Check the soil first
Wet roots and dry roots can both produce limp or dropping leaves. Test below the surface before adding water.
Free care check from L&J Nursery
Bonsai Rescue for New Owners
Tell us which bonsai you received in class and what changed. You will get a cautious first step now, with the option to send your answers to our nursery support team.
Built for the bonsai currently used in our Florida and Kansas Bonsai & Cheers classes.
About 2 minutes
What is your tree telling you?
1 of 4
Start here
Your cautious first step
Do this now
Do not do this yet
Check again
Your tree's baseline
This is a starting point based on the answers provided, not a diagnosis. A soft trunk base, sour smell, black tissue, or fast-spreading dieback needs a closer look.
Try the recommended first step. If it does not help, send your answers to our nursery team.
Nursery support
Still worried about your bonsai?
Ask our nursery team for a closer look. Your quiz answers are attached automatically, so you only need to add your contact and class details.
Your rescue details
- Tree
- Symptom
- Soil
- Drainage
- Placement
- Recent change
- Red flag
- Last watered
- Add your class date or Eventbrite order number when available.
- For photos, paste a share link showing the whole tree, soil and trunk base, and leaf undersides.
Three rules that prevent common rescue mistakes
Change one thing at a time
Stable light, temperature, and moisture make it easier to see whether the tree is recovering after class or transport.
Do not fertilize a struggling tree
Fertilizer does not repair failed roots, poor light, cold damage, or dehydration. Wait for healthy new growth.
Care for the bonsai used in class
Reviewed by the L&J Nursery bonsai workshop team on September 7, 2026.
Lavender Star / Grewia
Strong light, even moisture, and free drainage. Do not leave the roots standing wet or let the entire rootball stay dry.
Grewia plant referencePowder Puff
Strong light, regular moisture, and free drainage. Leaflets that fold after dark and reopen in daylight are normal.
Powder Puff plant referenceBarbados Cherry
Bright sun and steady moisture with good drainage. Shallow roots can dry quickly, while constantly wet soil can damage them.
Barbados Cherry plant referenceDwarf Jade
Bright light, excellent drainage, and more drying between waterings than the other class trees. Protect it from cold and prolonged wet soil.
Dwarf Jade plant referenceBougainvillea
Very bright light and a slightly drier cycle between thorough waterings. Protect it from cold and expect some leaf drop after a move.
Bougainvillea plant referenceHawaiian Umbrella
Bright filtered light. Let the soil begin to dry, then water thoroughly and drain. Wet and dry extremes can both cause leaf drop.
Hawaiian Umbrella plant referenceWhy is my bonsai dropping leaves after class?
Transport and a sudden change in light, temperature, or watering can cause leaf drop. Check the soil, give the tree a stable species-appropriate location, and avoid repotting or fertilizing while it settles.
How can I tell if my bonsai is overwatered or underwatered?
Test the soil through the rootball. Dry, light soil with crisp or limp foliage points toward dehydration. Soil that remains wet for days, especially with a sour smell or soft trunk base, points toward root stress and needs support.
Should I repot a sick bonsai immediately?
Usually not from leaf symptoms alone. Repotting adds root stress. First check moisture, drainage, light, temperature, and pests, then contact L&J before disturbing the roots of a declining class tree.
Are Powder Puff leaves supposed to close at night?
Yes. Powder Puff leaflets commonly fold after dark. If they reopen in daylight and the foliage otherwise looks healthy, no rescue action is needed.
L&J Nursery