Bonsai (ish)
 

We have been given a Bonsai which is 'grown in the far East and is intended
to represent an ancient tree'.
[So not an ancient tree, then. It looks more like a small shrub which has
been vigourously pruned at both ends.]

So far it seems to major in dropping leaves.

It is also in a shallow tray which provides maximum surface area and minimum
depth and so dries out quickly.
Instructions say 'water every two days' (so dead by the end of the
holidays).

Label says 'Carmona'.

Google says:

http://www.bonsaigardener.org/fukien-tea-bonsai.html

which includes the text:

"Keep in mind that the Fukien Tea is not tolerate with temperate regions.
Therefore, it would need to be grown indoors as a bonsai all year round.
Unfortunately, the Fukien Tea is both difficult to find and to grow.
However, for bonsai enthusiasts who enjoy a challenge, this would make an
interesting and beautiful choice."

So basically a Fukien pain to grow.

I am now wondering if it would be happier (though perhaps not as pretty) in
a larger, deeper pot where it wasn't stunted by fighting to survive.

Is torture of small trees legal in this country?

Cheers

Dave R

Bonsai (ish)
 

On Sat, 16 Jan 2010 12:57:44 -0000, "David WE Roberts"
wrote:

We have been given a Bonsai which is 'grown in the far East and is intended
to represent an ancient tree'.
[So not an ancient tree, then. It looks more like a small shrub which has
been vigourously pruned at both ends.]

So far it seems to major in dropping leaves.

It is also in a shallow tray which provides maximum surface area and minimum
depth and so dries out quickly.
Instructions say 'water every two days' (so dead by the end of the
holidays).

Label says 'Carmona'.

Google says:

http://www.bonsaigardener.org/fukien-tea-bonsai.html

which includes the text:

"Keep in mind that the Fukien Tea is not tolerate with temperate regions.
Therefore, it would need to be grown indoors as a bonsai all year round.
Unfortunately, the Fukien Tea is both difficult to find and to grow.
However, for bonsai enthusiasts who enjoy a challenge, this would make an
interesting and beautiful choice."

So basically a Fukien pain to grow.

I am now wondering if it would be happier (though perhaps not as pretty) in
a larger, deeper pot where it wasn't stunted by fighting to survive.

Is torture of small trees legal in this country?

Cheers

Dave R

Dave, my advice would depend on who gave it to you. Is it someone you
can ask to let you change it for something easier to grow? Indoor
bonsai are generally harder to keep alive than indoor ones. I have
had to be drastic in selling or getting rid of outdoor bonsai which I
have grown over the years, but I have no indoor ones. The few I had
have died. i've never grown this particular one.
Good luck

Pam in Bristol

Bonsai (ish)
 

On Sat, 16 Jan 2010 14:09:19 +0000, Pam Moore
wrote:



Dave, my advice would depend on who gave it to you. Is it someone you
can ask to let you change it for something easier to grow? Indoor
bonsai are generally harder to keep alive than indoor ones.

Nice typo but we won't hang you. We know what you mean ;-))

I have
had to be drastic in selling or getting rid of outdoor bonsai which I
have grown over the years, but I have no indoor ones. The few I had
have died. i've never grown this particular one.
Good luck

Pam in Bristol


--
(¯`·. ®óñ© © ²°¹° .·´¯)

Bonsai (ish)
 

David WE Roberts wrote:

I am now wondering if it would be happier (though perhaps not as pretty)
in a larger, deeper pot where it wasn't stunted by fighting to survive.

Yes.

But...

You would lose the bonsai qualities of restricted growth and
semi-miniature leaves (and possibly, flowers)

To get over the watering problems, you can get drip-metered watering
devices - just fill a reservoir and adjust the control until it reaches
equilibrium.

This has the advantage that you can add traces of nutrient to the water
from time to time.

You could try propagating cuttings when you trim it.

--
Rusty

Bonsai (ish)
 

On Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:11:59 +0000, Rusty Hinge
wrote:

David WE Roberts wrote:

I am now wondering if it would be happier (though perhaps not as pretty)
in a larger, deeper pot where it wasn't stunted by fighting to survive.

Yes.

But...

You would lose the bonsai qualities of restricted growth and
semi-miniature leaves (and possibly, flowers)

To get over the watering problems, you can get drip-metered watering
devices - just fill a reservoir and adjust the control until it reaches
equilibrium.

This has the advantage that you can add traces of nutrient to the water
from time to time.

You could try propagating cuttings when you trim it.

Many bonsai, when young, are grown in open ground or large pots or
tubs to encourage them to put on growth. You could try with this one,
and keep it in a greenhouse for a couple of years, then if it grows
well, cut back top and roots in Spring and repot it in a smaller (not
very small) pot and retrain it as a small tree.
(Sorry about previous typo; more like senior moment!)

Pam in Bristol

Bonsai (ish)
 

"Pam Moore" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:11:59 +0000, Rusty Hinge
wrote:

David WE Roberts wrote:

I am now wondering if it would be happier (though perhaps not as pretty)
in a larger, deeper pot where it wasn't stunted by fighting to survive.

Yes.

But...

You would lose the bonsai qualities of restricted growth and
semi-miniature leaves (and possibly, flowers)

To get over the watering problems, you can get drip-metered watering
devices - just fill a reservoir and adjust the control until it reaches
equilibrium.

This has the advantage that you can add traces of nutrient to the water
from time to time.

You could try propagating cuttings when you trim it.

Many bonsai, when young, are grown in open ground or large pots or
tubs to encourage them to put on growth. You could try with this one,
and keep it in a greenhouse for a couple of years, then if it grows
well, cut back top and roots in Spring and repot it in a smaller (not
very small) pot and retrain it as a small tree.
(Sorry about previous typo; more like senior moment!)

The point I am trying to make (which is probably politically incorrect for a
gardening group) is that I am nor really interested in anything that
requires specialised and constant care.
I have cats and children (in that order as the kids are out in the great
wide world) to fill any needs I have in that direction.

An automatic watering device is going to mar any visual appeal of the plant.

I was thinking it might be kinder to the Bonsai (which as far as I can see
is a plant tortured to the point that it cannot grow as nature intended) to
pot it on and give it a better chance of long term survival even though it
is not suited to the UK climate.

I don't have a greenhouse at the moment so the options for the poor thing
are either a centrally heated house or the nasty bleak world of the
outdoors.
It is still dropping leaves like snow - I can't work out where they are all
coming from as it is still green and bushy!

Cheers

Dave R

Bonsai (ish)
 

David WE Roberts writes


The point I am trying to make (which is probably politically incorrect
for a gardening group) is that I am nor really interested in anything
that requires specialised and constant care.
I have cats and children (in that order as the kids are out in the
great wide world) to fill any needs I have in that direction.

An automatic watering device is going to mar any visual appeal of the plant.

I was thinking it might be kinder to the Bonsai (which as far as I can
see is a plant tortured to the point that it cannot grow as nature
intended)

Oh, I don't know - haven't you seen trees growing in dry and
inhospitable lands, or in cracks on cliffs, or even on the Atlantic
coast of Cornwall and Devon ;-)

to pot it on and give it a better chance of long term survival even
though it is not suited to the UK climate.

Do enough to make it look nice, then give it away to someone or
somewhere the original donor won't see.

Next time you buy a plant you want, mentally dedicate it to the donor of
the bonsai - ie the plant equivalent of taking inappropriate gift
clothing back to the shop and exchanging it for something better.
--
Kay