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Hello bonsai lovers,

I know there are many versions of this questions on the forum, yet I am not sure if/how it applies to me.
The classic story: in November I got a new bonsai - 10 years old, looking healthy and perky. At the beginning it was doing very well, new leaves were appearing (see photos).



Then the dreaded Christmas holiday came.

I was away for 2 weeks. I left in place a system that was meant to provide water (through a felt ribbon), but it failed Even though I tested it before. I know, my mistake entirely

Since I came back (1st of Jan), I returned to a regular watering schedule (which in my case is about every 2-3 days), but my poor bonsai has been losing leaves daily. It looks almost bald now. New leaves are coming out, but it loses those too (since I see big and small leaves falling). Check out the other two photos, of the "bald" bonsai.


(in the last one you can see a new leaf coming out)

Do you have any recommendations to bring it back to it's beautiful pre-Christmas self?

Thank you in advance!

Prayera wrote: Do you have any recommendations to bring it back to it's beautiful pre-Christmas self?

It looks perfectly OK to me.
Remember it's winter and they tend to slow down.
Wait for the Spring is my advice, and keep watering it when the soil feels dryish to the touch.

Thanks Clicio, I hope that's the case. I thought Ficus are evergreens, so I wasn't expecting it to lose so much foliage

Prayera wrote: Hello bonsai lovers,

I know there are many versions of this questions on the forum, yet I am not sure if/how it applies to me.
The classic story: in November I got a new bonsai - 10 years old, looking healthy and perky. At the beginning it was doing very well, new leaves were appearing (see photos).

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Then the dreaded Christmas holiday came.

I was away for 2 weeks. I left in place a system that was meant to provide water (through a felt ribbon), but it failed Even though I tested it before. I know, my mistake entirely

Since I came back (1st of Jan), I returned to a regular watering schedule (which in my case is about every 2-3 days), but my poor bonsai has been losing leaves daily. It looks almost bald now. New leaves are coming out, but it loses those too (since I see big and small leaves falling). Check out the other two photos, of the "bald" bonsai.

This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.

This image is hidden for guests.
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(in the last one you can see a new leaf coming out)

Do you have any recommendations to bring it back to it's beautiful pre-Christmas self?

Thank you in advance!

Lots of light. Heat. Not over nor underwatering. And patience.
in summer you could consider defoliating and clipping all terminal buds. (Do NOT do this now). This will encourage new buds to start growing on the branches. At that time it will be clear which branches are dead; You can trim those out.

leatherback wrote: Lots of light. Heat. Not over nor underwatering. And patience.

Yes.
And remember that Ficus hate to be moved around. Keep it in a place it likes and don't take it in and out very often.

Thank you both, that's sound advice.

I'll try to improve on the lighting too. Living in north of England, we have a constant gray sky this time of the year. So perhaps I should consider keeping my bonsai closer to the window in winter.