Mayank
Chumono
So have they been given dormant time as Anthony recommended?
Fuiken Tea Tree “ pretty girl”
- Thread starter Keyon
- Start date
Matt H.
Yamadori
No, this is South Florida. They grow all year and have done fine for the last 8 years or so... There is no seasonal change to speak of. This is just what I know from my own experience and obviously it would be different for someone else, somewhere else. My point in posting was to share my experience that they seem, for me, to thrive without a winter. But I am no expert.
Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
- Messages
- 11,477
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- USDA Zone
- 5b
Welcome to BNut Keyon,
you are the second person today that I have messaged from Tifton, GA, there is another Tifton resident on BNut, @JesusFreak
He is pretty new too to the hobby, but you two might be able to help each other out sourcing supplies, potting media and such.
Fukien tea - also known as Carmona retusa and Ehretia microphylla - I have been doing bonsai for 40+years, and I have never kept one going more than 2 years. They are touchy, they dislike getting bone dry, and they dislike staying too wet for too long. Don't worry about winter dormancy, all you need to do is leave it outside until nights drop into the low 40's F or upper 30's F. The few weeks in autumn that it is cool will be enough of a rest. When you bring it inside, if it goes on a windowsill, the cool air from the glass will keep it colder than the room interior. You won't have to worry about it. If you find the "right spots" to grow it winter and summer, it becomes easy to keep happy.
Oh, and don't be bothered by people who disparage the "dreaded 'S' curve trunk". They talk that way because this style is very common for mass production trees, particularly elms, Fukien Tea, and Ficus. So those who are around a while tend to "dog" that style. But to you, the 'S' shaped trunk is new, you've never had one. So enjoy it and blow off anyone who dogs the style or tells you that you "need to change". You don't need to change it.
Right now, for the next couple months, let it grow out and get bushy. Then trim it back. For clip and grow, you usually cut back to just a couple leaves per branch. Key to vigor is letting grow out, then cutting back. If you trim continuously, it tends to slowly loose vigor. Best is an all over pruning, every 8 to 16 weeks, letting it grow un-molested in between.
Hope this helps.
Leo
you are the second person today that I have messaged from Tifton, GA, there is another Tifton resident on BNut, @JesusFreak
He is pretty new too to the hobby, but you two might be able to help each other out sourcing supplies, potting media and such.
Fukien tea - also known as Carmona retusa and Ehretia microphylla - I have been doing bonsai for 40+years, and I have never kept one going more than 2 years. They are touchy, they dislike getting bone dry, and they dislike staying too wet for too long. Don't worry about winter dormancy, all you need to do is leave it outside until nights drop into the low 40's F or upper 30's F. The few weeks in autumn that it is cool will be enough of a rest. When you bring it inside, if it goes on a windowsill, the cool air from the glass will keep it colder than the room interior. You won't have to worry about it. If you find the "right spots" to grow it winter and summer, it becomes easy to keep happy.
Oh, and don't be bothered by people who disparage the "dreaded 'S' curve trunk". They talk that way because this style is very common for mass production trees, particularly elms, Fukien Tea, and Ficus. So those who are around a while tend to "dog" that style. But to you, the 'S' shaped trunk is new, you've never had one. So enjoy it and blow off anyone who dogs the style or tells you that you "need to change". You don't need to change it.
Right now, for the next couple months, let it grow out and get bushy. Then trim it back. For clip and grow, you usually cut back to just a couple leaves per branch. Key to vigor is letting grow out, then cutting back. If you trim continuously, it tends to slowly loose vigor. Best is an all over pruning, every 8 to 16 weeks, letting it grow un-molested in between.
Hope this helps.
Leo
JesusFreak
Shohin
actually Keyon is my roommate. And I put him on to bonsai and the Nut. It’s his first tree. Exciting huh
MrWunderful
Omono
Anthony
Imperial Masterpiece
And South Florida is zone ?
A. Gorilla
Omono
Matt just got served!
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
I had a couple here in South Florida, zone 9/10 for about 10 years.
They don’t survive chicken attacks very well, hurricanes don’t help either. Drying out made them angry, and sometimes they pouted for no known reason.
they are pretty little trees, but all I have left are a couple I started as cuttings, But I’ve never brought them in or protected them from the “cold” here (Florida cold is anything below 70, lol) . Not even when it was getting close to a frost. Our last real frost was in my yard was 2011.
