Privet is the ideal beginner plant for bonsai lovers because of its fast growth and excellent pruning tolerance. With good care, problems with the privet bonsai losing its leaves rarely occur. How can this be prevented?
Why is my privet bonsai losing leaves and how can I prevent it?
If a privet bonsai loses its leaves, it may be a natural process in winter. In summer, possible causes include incorrect care, such as a location that is too dark, incorrect water supply or over-fertilization. Optimal conditions and gentle corrections help prevent leaf loss.
Why does privet bonsai lose its leaves?
Privet is not an evergreen plant. In the cold season, when the light decreases significantly, the shrub sheds its leaves. This is a natural process and is no cause for concern.
If the leaves fall off in summer, there is probably a care error.
Prevent leaf loss on bonsai privet
Grow the bonsai indoors and prevent severe leaf loss by keeping the plant as bright as possible in winter. The window that can be directly exposed to the sun is ideal.
Avoid care errors
If the privet bonsai suffers from falling leaves in summer, it is probably due to incorrect care. Causes can be:
- Location in the house too dark
- Earth is too dry
- too much soil moisture
- Overfertilization
- very rare diseases
Before taking action, first determine what caused the loss of leaves.
Ensure optimal water supply
If the privet has not received enough water, slowly start to water more. But you must not drown him. Only when the leaves have grown back does the bonsai need more water again.
Basically, the privet likes a slightly moist soil at all times, without allowing waterlogging to occur. Make sure there is a sufficiently large drain hole (€5.00 on Amazon) so that excess irrigation water can drain away.
Be careful with fertilizing, as privet must not be over-fertilized.
No abrupt location changes
If the privet bonsai is too dark and therefore loses its leaves, consider a better location where it gets more light.
Avoid abrupt changes of location because this puts unnecessary stress on the bonsai. Find a place where the shrub will feel comfortable for a long time.
Tip
The Chinese privet is not hardy and is therefore cultivated as an indoor bonsai. Most other species only need winter protection from minus 10 degrees and can therefore be kept outdoors all year round.