Ellwood's Too Long Update

 

• Mid to Late December: discovered discoloration of some parts of Ellwood, I believed this could have been excess water or even a lack of enough water due to certain plants needing a small amount during a winter dormancy & when purchased Ellwood's soil was completely dry.
• Experimented with soil water levels to little success.
• January 11: The discoloration hadn't improved nor stopped so in search of finding a definitive answer I removed the foil around Ellwood's pot which did have excess moisture in it, which at the time excess water was the leading theory. I began tracking days to better track Ellwood and be better able to write this post about Ellwood. 
  

  

   

   

• January 12: still deeply worried and not convinced that removing the foil was enough of a fix I try loosening the soil to allow better drainage of the water, but couldn't really do so. I pulled Ellwood out of the pot to see that unfortunately they'd become even more rootbound then when I had originally purchased the plant. This rootbinding made it difficult for Ellwood to properly absorb water and other essential functions of remaining healthy. Determining that water levels were less of an issue than the rootbinding, I decided I would move up when I would repot Ellwood. I began to thoroughly water Ellwood regularly to ensure Ellwood would be able to absorb some water as I waited for the new pot to arrive.
• Used Snapchat's Filter search for the first time ever for the purpose of tracking Ellwood from day to day.
• In hindsight, it would have been best to repot Ellwood when I originally purchased them instead of the planned date of late winter/early spring. At the time I was not able to as freely spend money due to lacking the monetary resources to do so, but I should have taken one look at the roots and realized it was worth going into debt to repot this plant.
• Later on the 12th, I find that Ellwood has fallen from the porch due to high winds, and received excess rain. As Ellwood was undamaged this is a good thing as it ensured Ellwood received moisture despite the poor soil to root ratio.
  
  
  
  
• January 13: Rainy/Snowy day allowing Ellwood to receive excess moisture, hopeful that Ellwood won't freeze.
  
• January 14: Unfortunately Ellwood did freeze. Ellwood is cold hardy so not too worried, but did bring Ellwood in to avoid additional stresses on the tree. Placed in cool/unheated room in front of a drafty window as done during the severe snow/cold of December. Added warm water to aid in thawing and to continue ensuring water absorption, I logically felt that I would need to overwater before repotting to ensure Ellwood never got even slightly dry due to the soil-root ratio.
  

       

• January 15: watered Ellwood & checked discoloration, difficult to tell if anything is happening on this front. Deeply misted much later in the day.
• January 16: new pot arrived so immediately repotted Ellwood into new soil & the larger pot. Bonsai are kept in flat/shallow pots, but you must first establish a healthy plant before converting it into a bonsai.
• Added pieces of gravel for the look and to add additional stability to Ellwood.
• Moved Ellwood back outside, but against the window in order to receive some extra heat leaking out of the home.
• Ellwood does appear to have additional discoloration, but due to being able to repot the plant I am not too worried unless the issue persists.

                

• January 17: checked soil moisture level, & due to bonsai soil being so well draining I watered Ellwood with a spray bottle, rain last night and today allowed a humid environment. As part of repotting most of the water was in the previous soil and the container is much larger, and so I will likely need to transition from my water bottle to my watering can (which I already have), but of course the Winter dormancy/semi-dormancy does mean that now that Ellwood has space to grow water is somewhat less necessary.
• Little to no change in appearance from yesterday's video, save the added gravel.
• Something I believe I have implied but never explicitly said during any updates on Ellwood is that I have cared for plants before but it has been quite a long time since I have cared for a plant, and the first time I planned on keeping the plant within it's pot. I did do as much research as I could but I didn't expect Ellwood to be negatively affected by a winter without a repot; instead I was expecting a winter semi-dormancy to buy me time. I know this isn't the case now. 
• January 19: checked on Ellwood’s condition & used the remaining water in spray bottle in order to transition to using watering can & rehydrate the soil. I will begin a more normal watering regimen including less next winter as Ellwood does appear to be slightly recovering from being rootbound already due to no further deterioration & the worst leaves not being fully dead yet despite their appearance.
• Later rubbed Ellwood lightly, and some leafs were dead and fell off which is fine so long as Ellwood recovers, I am worried as always, but not nearly as much as I was previously.
  
  
• January 20: quick check on Ellwood, seems okay. Little to no change obviously, will need to likely see Ellwood’s progress over weeks or months instead. That said I will update this post & post it just before February. For additional updates on Ellwood past that point, I will either post it on here or if it’s a shorter update on my social medias @Lopez4Change.
• January 25: I checked on Ellwood no additional locations of discoloration, however one tiny lower branch did have an end that was even lighter, therefore truly dead. That said it was a very tiny piece of Ellwood & I believe Ellwood will recover nicely. I did water Ellwood, using my watering can finally.
  
• January 29, 2023: Well I don't have any further updates. Ellwood appears fine as of now, February I doubt will have much to share due to it being winter and seemingly having dealt with the problem. The only reason for the watering to be as frequent as it was, was due to the stress Ellwood was under. Had Ellwood shown no stress, or signs pointed toward overwatering I would not have watered Ellwood as much this winter due to knowing overwintering allows even evergreens to go semi-dormant. That said the amount of research I did prior to purchasing and starting care for this plant was far closer to what most gardeners do; learning as they progress through the hobby and trying to take what they know from a family member who gardened. I did seek online assistance though this particular species doesn't have much that I could find in my days to few weeks search.
• In comparison, I intend to one day care for a Ball Python, this is something I have searched up care guides. random videos, et cetera over the course of years. I know the morph I desire, I know which substrate I would use (if it didn't lead to an adverse reaction/minor allergy on my part; something I only just in the past few days realized), and understand the required enclosure size, heating, and humidity. This will continue until I get my own place of residence.
• Back to Ellwood though, I did Ellwood a disservice by not finding additional information. Despite having planned the purchase of Ellwood in advance it was still an impulse purchase at the end of the day. Knowing that Ellwood was not being watered, and that the display would shortly be removed I made the plans. Had I had all the equipment. including a new pot I would have made a correct and well-planned purchase. Many may wonder why I compare Ellwood to the purchase and care of a Ball Python. Simple, both are equally as alive, both equally worthy of respect and love from their care-giver. When I summarize my religion, my morals as Love All Life that includes animals, plants, fungi, and the other 2/3/More kingdoms of life. <Insert long explanation comparing religions with similar ideals, and scientific reasoning to explain why and how eating a particular kind of food doesn't qualify as disrespect or lack of love for the organism..>
• Anyway I hope you enjoyed this too long update on Ellwood, and won't judge my care techniques (positively or negatively) as even if everything I did was wrong or right it's part of learning. Thank you for taking the time to do so, if you wish to follow me on social media you can find me @Lopez4Change.