Mattbonsai

Fess up time, I've injured my Serissa! She's recently having alot of leaves turning colour and falling, some go black and some go brown, I remember hearing that when leaves go Black its because the trees being over watered, is there something else that could be causing this, because i've been watering her as normal, by keeping the soil slightly on the dry side as I have always done.

I fed her before this started happening, but it was with the food i've always fed her with: Barbra Locketts Bonsai food (NPK: 3.5:3.5:3.5) and in the same way i've always fed her.

The branch in Pic 2 is dead, i've scratched the bark and theres nothing, the branch below it in the picture is starting to go the same way but is still green under the bark, until this last week the foliage dropping has been a slow process, but it seems to of sped up a bit recently. She's in the continuously heated conservatory, on a table in the centre away from the windowsill.

Any ideas?

-matt-

Attached Images

	Serissa Sick 1.JPG (37.3 KB, 28 views)
	Serissa Sick 2.JPG (62.7 KB, 24 views)

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Marrero

Serissa is a very touchy plant. I have several identical to your plant, at least same leaves. It reproduces fairly easy, but when they decide to die I have found hard to save them.

What has work for me is to as soon as possible remove from the pot, and plant in a pot with spagnum moss.

Prowler

Mr Matt.
Have you always kept it there?
In the winter due to the lack of sunlight, combined with the heat has maybe been screwed up a bit in the conservatory, this has upset her.
You also stated you water the same, but maybe she is not using it, the heat could be drying the compost up a bit, if this is so she would not need a lot of feed.
Only a couple of things i have thrown at you to ponder. But you know me, i can kill those trees faster than a Mongoose can kill a snake

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Its hell out there, give them hell back.

Mattbonsai

Hi Prowler,

She stays in the conservatory in Spring and Autumn, between coming in for the Winter and going out for the Summer, Normally she goes into a North facing bay window at the front of the house for the Winter, but theres been some trouble with the council estate recently so i've had to move all my trees from there, out of view.

Marrero,

I've had her since i've been doing bonsai, and this is the second time she's lost her leaves, the first time was due to lazy brother while I was on holiday

I've just given her a good soaking in the sink, as she was dry, I scraped away all the dead leaves and removed the moss from the top of the soil, and put a fresh layer of Kyodama and organic mix (Left over from my New Serissa repot) on top of the soil, to bury her roots a bit. She's now on my mums 'magic' windowsill in the Kitchen, almost anything I try to propagate will grow on the windowsil, from a batterd old advacardo seed, to a peanut

-matt-

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Mattbonsai

Right, time to fess up.

My Variegated Serissa has joined Prowlers past Serissas in the Big dark cloud over Phils house! I have now officially joined the ranks of serissa Killer!

I would like to find out what did it though. I think the symptons which were: patches of foliage turning a grey -black, then brown and falling, with some dead leaves hanging from the tree by fine individual fibres, indicates Red spider Mite Damage. But I want to know for sure.

RIP MY SERISSA!

-Matt-

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Phil

If I'm not mistaken I believe the variegated species is the one Grumps is now having some good luck with.

~Phil

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Please, always keep in mind that the typewritten word does not always convey what you wish to say, and to always treat others as you would have them treat you. Think twice-submit once.
I started out with nothing....and still have most of it.
"Its hell out there, give them hell back." ~ Prowler/Victor Gray 12/31/1943 - 11/24/2008

Prowler

Sorry to here about yer tree, but asking Is like asking about the Golden Fleece, aint such a thing.
They have to be the most cantankerous tree i have came across.
One thing they DONT like is being styled, slowly catches monkey, a snip here and a snip there, thats it.
As a mass killer of these tree's i cant tell you much, they will survive for a couple of years, then they are gone, no warning, Poof they are gone.
Welcome to the club. Cheers.

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Its hell out there, give them hell back.

Prowler

Pearly !!
Dont !! ever speak about my tree, you know what will happen?
It will keel over during the night, dont you put a hex on me
I refuse to speak about it. Cheers.

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Its hell out there, give them hell back.

Phil

Whoops!....sorry, too late now. Just send the burial services bill to me if it does happen to give up it's little variegated ghost.

~Phil

__________________

Please, always keep in mind that the typewritten word does not always convey what you wish to say, and to always treat others as you would have them treat you. Think twice-submit once.
I started out with nothing....and still have most of it.
"Its hell out there, give them hell back." ~ Prowler/Victor Gray 12/31/1943 - 11/24/2008

rtoms

Maybe it wasnt humid enough? I know you put it in there every year, but thats what comes to mind first. All of my serissa's come inside for the winter also, however i keep them in 100%humidity environments.