Hey All,

I am interested in getting a bonsai tree for my apartment. Just want a small
tree but was wondering what sort of lighting i need to sustain it in an
apartment for the summer. It cannot be put outback as I have no out back to
put it. I was wondering the time of light needed, how many watts and how
long should i have the light on for.


Dear Mike:
Getting one tree is like trying to eat one potato chip! :0) I started out with one and before I knew it, I had close to 40 in my living room! I finally spent a lot of money and enclosed a deck since the small trees became big trees and there just wasn't room.

To answer your question, I used a fluorescent shop light fixture with a timer set for 18 hours. A regular incandescent bulb will not work as it gets to hot, and the light must be as close as possible. It would burn the leaves.

looking for a small juniper, also anyone know any good place to get a potted
half way decent tree, i live in philadelphia, pa.

A juniper is an out door tree and will die if kept in doors.... Check the archives or go to the IBC Archives. There are many posts concerning Junipers. You said you do not have a place out doors, so you will have to relegate your choice to a sub tropical or tropical treee.

If you ever get to New Hope, Chase Rosade has a wonderful nursey there and would probably be able to help you with a good choice for low light indoors. His wife, Solita is an expert on tropicals. You can also contact some of the advertisers of the IBC, since it is quite easy to obtain a tree through the mails or UPS etc.

Most trees do need more humidity than is in doors as well as moving air. These are considerations, which you might want to consider.

I might suggest a Black Olive (Bucida spinosa) does well indoors. Most Ficus are also good indoors. The leaves of the ficus will get overly large under low light, whereas the Black OLive has leaves that are half to a quarter the size of a Ficus. I have two Black OLive and really enjoy them.

I do hope you will hear from other members, so that you can make an educated decision. Welcome to the addiction.

Carl






Carl L. Rosner - near Atlantic City zone 6/7

www.carlrosner.com
http://www.yessy.com/arteacher3725
http://rosner.becanz.net

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