Ginseng bonsai tree help

10 years ago

Hi I have had my Ginseng Bonsai tree for 3 years now and this is the first time I am experiencing this behavior. One of the roots appears to be wrinkling (not severe) and I have multiple leaves on my plant that are turning brown but not falling off. I water it twice a week. It has a water tray under neath the pot and I remove the water from it after the water has drained. I was repotting my plant (I thought that I had over watered it and it needed to be repotted because it had been a year since I had done so) and I noticed that the soil surround the roots of the plant was very wet and squishy. I also feel like an issue that caused this is that I had it next to my window in the sun room and we got a really bad cold front so it might've been shocked by the weather.

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Comments (7)

Garnet Ruby
10 years ago
This is the same thing that happened to my Ginseng ficus. In the winter especially, I found that they only need watered once a week. Especially with wet and squishy soil near the roots-- it's root rot.

The leaves, for mine with root rot, started yellowing and browning first at the bottom of the tree and started falling. Though they may not 'fall' by themselves, they will get sick enough and fall off eventually. The browning leaves may be a bacteria or fungus--but it is definitely a sign of illness. As root rot sets in the plant's immune system becomes compromised.

What kind of soil do you have your ginseng in? By looking at it, it looks like it's a loam soil, or peat (ie, miracle grow, fluffy ). These soils are especially bad for bonsai's, because they tend to hold too much water, and as the soil falls it surrounds the root and suffocates it. Making a dark, moist place, perfect for root rot.
Small trees need excellent drainage and breathable soil to keep the roots great. I would recommend a bonsai professional soil-- or making it yourself by mixing the loam/peat soil you have now with orchid bark, perlite, and some small gravel. Don't use anything from your yard.

How did the roots look? What color were they? How did they smell? How did they feel?
shoppingclothes13
Original Author
10 years ago
This is what one of the roots looked like. It didn't smell bad. I just don't know because one of the roots above the soil surface is having wrinkles while the roots bellow seemed to be moist.
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shoppingclothes13
Original Author
10 years ago
They look like the nerds candy are attached to the roots
Garnet Ruby
10 years ago
Is any part of the trunk soft when you squeeze?
Were the roots firm or were they squishable?
Did the other roots look brown/dark brown?

My rule is that roots that are good smell like fresh potatoes! Anything other and it's not in prime condition.

If the above is wrinkly, and some of the roots look like that-I'd get a bonsai soil and repot her after trimming off the dead/brown soft roots. Peat soils aren't very good for bonsais.
Garnet Ruby
10 years ago
The yelllow leaf up top looks like it's that way from chlorosis--a deficiency of iron in plants. It occured in my ficus ginseng with root rot as well.
shoppingclothes13
Original Author
10 years ago
It's not squishy. I put fertilizer in it today to see if that helps . I was able to get new soil put in and now it is just a waiting game. Since I over watered it how long do you think it should be before I water it again?
Garnet Ruby
10 years ago
Wait about a week. When I had my ginseng in regular peat-soil, once a week was enough. About 1/4-1/2 cup of water. When I went to repot her into bonsai soil, the peat was well consistency and it wasn't sogged or mushy. Once a week in the winter. : )
With new bonsai soil, about twice a week with 1/4 a cup