Bonsai newbie needs advice-Serissa foetida

[Carol 83]

@LeeInBama
Serissa are great. Most people find them no problem at all. Their fussy reputation comes from the fact that some people, even very experienced people have trouble growing Serissa, and yet, some beginners, with absolutely no experience at all do absolutely great with Serissa. In other words, most people can grow serissa with no problems, yet there is a small group of us who think they should be able to do well with serissa and no matter what, every damn serissa I bring into my house dies. Often quick, sometimes a slow, lingering death that takes months. (mostly joking, this is meant to be light hearted).

I've been around a while, and have lost many a Serissa over the years. Probably because I consider it a ''beginner or easy tree'' and don't pay much attention to them. Then they get forgotten at some crucial point. Or when they get put under lights for winter they don't get a ''prime spot'' in the center of the lights, they get shoved off to the side, the ''cheap seats'' while my more favored trees get the good spots.

You should have no trouble at all. And @Underdog gave you great advice. Get more trees. You need at least 20 pre bonsai trees so that you have something to do every week but have enough trees that you can leave one alone long enough for it to grow after what ever you did. Young pre-bonsai trees might only need to be worked on once or twice a year. Having multiple trees allows you to have more things to work on. Older, more mature trees in terms of becoming well developed bonsai require a lot more work. But fully trained trees can be quite expensive, until you are confident in your horticultural skills, it is best to ''grow your own'' and start with young pre-bonsai. So buy more trees. You have the right number of trees when either you physically could not squeeze another one into your growing area, or you are always behind on getting all the ''bonsai work'' done. I'm always behind on wiring and repotting, so I guess I have the right number of trees, about 100 or so pre-bonsai (various sticks in pots) and about 7 that are getting close to being ready to exhibit. I have 3 that I exhibit fairly often in our local club shows. The rest are not quite ready for prime time.

So buy yourself another one, you will be glad you did.

I'm kind of at the point where I can't physically squeeze another into my growing area, so I guess that's enough.

 

[LeeInBama]

@LeeInBama
Serissa are great. Most people find them no problem at all. Their fussy reputation comes from the fact that some people, even very experienced people have trouble growing Serissa, and yet, some beginners, with absolutely no experience at all do absolutely great with Serissa. In other words, most people can grow serissa with no problems, yet there is a small group of us who think they should be able to do well with serissa and no matter what, every damn serissa I bring into my house dies. Often quick, sometimes a slow, lingering death that takes months. (mostly joking, this is meant to be light hearted).

I've been around a while, and have lost many a Serissa over the years. Probably because I consider it a ''beginner or easy tree'' and don't pay much attention to them. Then they get forgotten at some crucial point. Or when they get put under lights for winter they don't get a ''prime spot'' in the center of the lights, they get shoved off to the side, the ''cheap seats'' while my more favored trees get the good spots.

You should have no trouble at all. And @Underdog gave you great advice. Get more trees. You need at least 20 pre bonsai trees so that you have something to do every week but have enough trees that you can leave one alone long enough for it to grow after what ever you did. Young pre-bonsai trees might only need to be worked on once or twice a year. Having multiple trees allows you to have more things to work on. Older, more mature trees in terms of becoming well developed bonsai require a lot more work. But fully trained trees can be quite expensive, until you are confident in your horticultural skills, it is best to ''grow your own'' and start with young pre-bonsai. So buy more trees. You have the right number of trees when either you physically could not squeeze another one into your growing area, or you are always behind on getting all the ''bonsai work'' done. I'm always behind on wiring and repotting, so I guess I have the right number of trees, about 100 or so pre-bonsai (various sticks in pots) and about 7 that are getting close to being ready to exhibit. I have 3 that I exhibit fairly often in our local club shows. The rest are not quite ready for prime time.

So buy yourself another one, you will be glad you did.

@LeeInBama
Serissa are great. Most people find them no problem at all. Their fussy reputation comes from the fact that some people, even very experienced people have trouble growing Serissa, and yet, some beginners, with absolutely no experience at all do absolutely great with Serissa. In other words, most people can grow serissa with no problems, yet there is a small group of us who think they should be able to do well with serissa and no matter what, every damn serissa I bring into my house dies. Often quick, sometimes a slow, lingering death that takes months. (mostly joking, this is meant to be light hearted).

