my first

don · Yellow Belt Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 162 Location: Devon

After reading Rob's post about supermarket trees i decided to go along to my local Morrisons too. I found this one for 4.99 (about 10 dollars), my first 'bought' tree Very Happy

It was soaking wet and it looks as if they have put it in a pot and crammed as much mud as they can into it. On the instructions it says to immerse the whole thing into water once a week until you no longer get air bubbles, this is besides watering every day Shocked

Now I'm no expert but i don't think drowning them will do them much good. The label says 'Houseplant Bonsai tree' can anyone tell me what it is?

http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn101/daddypea/?action=view&cur rent=morrisons.jpg

I also popped into B & Q and found this one reduced to 4.98 labeled 'various' Rolling Eyes

Any idea's?

Any tips would be helpful too if possible Very Happy

http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn101/daddypea/?action=view&cur rent=bandq.jpg

Rob Spiller · Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 1:05 pm Post subject: Re: my first

Hi Don
The Morrison's tree looks like an Ficus Retusa ? to me any chance of a close up on the leaves?

The B&Q one I would say is a Fukien tea (are there little white flowers on it?), probably

The fig is easy to look after. The Fukien tea is not so, apparently?
They are supposed to tempremently, although a friend has kept one alive for over a year and knows very little about Bonsai

The instructions that come with these trees is probably the reason that 90% of them die. A friend brought me round his Elm to look at and see if I could save, but it was very dead.

I do put my trees onto a bigger drip tray, which has gravel in it.
The fig and my Fukien tea will have to come inside come the colder weather and daily misting along with water in the drip tray (to help create a micro climate around the tree apparently?) as well as adequate light ( a question about that later) will see them thru the winter (hopefully)

I am hoping that my local Morrison's get some more trees in, especially Elms, as I think 3 put together as group planting would look really nice. For the price of them you would spend under £15 on trees and that and a bot more on a pot Laughing

so a bargain, especially if you style them to look really good over the next few years.

My local b&q doesn't do house plants, so I have had no luck with getting trees there.

I am thinking of going off to a local nursery next week and see if I can get a Mugo Pine and then set about developing it into a Bonsai. I am told that this is probably the cheapest way of getting a good tree. My local one doesn't do Bonsai, but has a lot of drawf conifers at various sizes and for not a lot of money either.

Best of luck with your trees Smile

Rob

don · Yellow Belt Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 162 Location: Devon

Here is a close up of the leaves. From that photo u can also see that the roots are coming over the top of the pot. I think it desperately needs re-potting

http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn101/daddypea/?action=view&cur rent=morrison2.jpg

Yes there are little white flowers on the B & Q one

Stymie · Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 1:47 pm Post subject: Re: my first

The Morrison's tree is almost certainly Ulmus parvifolia (Chinese Elm) which should be kept outside. Water from above when necessary to keep the planting medium just moist. Rota watering is not the way. Rain will provide enough very much of the time.
As has been said, close-up photos of the leaves will help identification of the B and Q tree.

don · Yellow Belt Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 162 Location: Devon

Here's a close up of the B & Q one. It does have little white flowers on it

http://s302.photobucket.com/albums/nn101/daddypea/?action=view&cur rent=bq2.jpg

Rob Spiller · Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 2:34 pm Post subject: Re: my first

Here is a close up of a Fukien Tea http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Fukien_Tea_Tree_flower.jpg
There is a better on that can be found by typing "Fukien Tea" into google, I would have posted it, but the url is several lines long.

If it is that http://www.bonsai-bci.com/species/fukien.html will tell you more about it.

Rob

don · Yellow Belt Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 162 Location: Devon

hmmmm maybe it wasn't the wisest choice after reading about all the bugs and beasties that can eat it Crying or Very sad

I know its a bit late in the year but is it possible to re-pot the Chinese elm now?

Rob Spiller · Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 3:06 pm Post subject: Re: my first

Hi Don
If you look up other trees on that site they can all have similar problems, so I wouldn't worry to much.

They do look nice when in bloom and apparently you also get berries, although my friend who has had one for around a year now has yet to see any Laughing

Rob

don · Yellow Belt Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 162 Location: Devon

Well I've re-potted my Chinese elm that i got today. When i eventually got it out of the pot it was just one total mass of roots that were coming over the side and through the drain hole which didn't have any mesh over it, in what looked like ordinary earth. It took ages to get all the roots clear of the mud so i trimmed them and put it back into its pot. Its now looking a lot neater and I'm sure its wiggling its toes in the new 'soil'. Very Happy

Fingers crossed Smile

Stymie · Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 9:17 pm Post subject: Re: my first

Don.
You didn't wait for an answer to your question before re-potting. You would have been advised to do it in early spring. I hope that it is okay, what kind of planting medium did you use?

don · Yellow Belt Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 162 Location: Devon

Hi

I used sand/peat free compost/cat litter