Hello,

My Bonsai has a lot of leaves turning yellow and I don't know why? I've been careful to not over or under water the plant. I  've now noticed some white stuff on the bark also. Please help me recover this beautiful plant, it means so much to me : * (

This poor looking house plant is in very poor soil, that I can see, The "white stuff" is the result of poor watering regime and soil. It will rub off. Poor light also is playing a part in the condition of this plant. It is in desperate need of some well draining soil, Hopefully there is a hole in the pot.

Thank you for your response @ m5eaygeoff
I purchased this plant from Home Depot in November. They informed me to report the plant in one years time. The plant sits in the original pot which has multiple holes to drain from at the bottom. I water the plant in my laundry sink, and give the soil a good soak, basically making sure the soil is well soacked, and drain any excess. Shall ai follow your recommendations and repot in new soil with a better pot with better drainage? Would it cause more harm to the plant? Majority of the leaves have fallen off since the pictures by the slightest touch. I do not want to return this plants, I'd like to save it.

Sounds like too much water in poor soil. I would stop watering until the soil is almost dry then water from the top not dunking. If you can drop it out of the pot and see if the roots are wet or damp, before watering of course, look at the roots are they black or more brown in colour? If they are black then they are dead, if the soil is wet and smells bad then I think it might be time to re pot and hope. Same pot.

I would not trust any advice from home depot staff. They are there to fill up the shelves and smile to the customers. They are not hired based on their horticultural knowledge.

I forgot to mention that I am in Canada and it's winter here, not sure if that plays a part in the plant being dormant.

I do not think it is dormant. Not sure about species, but I would think tropical. Tropicals do not go dormant.

Do you know what species it is?

Ficus microcarpa.

I am fearing that the roots are perhaps dying but, beat thing is probably take all the soil out, clean the roots with hydrogen peroxide, and then replant with the soil mixture described in the soil section of the site? 

So it is definetely not dormant. Ficus do not have true dormancy. But obviously it can stop growing for other reasons.

I do not often agree on urgent repotting. And this is no difference. Theese trees are produced by millions in low cost contries. The staff at the production site have no interest of bonsai, just work the hours that is needed to put food on the table. If they can grow ficus in that soil, an eager beginner should be able to do it as well.

Bare rooting and disinfecting the roots is very hard on the plant. A plant that is already suffering.

so get your watering right, bring the tree back to health and then, when the tree is strong, plan your repotting.

I  agree with Tropfrog, do not re pot, I mentioned getting watering correct earlier, as for hydrogen peroxide  that might finish it off and it will  not help the roots recover.