I've been around a while, and have lost many a Serissa over the years. Probably because I consider it a ''beginner or easy tree'' and don't pay much attention to them. Then they get forgotten at some crucial point. Or when they get put under lights for winter they don't get a ''prime spot'' in the center of the lights, they get shoved off to the side, the ''cheap seats'' while my more favored trees get the good spots.

You should have no trouble at all. And @Underdog gave you great advice. Get more trees. You need at least 20 pre bonsai trees so that you have something to do every week but have enough trees that you can leave one alone long enough for it to grow after what ever you did. Young pre-bonsai trees might only need to be worked on once or twice a year. Having multiple trees allows you to have more things to work on. Older, more mature trees in terms of becoming well developed bonsai require a lot more work. But fully trained trees can be quite expensive, until you are confident in your horticultural skills, it is best to ''grow your own'' and start with young pre-bonsai. So buy more trees. You have the right number of trees when either you physically could not squeeze another one into your growing area, or you are always behind on getting all the ''bonsai work'' done. I'm always behind on wiring and repotting, so I guess I have the right number of trees, about 100 or so pre-bonsai (various sticks in pots) and about 7 that are getting close to being ready to exhibit. I have 3 that I exhibit fairly often in our local club shows. The rest are not quite ready for prime time.

So buy yourself another one, you will be glad you did.

Great advice Leo! Thanks very much for the vote of confidence?. I’ve already talked my wife into going to the local pottery store to buy more pots tomorrow. As far as this tree, it will never find itself in a compromised spot unless it does something stupid, like dying. It seems very happy right now, so...
I really appreciate the help Leo. I’m always open for any advice I can get. Everyone here has been great, and I feel welcome. Thank you ?

 

[LeeInBama]

I'm pretty @Leo in N E Illinois was one of the suggests to get more trees>) I'm up to 30 or so. Good fun and learning material is on sale now at you favorite Lowes/HDepot at huge discount and will be Alabama friendly.
Watching Bama roll over Miss now.
As a side note always read and heed Leo's solid advice.

I plan on going to the Home Depot right after the pottery store tomorrow.
The Tide D was overwhelmingly suffocating in that game. It was closer than I hoped, but still impressive against a top 5 Defense.
I will absolutely listen to Leo. At this spot in my bonsai career, I’m a sponge trying to soak up any info I can get.
Thanks for the reply Underdog.?

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I plan on going to the Home Depot right after the pottery store tomorrow.
The Tide D was overwhelmingly suffocating in that game. It was closer than I hoped, but still impressive against a top 5 Defense.
I will absolutely listen to Leo. At this spot in my bonsai career, I’m a sponge trying to soak up any info I can get.
Thanks for the reply Underdog.?

I’m worried about Tua. If he can hang, we’ll win all 15 games this season.
Try some boxwoods if you can keep them outside. Don’t bother with nursery junipers at this point.

 

[LeeInBama]

I think Tua will be fine. From what I gathered he got a deep bruise on his right thigh.
I bought a small boxwood today. I’ve looked on your website and I’m wondering if I can use the soil that came with it, or use your recipe. What do you think?

 

[amcoffeegirl]

I only have 16 trees right now and I am kicking myself for heading in to winter under 20. I am going to be bored.

 

[LeeInBama]

Ha! That’s unfortunate for you amcoffeegirl. My wife suggests watching lifetime movies!?. Thanks for your post!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I think Tua will be fine. From what I gathered he got a deep bruise on his right thigh.
I bought a small boxwood today. I’ve looked on your website and I’m wondering if I can use the soil that came with it, or use your recipe. What do you think?

2 things:
1. ‘Tis not the season to repot, so any repotting should wait until spring.
2. I only use my recipe, and avoid soil discussions/debates like the plague.

 

[LeeInBama]

Gotcha. Thank you man! I made my first pruning/wiring attempt and am about to post before and after pics. I hope I didn’t butcher it.