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Is this lichen, mold, or disease?

  • Psmmarino
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Posted 4 years 7 months ago #59757
I’ve been researching a lot about my specific bonsai. It’s a Fukien Tea Tree. I just got it about a week or so ago and reported it as well. I am very new to the bonsai culture as this is my first one. It’s been showing some good signs of growth throughout the branches, leaves and budding. Yesterday I noticed this green hue on the trunk and some of the branches that could be lightly scraped off. I’ve read all types of things but find conflicting information. If it’s lichen, it could be a good sign but I’ve also read it could be a bad sign of an underlying issue. The trunk is still very much solid and hardy so I do not think it could be an underlying issue. Any ideas or information would be greatly appreciated!
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  • Spot Beagle
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Replied by Spot Beagle on topic Is this lichen, mold, or disease?

Posted 4 years 7 months ago #59794
Has it ever been outside?
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Replied by Psmmarino on topic Is this lichen, mold, or disease?

Posted 4 years 7 months ago #59796
Yes, now that the weather has been averaging about 70-75 and sunny I put it outside around 2 o’clock for a couple hours or so.
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Replied by Spot Beagle on topic Is this lichen, mold, or disease?

Posted 4 years 7 months ago #59804
leave it out side, day and night. Most of our trees spend the winter out there in the snow. Find out if your's can, before it freezes. Trees like it outside.
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Replied by Psmmarino on topic Is this lichen, mold, or disease?

Posted 4 years 7 months ago #59809
So, all research points to leaving it outside in winter months will kill it. They recommend use of grow lights/heat lamps in winter because it never goes completely dormant. It always grows and buds flowers year round. Also it says never keep it outside below 55 degrees. It prefers temps between 55-80 with a couple hours of direct sunlight every day since it’s a subtropical species.
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  • lucR
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Replied by lucR on topic Is this lichen, mold, or disease?

Posted 4 years 7 months ago #59810
It is subtropical indeed, but that doesnt mean it likes our indoors: way to dry, no air movement, and no sun ( which is the resource of food ). The only way to keep it really happy is to mimic its natural habitat, but that converting a room in your house to subtropical temperatures and humidity, air vents, growing lights and so on. But that would not be called indoors anymore would it...you would probably destroy said room because water would be running of the walls...
My advice: keep away from "indoor" bonsai ( which do not exist in my book really) and start with plants that are native to your region. Even the very experienced people here ( to which i dont include myself ) stay away from the so called indoor species because they are just a pain in the ****. And the funny thing is that the species that are labelled "easy" or "for beginners" are often the most difficult ones to keep alive ( Fukien, Carmona, ...) for beginners because they dont have a clue what they are doing.
Btw: i have never seen anyone with an indoor bonsai return to show how good his/her plant is doing after coming here to ask help about their dying/sick plant...
Btw 2: 55 degrees? that is really hot, do you live in death valley?
by lucR
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  • Psmmarino
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Replied by Psmmarino on topic Is this lichen, mold, or disease?

Posted 4 years 7 months ago #59812
So you recommend keeping it outside all the time even during winter months? Also I meant 55 degrees as in Fahrenheit not Celsius. I keep forgetting to take into account not everyone here is living in America. So 55 degrees for me is like springtime weather. Also I am not completely sure if it is sick. The green hue on the trunk and some branches isn’t very prominent. It is still showing signs of growth and no yellowing of leaves, wilting leaves or branches etc. I’m not sure if it is lichen or a type of mold or if I should lightly brush it off or leave it. I use a humidity tray when it’s kept inside and when it’s outside I don’t need to worry much about humidity. We always experience high humidity in my area which I know this species of tree prefers
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Replied by lucR on topic Is this lichen, mold, or disease?

Posted 4 years 7 months ago #59814
no, keep it outside as much as possible. Noidea what autumn/winter temps you have but once temps drop bebath what the tree needs bring it inside. It will start to struggle again, after which you bring it outside again next spring. And one winter it will die probably
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Posted 4 years 7 months ago #59815
Ugh ok lol well I’m gonna try my best to keep it alive. I have hope lol I’m going to try grow lights during colder seasons and try to increase humidity without ruining my walls. Thank you! Also what species of bonsai would you recommend that can withstand colder temperatures and be kept outside year round?
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  • Cobra
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Replied by Cobra on topic Is this lichen, mold, or disease?

Posted 4 years 7 months ago #59829
Did it have moss growing up the trunk when you repotted it?
Mine did and after I removed it, a week or two later it started growing back on the trunk. This looks very similar although I can’t be sure from the pic.
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