Bonsai Help

matt_mac · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:10 am Post subject: Bonsai Help

I have had a fukien tea bonsai tree for 2 years now and I heard that you can achieve more growth in the summer if you put the tree outside. I was wondering what steps I should take to moving it outside like: What kind of positioning in the sun should it be in? Should the move outdoors be a gradual move? Should I bring it in if the weather gets cold windy or rainy?... etc. I would like to get some more growth but I don't want to harm it by trying to help it.

Thanks for your help!

Matt

steve · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 2:20 am Post subject: Re: Bonsai Help

You will want to slowly expose it to full sun. It really shouldn't get cold enough to harm it right now but definately protect it from the wind. That can do damage. not only could it blow it over and break things but it also speeds up the drying process of the soil. Rain isn't an issue if you have good soil. I would start it in a easterly position where it would get morning sun and protect it from the hottest part of the day. Then slowly move it to a south part of the yard where it can get upto midday sun without being schorched by afternoon sun.

emorrin · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 3:04 am Post subject: Re: Bonsai Help

If you want to put it outdoors, I would follow Steve's advice. The only thing about putting it outdoors is to keep an eye on it to make sure you don't have any insect issues. The main insect that seems to attack Fukien teas are aphids. They are pretty easy to get rid of though with a common dish soap solution. Just be careful to use any insecticides on it as it is sensitive to them (i.e. drop allot of leaves).

Another option would be artificial lighting. My Fukien tea has pretty good growth with fluorescent lighting. The trick is to have the light only a few inches away from the bulb. I use a light cart which is basically what orchid growers use to grow commercially indoors but a regular 4 foot fluorescent shop light would do. The light cart uses 4 foot fluorescent bulbs as well. It is good to have one wide spectrum bulb and a cool white bulb. Most hardware stores carry wide spectrum bulbs.

Here is a good link about Fukien teas in general. Actually more people on this site use the Latin name (Carmona microphylla) to avoid confusion.

http://www.bonsaihunk.us/info/FukienTea.html

Here is some info on artificial lighting:

http://www.bonsaihunk.us/info/IndoorLight.html

It is a good idea to do some research and study up on what species you own. There is allot of info on Fukien teas on the Internet.