Why Is My Bonsai Dropping Leaves?
Is your bonsai dropping leaves?
If you bonsai is dropping leaves, there are a few different reasons why this could be happening:
Symptoms | What to do next | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reacclimatising (Very common and nothing to worry about) | – Normally happens within 2 months of receiving/moving your bonsai – Older leaves will drop (those closer to the trunk) – Newer (often a lighter green) leaves will start growing at the ends of the branches | – Please give your bonsai some time to acclimatise to its new location. – Keep the soil just damp to the touch at all times. – It can often take 4-6 weeks before new buds appear | ![]() |
| Underwatering (very common and very serious) | – Often during hotter periods, but can happen at any time of the year – Older and newer leaves are effected – Leaves go yellow/brown and crispy – Symptoms are displayed fairly quickly | – Please stand your bonsai in a container of water for 1 hour so the water just covers the top of the pot. – Please watch our watering video and keep the soil damp at all times – It can often take 6-8 weeks before you see any signs of improvement | ![]() |
| Overwatering (less common and slightly serious) | – Often during cooler periods, but can happen any time of the year – Older and newer leaves are effected – Leaves go black/brown – Symptoms for overwatering can take a while to show | – Please watch our watering video and keep the soil just damp at all times – It can often take 6-8 weeks before you see any signs of improvement | ![]() |









