Bonsai tree dying... too much fertilizer. How to bring it back?

Question

Hi, my dad has 4 juniper bonsai and dont ask me why but he put too much fertilizer. He was told to use it but i guess he over did it. Now all the bonsai turned from a nice dark green to a dry orange. What can he do to bring them back? Should he keep them inside or out? We are in southern California so it is really hot right now. Should he water them? Change soil? Cut off dry sections?

I would appreciate everyone advice,

Answer 1

I would say they are dying. Juniper is hardy so can be kept outside but in a semi-shaded area.Not hot sun. Think about the size of the plant? They are tiny.Watering then should only be done when the soil dries right out,and only use a small amount of water.Say an egg-cup full.Changing soil may help.Bonsai never need fertilizer.They have bound roots so all fertilizer does is go to the growth, and it sounds like the plants have been 'cooked'.You can cut off dry sections,and hope they recover.There's heaps on the web about Bonsai.Just type it in.

Answer 2

If these OUTDOOR bonsai have turned orange and crispy then they're beyond help. Here's a site with bonsai info and I'll put the link to they're care page so it's easy for you to find.

http://www.american-bonsai.com/

http://www.american-bonsai.com/care.php

Answer 3

if he over fertilised them and didnt kill them  all you can do is flush them several times with pure water..keep them out of the heat and sun for they are damaged already and need to heal if there put in hot sun it will only hinder the process ..have your water ph level checked..best to use distilled water to flush them with..steve

Answer 4

First, scratch the bark to see if it is still alive. green means yes. brown or black means no. If no, throw it away.

If yes, remove as much dried out foliage as possible. it will soon fall off anyways. Prune off any dead branches.This will help reduce stress. Replanting it will do the most good, as the fetilizer salts are stored in the soil. Gently wash all the old soil away, repotting it immediately. Rewater but don't oversoak. The root hairs that absorb water have been burned off. It will need time to regrow them. Also move it to the shade outdoors for a while, until foliage has regrown.

TopCatt