Can I know your thoughts?

[blacksmith]

Hello everyone.
First off I want to apologise if this is not the right section.
Anyhow, I've uploaded a picture of my tree and want to know if everything looks as it should and if I haven't made any mistakes yet. I own this tree for three days, I went throught the top layer of soil and removed all of the old leaves. Then I took out the whole tree and trimmed the roots from sides as they had expanded so much they were moving upwards.
Sorry for my english, I'm latvian, but hope to get your opinions. Thanks!

 

[Poink88]

Hi and welcome to B-Nut!!!

Nice fukien tea you have there...it loves being outside on bright area but not scorching heat/sun. Hates freezing weather.

Once healthy and stabilized you can do this...
Trim back to the 2nd leaf/nodule always to get some nice movement and branching (ramification). Look at the existing branches and decide if they are needed. If not, remove, if yes, are they too straight? If yes, reduce. Don't worry, they back bud easily...as long as it is healthy.

Fukien doesn't wire too well so any wiring should be done ASAP. Once they lignified (hardened) it will be much more difficult. That is why I do the grow and clip method.

Good luck!

Maybe trim like this...
View attachment 33245

Note that in bonsai...you sometimes have to destroy it (make it uglier or sacrifice branches, etc.) for it to be better in the future.

 

[blacksmith]

Thanks for the quick respond. What do you mean with tea, if I may ask? Is it a tea tree? I don't actually know what tree it is. And is it fine if I took it out of the soil and trimmed the roots? It is not standing that tightly in the soil now.

 

[coppice]

The breed of your tree is a fukien tea tree.

Be welcome.

 

[Poink88]

Thanks for the quick respond. What do you mean with tea, if I may ask? Is it a tea tree? I don't actually know what tree it is. And is it fine if I took it out of the soil and trimmed the roots? It is not standing that tightly in the soil now.

Your plant is a "Fukien Tea" google it.

They can stay in their soil for a long time...usually though it is peat moss and can be a problem if you do not know how to water properly. I have 3 that are still in peat moss w/o any problems but safer to replace it with well draining (bonsai) soil. Too much water can and will kill your plant.

 

[blacksmith]

Thanks a lot, much appreciated!

 

[rockm]

You've done very well so far (and your English is better than my next door neighbor's ) The advice you've gotten is great. Probably the most important piece of information is that this is a tropical to sub-tropical plant. It has to be brought inside if frost or freezes are predicted.

Your Fukien Tea is probably Carmona retusa (Latin name). It's also sold as "Philippine Tea" by some vendors.

You might find additional information if you search on those names also.

 

[KandyTaler]

ukien doesn't wire too well so any wiring should be done asap.