Serissa foetida

mt006b1198 · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:55 pm Post subject: Serissa foetida

Hello.

I am new to this site and was just wondering if anybody could please give me some advice regarding this type of bonsai tree?

I have not had it all that long (about 1 or 2 months now) and have heard that it produces small white flowers around summertime.

I was just wondering if my tree is mature enough yet to produce these flowers as I have not seen any.

If any 1 could please give me any advice I would b very grateful.

Kind regards

Shelley Very Happy

Fyrefly · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 9:30 pm Post subject: Re: Serissa foetida

Are there any light green buds on it? When I bought mine, I think it took a little over a month before it started sprouting buds, then a week or two later I got my first flower before it really got going and I had about three flowers a week. It was pretty happy, and probably would have kept going and would have been covered in flowers like I saw in the pictures (it had about 20 buds on it at one point), when I had to move home from college. It took the move rather well, considering its a Serissa (I'm sure you know by now how temperamental and grumpy they can be), but while it didn't drop leaves, it abruptly stopped flowering. I've now been home for about 6 weeks, and it still shows no signs of flowering.

I guess the point is, if it was maybe flowering just before you bought it, the fact that you moved it when you brought it home may have made it pretty mad, because it seems to take a long time to start flowers again after it moves. I think so long as you are taking care of it and it doesn't have signs of stress, like yellow or dried up leaves, it will flower when its good and ready. Crappy advice, I know, but we both have the prima donna of the bonsai world that sure as anything isn't going to do anything until its good and ready! Rolling Eyes

Stymie · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 8:54 am Post subject: Re: Serissa foetida

Shelley hi.
There is a bit of information about this attractive but temperamental tree at the top of this forum.

corin · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 9:02 am Post subject: Re: Serissa foetida

Having grown many many serissa for years I dont consider them to be tempremental at all -

two main problems people have with them are

1) they dont water them enough - they need to ALWAYS be moist and watered on a regular basis to get the most out of them

2) people dont trim them enough - this leads to leggy growth, and once they are putting out new growth they are quite quick to drop old leaves and growth which makes them look awful.

Ive given one to a friend who had never had a bonsai before

i told them to keep in in a very light postion (They have it on kitchen window sill), keep it always moist and trim to shape often

They have had it 5 years now - ive repotted it for them, its VERY happy, it cannot be said they are always tempremental

I would like to see more people encouraged with serrisa'a - rather than being told they are difficult to grow - because they arent

I hope that helps

imholte · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 1:10 pm Post subject: Re: Serissa foetida

Stymie · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 1:32 pm Post subject: Re: Serissa foetida

In view of the foregoing, it might be helpful if Corin would write a short article on the care of Serissa. Forwarded to me as a private message, I would be pleased to include it in our A-Z or 'Articles' forum with acknowledgement of the source.. =Don.

emorrin · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 4:36 pm Post subject: Re: Serissa foetida

I have a question, a comment, and an observation regarding Serissas.

Question:

Has anyone had a Serissa that never had some leaf drop at least once every 6 months or so? When I say leaf drop, I mean that some leaves turn yellow and in turn fall off. This can be 10% or up to 50% in any given time. I am not talking about leaf drop associated with wind drafts or moving the plant. I am wondering if this is a natural occurrence even if the Serissa is under stable/constant conditions (i.e. enough light, fertilizer, water, etc.)

Comment:

I think that some people are for better terms "lucky" in keeping a Serissa alive without experiencing some sort of problem with them. If one puts a Serissa in ideal growing conditions from the get go, I can see why someone would say they are not temperamental trees. Most people don't have ideal conditions in their house for Serissas so this is why they are not recommended as a beginner plant. Problems with Serissas are probably the most talked about subject on any bonsai forum.

An observation:

I went 6 months with my two Serissas and maybe only had 10 leaves turn yellow and drop off with both plants combined. How did this happen? First, I have ideal conditions where it is a constant 78 Fahrenheit, 16 hours of wide spectrum fluorescent lighting where the Serissa is only 3 to 6 inches away from the bulbs, no drafts, and daily misting with a humidity tray always filled with water underneath it. I started to water my Serissas on a schedule, something I don't do with any of my other bonsais/pre-bonsais. I have found that by watering on a schedule, I was able to keep my Serissas rather happy. Last week I tested this and stopped watering on a schedule (i.e. only watered when the top centimeter or 2 was dry). As a result, I experienced about 30% leaf drop. I