Fukien tea dormancy

[Forsoothe!]

If you're in a good warm climate or can provide a reasonable facsimile thereof, FT can live quite a bit longer than 4 years. I see no reason for anything different under adequate conditions, given that they often survive in the landscape here for decades. You should be in pretty good shape.

*Disclaimer, disclaimer, yadda yadda individual results may vary...

You live in Delray Beach and haven't said the magic words yet, Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens. If you haven't been there, heaven is just around the corner. That's where you take your camera and get shots from every angle of what you like and then you have an example of all the best results that you can copy. Yes, copy, that is what we do here. We see what we like and emulate the best parts to the best of our ability. Of course, every tree is a living, changing creature subject to the adventures of weather and climate and animals, disease, insects, friends who don't follow directions when we go away, ad infinitum, so every tree winds up being its own critter. But we try to copy John Naka, anyway. Tell us you go to Morikami every week?

 

[greenman63]

Yes, been there many times! Last time I was there for a bonsai festival, many very impressive trees were on display. Disappointingly, their stands bore placards with the scientific name of each tree, but I found not a single tree posted on its own stand. If it was a ficus, the plaque was for a maple, etc. Nevertheless, it's a beautiful spot. Few if any of the bonsai had been trimmed up for the display. They looked unkempt and in some cases unhealthy. I have to say it seems like their museum and grounds are far more important to them than the trees themselves.

 

[Forsoothe!]

Yes, been there many times! Last time I was there for a bonsai festival, many very impressive trees were on display. Disappointingly, their stands bore placards with the scientific name of each tree, but I found not a single tree posted on its own stand. If it was a ficus, the plaque was for a maple, etc. Nevertheless, it's a beautiful spot. Few if any of the bonsai had been trimmed up for the display. They looked unkempt and in some cases unhealthy. I have to say it seems like their museum and grounds are far more important to them than the trees themselves.

That's sad, but institutional displays have a tendency to do that. Trees are living and changing and the owner-operator will alter his design to accommodate his design to the evolution of the tree, but institutions get a mind-freeze to keep a tree the same exact design as it came in as, and if maintained by a volunteer committee, nobody has the courage to take the authority to keep the tree looking good instead of looking exactly like the original design. That's a losing proposition because old wood needs to be constantly replenished by new wood or shedding wood wins, one twig at a time. If they don't hire a master with the guts to come in and recombobulate regularly, well.... there is death after life.

 

[greenman63]

What made the event worthwhile was seeing the many bonsai clubs, societies, nurseries and hobbyists showing their stuff. Tons of cool booth displays. Much of it was enjoyable, some of it was breathtaking. They also held a couple free public workshops were very inspiring and informational (ok, you paid to get in to the festival, but no extra charge). The atmosphere was just about perfect, marred only by that experience with the institutional display. I still recommend a visit to anyone passing through the area, especially if they're holding an event.