New Bonsai

Flowerpower · White Belt Joined: 21 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

Hi I am a newbie here and a first time Bonsai owner. I was given a lovely Pistacia Chinensis Shohin for my 5th Wedding Anniversary (wood) but it came with no info on its type/species or care needs. I have had it 2 weeks now and it is dropping a lot of leaves. I watered every three days but maybe not well enough. I did look up some general tips on watering and maybe I was not doing enough. It advised me to water and then come back 10mins later and water again.Also to use as a general guide that when the top cm is dry that is the time to water. it is placed in a nice light window though avoiding direct sunlight. Is this right? If anyone can post me info on this particular tree & it's care I would be most grateful as the sites I've found and the book I bought on Bonsai care don't show this type of tree anywhere. Help! I don't want to kill this tree through ignorance and I think it is failing.

steve · Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:42 pm Post subject: Re: New Bonsai

From wikipedia:

Chinese Pistache (Pistacia chinensis) is a small to medium-sized tree native to central and western China. It is hardy and can withstand harsh conditions as well as poor quality soil.

It grows from 9-15 m tall, exceptionally up to 25 m. The leaves are deciduous, pinnate, 20-25 cm long, with 10 or 12 leaflets, the terminal leaflet usually (but not invariably) absent. The flowers are produced in panicles 15-20 cm long at the ends of the branches; it is dioecious, with separate male and female plants. The fruit is a small red drupe containing a single seed. Chinese Pistache grows best in full sun, being intolerant of shade; it is the most frost-tolerant species of Pistacia, tolerating temperatures down to about -25°C. Yet it is most highly regarded in warm climates. It is planted for its impressive fall colors, which develop at least as far south as Orlando, Florida. In the low-elevation deserts of Arizona, it is the only tree whose leaves turn scarlet in fall.

In China the oil from the seeds is used for biodiesel production.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Pistache"

Your tree needs to be outside and watered when needed. This may be once a week at times and may be twice a day at other. Keep us updated on the tree and filling out your profile to at least give us your rough location will help as your local climate impacts how you will have to care for your tree.

Congratulations on your anniversary hope it was a good one. (any anniversary with bonsai is off to a great start) Wink

Flowerpower · White Belt Joined: 21 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

Thankyou Steve USA for taking the time to post that info. I live in Somerset in the South West of England. Does my tree need to be outside permanently and if so is it best in a wind protected spot which we get quite a lot of here mostly South Westerly? Our garden is South West facing. What about feeding? Anyway thanks again.

steve · Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 6:19 pm Post subject: Re: New Bonsai

it should stay out year round. The garden sounds like a good spot and sheltering from high winds wouldn't hurt. You can feed every two weeks with a half strength balanced fertilizer but not more than that.

splendidplumage · Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:03 pm Post subject: Re: New Bonsai

Flower, the most important part of looking after a bonsai is giving it enough water frequently enough.

I think you correctly identified the cause of your problem yourself. Your Pistachio should have been watered more frequently.

It will drop leaves because it got a bit dry but hopefully, if it didn't get too dry the branches will still be alive and if you keep watering ti it will leaf back out. Make sure you give it as much light as possible and do not feed/fertilize until it is back to growing normally.