Hey, New here...

Kev · White Belt Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 15

hey guys !!!

Well, a few months ago i bought some little potted bonsai, now upon purchasing i was asking many questions upon how to care for them, i was keen to get them into bonsai pots howver was told to keep them in plant pots, and treat them as normal plants for atleast a year, and then think about begining to bonsai them...

so, they where doing pretty well, growing like mad, getting pretty bushy, being treted like plants and all... however recently, they seemed to start to dry out, being watered once everyother day, i upped it a little and they still got no better. the guy at the graden center did tell me to move them to bigger normal pots, and gave me some soil to do it, i never got round to it however i got fed up of seeing them misserable and did this today... (before and after pics)
http://www.bonsaihelp.co.uk/viewtopic.php?p=7007#7007

basicly, why where they going like that ? and have i done the right thing ? all the plants are kept indoors and on a windowsil, should i be putting them outside ? i was a little worried as they are so small and delicate...also before when they where doing well, i was sparying them rather than pouring water into them, but i didnt have much time so soon started pouring onto them, they seemed ok with this atfirst is that wrong ? now i have repotted them all, and gave them a good spraying Smile

did i do right or wrong ? anything else i should be doing ?

Thanks
oh yes, also im new to plants as a whole, true newbie... sorry Sad

Kev

Tuppence2 · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 4:57 pm Post subject: Re: Hey, New here...

Hello Kev.

Nice to see you here. No need to be sorry! Someone will be along later, I'm sure, to help you out.

Penny Smile

Moldy · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 4:58 pm Post subject: Re: Hey, New here...

Hi Kev,

I think the first order of the day is to ID exactly what you have, then you can come up with a plan of action. I guess the most important thing is are they indoor or outdoor trees. Once you know that, you can then set about looking for TLC instructions. To me, they look like indoor trees?

I water my trees (both indoor and out) every day in the evening, until the water starts to come out of the holes at the bottom of the pot. The indoor trees get good light, and some are misted regularly if they require high humidity. I even keep some in the bathroom in the morning so they get the benefit of the shower Smile

I have also just repotted my indoor trees, and will reduce watering for a few weeks. I think this may be to either encourage root growth, avoid rot or both!

Feeding is also required I expect, but not for another month or so following repotting (again, may be to encourage growth?). Most trees seem to need feeding once every 2 weeks, but not with a standard indoor plant food, as the ratios of Nitrogen(N), Phosphorus(P) and Potassium(K) are insufficient. So you may have to order some specialised bonsai food: an NPK of 777 should do for a start.

Perhaps a bonsai book would help? A quick look at eBay shows plenty listed under 'Bonsai Book'. The Peter Chan one is rubbish, but the Harry Tomlinson one is good for information, and the one by David Pike I have found to be easy to follow for methodology.

Anyway, good luck!

Ian

Dick · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 5:27 pm Post subject: Re: Hey, New here...

All the trees and cuttings that you show are serissas. Check out the A-Z forum for specific information about their care. They are a bit tricky to grow and can be frustrating to new bonsai people. They do not like to ever be dry for any reason. One lissed watering, even by a day, can be disastrous. I suspect that is what originally happened with your, or they got a cold draft from being too near a cold window. You did the right thing for now.

Good luck and come back again with any questions.

Stymie · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 10:59 pm Post subject: Re: Hey, New here...

Being a bit suspicious, I wonder if they are in a centrally heated room, where there is not much air circulation and humidity. Both of which are beneficial.

steve · Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 4:08 am Post subject: Re: Hey, New here...

I'm going with Stymie on this one. They appear to be inside.

Kev · White Belt Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 15

Moldy · Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 9:44 am Post subject: Re: Hey, New here...

I think they should be well away from the radiator, as this will artifically dry the soil out and also there is low humidity there?

Serissa's are an evergreen shrub from S.E. Asia so should be inside most of the time but may be ok outside on summer days?

I just repotted by Serissa and it is a bit stressed (yellow leaves), but plenty of green shoots are showing so I think it is ok.

I am taking advice from this site and keeping it out of full sun for a few weeks.

Good luck!