in the other comments the tree didn't make it. Answering the question you sent out to us in the video, I do have 2 Serissas of the variegata species, and I keep them outside, for the summer i'll bring them inside cause it gets too hot for them, but so far i haven't had any struggles with them, I live in a very humid region which also helps me keeping everything outside, and I do also use sphagnum moss in certain trees as a top dressing to help retain moisture.

@liquidxskin19 2 жыл бұрын

wow what a transformation!

@OddBonsai 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I tried my best to save the tree.

@Maunkwew 3 жыл бұрын

beautiful little tree

@OddBonsai 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you. Sadly the state of this Serissa did not get better after transplanting and it died about one month after this.

@sahabatbonsai2019 3 жыл бұрын

Nice video 🙏👍

@OddBonsai 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, I'm glad you found it usefull.👍

@tunasmudabalibonsai4398 3 жыл бұрын

Nice vidio n mice bonsai

@OddBonsai 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Let's hope it recovers.

@katieetienne9082 2 жыл бұрын

Am not sure what part of the country you're in? These seem to be easier to keep in the hot humid southern states. Mine do well and I was surprised to see the roots on your tree. It had a healthy looking trunk but the roots didn't look good (which I'm guessing is no fault of your own). They should be long with a lot of fine roots. Also, as you know you would have been wise to put it in a more suitable soil...Perhaps back in fresh dirt until it recovered and then in another year in an akadama mix like Boon's. I'm sorry it's gone. Btw, in the south mine take full sun and a lot of water.

@OddBonsai 2 жыл бұрын

Hi, I live in Romania, where we have a temperate climate with hot summers (not so humid) and mild winters (getting milder by the year). Unfortunately, I made a lot of mistakes with this Serissa but I certainly learned a lot from the comments from people like you. I got a new one a month ago (a healthy one this time), and I am determined to keep this one alive. Thanks!

@mudrikkeith4873 3 жыл бұрын

Amazing bonsai

@OddBonsai 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you. I just hope the Serissa will recover.

@kacrisbonsaiandhobbies4754 3 жыл бұрын

Very good analysis my friend you are wright the problem with that is not properly drain the water or of because lack of nutrient. The soil used is not suitable for that kind of bonsai.

@OddBonsai 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for confirming my suspicion. I hope it will like this new soil.

@claudiucampean1392 3 жыл бұрын

Good job, Ştefane

@OddBonsai 3 жыл бұрын

Multumesc, dar din pacate nu a prea ajutat replantarea. Dupa inca o luna si ceva in care starea de sanatate s-a tot deteriorat a murit in ciuda eforturilor de a-l tine in viata...

@robkay5443 2 жыл бұрын

Sorry to read in other posts that your serrisa didn’t pull through. I’ve had mine for 18 months and I’ve struggled with it for about 14 of them. Keeping it in consistent good health has been a challenge, and these last few months I’ve gotten unique but questionable results trying my best.

@OddBonsai 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! It's too bad I could not save it. That's one thing I find difficult with serissas. Once their health state declines it seems very hard to bring them back. And mine was already in a poor state when I got it. I bought a new one a week ago, a healthy one this time. I hope this one will do better.

@howdentistryworks6504 Жыл бұрын

Well, it will be my first bonsai, hope to take good care of it

@OddBonsai Жыл бұрын

Hiw come you decided to get a Serissa as your first bonsai? I hope you have better luck with it than I did. Make sure you buy one that is nice and healthy.

@johnlambe2912 2 жыл бұрын

I would have thought that bare rooting then root pruning a sick tree would have been badly advised. Also by not wiring it into the pot the instability and movement can cause major problems for any new fine root growth. I see this is approx 1yr ago. Hopefully it pulled through ?.

@OddBonsai 2 жыл бұрын

You are completely right, trees in a poor health state should be left to recover before major operations such as repotting. And I did let it recover but this Serissa wasn't getting better and overall it's health state was declining. This is why I decided to check if there's any root problem. Unfortunately, the tree did not survive and I most probably helped speed up it's decline with the root pruning that I shouldn't have done. It is possible that not wiring it to the pot may have also contributed to this. What actions would you recommend for sick trees that keep declining? Thank you for your great comment!

@johnlambe2912 2 жыл бұрын

@@OddBonsai Thanks for your reply. Any sick trees (depending on species) I have placed into a greenhouse under a misting system with good effect.With the Serissa this may not have been possible depending on outdoor temperatures. I wouldn’t have removed any foliage as photosynthesis would be it’s only way of gaining strength while the roots gained strength. To replace the misting system for indoors I would spray the foliage several times a day. A grow-light may also be worth considering if daylight hours were short Ie: winter. The soil as you say was terrible but if I touched it at all it would have been minimal and replace what I removed with pure pumice as you wouldn’t want any further water retention by adding akadama just drainage and increased aeration. I also know a few good prayers 😂. Then fingers crossed and hope. Just my thoughts by the way. I’m no expert.

