HELP!!!! My Japanese plant is dieing!!?

Question

i have two of them, i don't know what you call them but they're like 20 inches tall and around 15 years old. Probably a japanese maple.. dunno, anyways i just bought them for an extremley large amount of money and... they're shrivling and leaves are curling upwards and losing their rich green colour. What the hell is happening? I cannot really pierce the pot from beneath because i'm afraid the pot will crack. I water them once a week and keep them indoors near the window where they get a mild amount of sunlight.

PLEAASSSEE some one help me.. these plants are like family to me

Answer 1

Sounds to me like you need to repot. The soil only has a certain amount of nutrients in it. Once those are used up, the plant will basically starve to death. I don't know about Japanese Maples, but bonsai have to be repotten every couple of years and fresh soil added.

Answer 2

Get a moisture meter and stick it in the soil and see how "wet" it actually is. In most cases we humanoids give the plants too much TLC. There should be drain holes in any pot in which you keep plants. So the only thing you can do is repot them into smaller pot which has drain holes and in the larger pot that you have put gravel on the bottom and then that pot ontop of the gravel...so the excess water will not sit in the dirt, rotting out the fine roots. The roots need air(not remain submerged under water as is the case in a non drainable pot.
You may find that once a week is too much with too much water.
Basically if the leaves yellow first and die too much water.....if they just brown up....to little

Answer 3

if these plants have been in the same pot of soil for 15 years that could be the problem. if you water them from city water from taps the water should be put into a large container and allowed to sit for a few days first so the chemicals can dissipate, before used on the plants [ there is a condition called chlorosis , it's a build up of salts in the soil, will eventually choke the roots. ]. but i think the problem is probably it is root bound and needs to be trans planted into a bigger container. . .... please feel free to email me if you want more info. :)

Answer 4

It's unfortunate that you don't know what they are, because different plants have different needs. Can you take pictures to the place where you bought them, so they can set you back on the right path? Or, send pictures to your county co-operative extension adn let the Master Gardeners take a crack at identifying and correcting them.

Answer 5

Many Bonsai need to be kept outdoors year round.The Brussel's Company Bonsai Catalog indicates which Bonsai need to be outdoors and has pictures to help you identify the plant. I'd try calling them at 800-582-2593 and ask them to rush you a copy of their catalog. No, I have nothing to do with the company and am not even a customer of theirs. Good luck----