They don’t survive chicken attacks very well, hurricanes don’t help either. Drying out made them angry, and sometimes they pouted for no known reason.
they are pretty little trees, but all I have left are a couple I started as cuttings, But I’ve never brought them in or protected them from the “cold” here (Florida cold is anything below 70, lol) . Not even when it was getting close to a frost. Our last real frost was in my yard was 2011.
Mayank
Chumono
This is exactly what I have done for over a decade and seems to be OK. This year I had the "bright" (pun and sarcasm both intended) idea to get grow lights and keep some of my more "worthy" trees under those every day thinking I'm doing the right thing. My ficuses and texas ebony did great and although the Fukien did NOT lose its leaves and pout as it normally does before it bounces back in Feb/March, the leaves do look a little yellow and "tired". That is why I was paying such close attention to what @Anthony was saying about some winter rest (something I had never heard before but felt like he was making sense).
Like you had mentioned, I usually really really stretch that Fall stay-outside period (literally into the high 30s/low 40s). As you also said that must get it into the dormancy mode. And then it does go into a south facing bay window through winter (and our house temps are set at usually mid 60s thru winter). So that could be why it is still alive. So here is my question.
Should I
1) not have my Fukien go under grow lights right after its fall experience or
2) just wait till say January so it gets some rest and then place it under the lights or
3) just do what I have always done and keep panicking for a few months thinking the darn thing finally bit it and then be pleasantly surprised when it bounces back (hopefully).
Mayank
Chumono
Yup, our Fukien has been flaunting her "S" curve for over a decade and is always the darling of guests. Out of all the trees we have (I'll always pull in the "outside" ones and place them around for dinners/parties etc) it seems like the Fukien and my one ficus with these wierd girdling circular roots always seem to be the darlings.
@Keyon enjoy your tree!
Anthony
Imperial Masterpiece
Well @Mayank ,
you just explained why the Chinese do what they do.
Some folk just want Bonsai to exhibit.
Hemce the illusion of the indoor trees,
Serissa s - zone 7 shrub
Sageretia t - zone 7 shrub
Chinese elm - zone 5 or 6
Chinese ligustrum - zone 8 shrub
Ficus benjamina - zone 9
Podocarpus - zone ?
All sold as indoor trees. When they die, just buy another
When last we looked they had added on
White and Black pine - zone 7 to 10
Good Day
Anthony
*Imagine the s curve thickened what do you see ?
you just explained why the Chinese do what they do.
Some folk just want Bonsai to exhibit.
Hemce the illusion of the indoor trees,
Serissa s - zone 7 shrub
Sageretia t - zone 7 shrub
Chinese elm - zone 5 or 6
Chinese ligustrum - zone 8 shrub
Ficus benjamina - zone 9
Podocarpus - zone ?
All sold as indoor trees. When they die, just buy another
When last we looked they had added on
White and Black pine - zone 7 to 10
Good Day
Anthony
*Imagine the s curve thickened what do you see ?
MattE
Shohin
I had three fukiens i saved from, a department store the came back 10 fold , got so big and green always flowering and nice new growth , they did so well until i thought i coudl winter them in side keeping humidty levels up and lots of sun but nope 3 died and one is barely hanging on .. such beautiful trees tho.
i wish you the best of luck with this one !!!!!
i wish you the best of luck with this one !!!!!
Lazylightningny
Masterpiece
I had one, now dead. It did well outside in the summer, but when I brought it in for the winter, I had trouble keeping it from drying out. It was a pain, really. The first winter I made a small tent for it to retain humidity, but the second winter I couldn't be bothered, and it finally croaked.
AaronThomas
Omono
Hey @Keyon... welcome!
Oh man... you picked a tough starter... I killed all mine
but perhaps you will have a better handle on it with the support of The Nut House!
If you were looking for a tree you can beat up a little bit… Try your hand at a Chinese Elm… Super fun trees and take a beating… To an extent of course.
Good luck!
Oh man... you picked a tough starter... I killed all mine
but perhaps you will have a better handle on it with the support of The Nut House!If you were looking for a tree you can beat up a little bit… Try your hand at a Chinese Elm… Super fun trees and take a beating… To an extent of course.
Good luck!
Matt H.
Yamadori
Anthony, you know perfectly well, plus it is in my signature. You are making a point?
A. Gorilla
Omono
He put you on blast.
Anthony
Imperial Masterpiece
| 10 | a | −1.1 °C (30 °F) | +1.7 °C (35 °F) |
| 10b | +1.7 °C (35 °F) | +4.4 °C (40 °F) |
Anthony
Imperial Masterpiece
source - Wikipaedia
Not Tropical
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