@OddBonsai 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed answer. Everything you wrote makes perfect sense. And there are a lot of common sense things that I could have done but I didn't. Spraying several times a day is one of the things I did do and used a transparent [plastic bag as a makeshift greenhouse. An actual greenhouse and a grow light are two things I did not have at the time (I have a grow light now but still no greenhouse). Thanks again!

@kacrisbonsaiandhobbies4754 3 жыл бұрын

Yes not properly drain, lack of nutrient and soil not suitable for that kind of bonsai. Nice assesment my friend.

@OddBonsai 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your comment my friend. Do you also have a Serissa Bonsai?

@nicolaemorozov4304 7 ай бұрын

Salut, si eu cu o intrebare la Serissa, am procurat din shop fara sa fac suficient research si am inteles ca am luat un specimen extrem de alintat, si eu cu o intrebare asa mai “practica”, la mine tot are un “mixed soil” care nu pare a fi akadama de loc, si ma gandes sai fac repotting din cauza ca mentine prea mult apa, crezi ca ar fi o solutie sa schimb soilu acu in Decembrie, mii grija sa nu-l pierd, daca ai experienta cu tip de soil direct de la crescatorie, fie coconut sau altceva, merita sa-i fac repotting? Caci dupa ce l-am procurat prietenu pierde din frunze si mii in grija. Multumesc anticipat!

@OddBonsai 7 ай бұрын

Substratul in care vine de la magazin trebuie cu siguranta schimbat. Sigur nu este akadama. Insa data fiind starea lui nu e prea recomandat sa ii fie deranjate acum si radacinile. Eu asa l-am pierdut pe al meu. Ideal ar fi sa fie stabilizat ai apoi intervenit la radacini sau schimbat substratul cu impact minimal asupra radacinilor.

@BlueSkyBonsai 3 жыл бұрын

Nice work! How's it doing now one month later?

@OddBonsai 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Unfortunately, it's not doing too well. The remaining branches are just dying off one by one. I think its a lost cause and what bugs me the most is that I can't figure out the reason, there are no obvious signs of overwatering or lack of light...

@BlueSkyBonsai 3 жыл бұрын

@@OddBonsai I can tell you, underwatering has killed all my serissas except one which died after a repot where I let the roots get dry while pruning them. Overwatering doesn't exist unless you have non-draining soil... The other reason I'm not getting any more serissas, I'm hyper sensitive to bad smells!

@OddBonsai 3 жыл бұрын

I don't think it's underwatering in my case but who knows... I completely agree with you on the overwatering part. I was just trying to say that the way in which branches die of is strange and sudden. They're all ok today and the next morning I find a single branch wilted beyond recovery.😕 I didn't found the serissa smell to be that bad, but it's very possible that it's one of those perceptions that vary from one individual to another.

@BlueSkyBonsai 3 жыл бұрын

@@OddBonsai understood. Well, you'll be in god company if it does conk out on you... most bonsai hobbyists have tried abs cried with Serissa. In the meantime give it some TLC and you might be lucky!

@OddBonsai 3 жыл бұрын

Yup, I've heard that the "My Serissa died" club is pretty popular. 😁

@ezat1991 3 жыл бұрын

could you show us a quick update on this tree bro?

@OddBonsai 3 жыл бұрын

Unfortunatelly, all the leafs and branches on the tree dried off so It's most likely dead. I will continue to water it in case new shoots may develop from the roots. And of course I will make an update video once it's clear if it's dead or alive. Thanks for the recommendation!👍

@starmieg3245 3 жыл бұрын

@@OddBonsai anything? 🥺

@OddBonsai 3 жыл бұрын

@@starmieg3245 Unfortunately it died. I will make an update video, probably this month if I can manage in between all the other spring bonsai work. Thanks for asking.

@flash_runningman7431 Жыл бұрын

Is the plant still alive? I hope it is doing great 👍

@OddBonsai Жыл бұрын

Unfortunatelly it didn't make it. It had ups and downs for a couple of months and then all the leaves just turned black. 😥

@flash_runningman7431 Жыл бұрын

@@OddBonsai may the souls rest in peace

@jarheadbonsai 3 жыл бұрын

I bought one of these before...It quickly died after 😵😵😵

@OddBonsai 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the encouragement 😋. I know how it is. Sometimes they are beyond help 🚑 and I had some die on me too, but for some reason I keep trying 😎.

@martinneely Жыл бұрын

Hi, Is there an update on this repot?

@OddBonsai Жыл бұрын

Unfortunately, it did not make it. It struggled for some weeks and then it finally died.

@martinneely Жыл бұрын

@@OddBonsai Oh no! I hope I have better luck 🙏

@OddBonsai Жыл бұрын

@@martinneely I hope so too. One thing I learned is that it's best not to prune anything besides dead parts if the serissa plant is already not doing well. Good luck with your serissa!