Bonsai

Smithers

Hi all,

hope this aint the wrong forum,

the Mrs got me a Bonsai as part of my xmas box, also wanted one since the Karate Kid!

never had or tried to have green fingers so any help or advice would be appreciated ,

its a 7yr old Fukien Tea

Thanks in advance

smithers

FranknFurter

Smithers

As somone who has kept bonsai for nearly 13 years, ill try give some basic advice lol

First rule, DO NOT PRUNE FOR AT LEAST 4 MONTHS!
Then when it starts producing really long new shoots, when they get to about 4" *then* cut them back.
Rule of thumb, never cut back brown or woody stem, only green.

"Cut them back" does not mean butcher, use a *very* sharp scissors (Nail scissors is perfect) and only ever cut back to 2 sets of new leaves after brown stem, in other words, only cut new green stem.

The biggest problem most people have is overwatering.
Contrary to popular belief, Bonsai trees do *not* have to be surface damp all the time! (even if it does say so on the tag! )

I find that the best way is, once a week, fill the sink to just below the level of the rim of the pot, leave it to reach room temp, and then place entire pot in it for no more than 30 mins.

Never pour on water onto the soil or tree.

Once a month, add a drop of house plant food to that water. (an believe it or not, for the tree you have, a good food might be to soak a normal tea-bag in half a cup of warm (not hot) water for 20 mins then add it to the water in the sink!)

If possible, *lightly* mist the tree once a month.

if you notice any new stems coming out of the main trunk (where they shouldnt be) rub them off before they start opening leaves.

As far as repotting goes, not somthing you have to worry about for a while.
Its likely the tree you have was actually one of the many that are produced in holland and are in every garden center this last year lol. Most of these have been "forced", given a rooting hormone, and planted in the ground for 5,6 or 7, years them dug up, had their roots butchered, doused with rooting hormone and stuck in a pot. They often rub some natural yoghurt on the trunk etc to encourage "moss" lol.

They even somtimes "scar" the trunk to make it look like its older than it is so be warned lol

Still, they look like bonsai, and in the non-strictest sense, are.

If you're getting another, I recommend either a Zelkova or a Segretia (which will flower and have berries, its a relative of hawthorn!), rather than a fukien or a serrissa (serrissa microdasis, is beautifull, has little white flowers somtimes, but is not for beginners lol).

Keep your bonsai near a window, but if you use curtains not on the sill itself, because if it is behind so much as a net curtain, the temps will be screwed up. But light is vital to a bonsai.

Try to put it in a position it will be in for a long while, movement is somthing bonsai trees tend not to tolerate well.
Never expose it to outside, even a cold breeze thru a close window can send it into shock and make it drop its leaves.

On that point also, all trees drop the occasional leaf, dont panic, look to trees outside for your inspiration. They drop leaves, they have the odd dead branch etc.

Any questions, feel free to ask

B