The Leaves of My Cherry Bonsai Curl & Are Dry

Needs

• The cherry bonsai grows best in moist, fertile soils that are well-drained and never saturated. It requires at least eight hours of full to partially shaded sunlight each day but thrives best in full sun. The environment must be well-ventilated to promote healthy development and reduce the potential for diseases.

Watering

• Improper watering will cause the cherry bonsai's foliage to display similar but different symptoms. The foliage of the under-watered cherry bonsai will begin to crinkle and shrivel as it loses color and turns brown. The leaves will dry out from the lack of water and gradually fall from the tree. The foliage of an over-watered cherry bonsai will display symptoms slower than an under-watered cherry bonsai. The roots of an over-watered cherry begin to rot, which inhibits the flow of water and nutrients throughout the bonsai. The foliage begins to yellow while the tree experiences die back. The yellowed foliage and branches begin to shrivel and dry before defoliating.

Disease

• The cherry bonsai is susceptible to the same array of diseases as its full-size counterpart. These diseases include anthracnose and leaf spot, powdery mildew, root rot, fire blight and botrytis blight. While each of these diseases is vastly different, each causes necrosis, spotting and wilting of the cherry bonsai's foliage. Rather than focus on the wilting and curling, attempt to identify the infectious disease with its other symptoms, such as foliage spots for leaf spot, mildew coverings on foliage for powdery mildew and rotted, wilted blooms for botrytis blight and oozing branches for fire blight.

Treatment

• Whether your cherry bonsai is diseased or environmentally distressed, the treatment is relatively the same. The cherry bonsai will require strategic pruning and care to revitalize its health. Remove dead and dying foliage and stems with sharp, sterile shears. Make flush, even cuts to promote rapid healing. Re-pot the ailing bonsai to provide it with a fresh, nutrient-rich and well-drained environment. Inspect and prune its root system during the process to remove wilted or dead roots. Water deeply and evenly with tepid water at soil level and place it in a warm, well-ventilated location that receives plenty of full sunlight. Never fertilize an ailing cherry bonsai. Allow it plenty of time to re-establish itself and rebuild its health before introducing additional nutrients. The fertile, well-drained soil will provide the roots with all the needed nutrients. Allow the soil to dry slightly between each watering, but never allow the soil to dry out completely.