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Help Starting a Lime or Citrus Bonsai
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Posted by gamachii Massachusetts/Maine (My Page) on Wed, May 2, 07 at 20:49
| Starting in Sept, I will be living in a dorm, which means no pets. For Consolation, I'd like to try growing a bonsai tree. (It seems well suited to the small room)
I would have to have it inside for most of the time, except for perhaps summers and the windowsill, So I was looking for something more tropic.
I know that It would take several years to actually get it to this state, but a flowering/fruiting bonsai would be quite rewarding. I was thinking (Small fruits) Perhaps key limes or Calamondin oranges. Limes are my favorite citrus, and one of the local nurseries has a 3' Key lime tree that has been there several years. (Not for sale :])
I don't know if it would be easier to start from seed or by cutting up an already started tree.
I also found a website selling "Miniature Citrus Trees". (See link Below) They are not Bonsai, but maybe could be a starting place?
Any insight would be very Helpful.
Thank you very very much! |
Here is a link that might be useful: Miniature Citruses?
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Help Starting a Lime or Citrus Bonsai
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| Hi, such good intentions! Don't want to rain on your parade, but here are a few facts - Citrus need loads of sun all day long just to survive, and anyone growing one as a bonsai is likely to have set up full spectrum fluorescent bulbs 6 inches above their trees on a timer for 16 hrs/day. Can you do that? Also, dorms are notorious for being dry (like offices), so a wide tray of stones and water with the pot on top (never have the water high enough to touch it tho') is necessary. Plus there's always the question of soil mixes, pruning (when, why, what and how) - growing bonsai is not like growing houseplants, and watering alone can take some time to learn properly. Buying from that link may be ok, but keep in mind that miniature plants are treated to grow more slowly than regular sized ones. As well, you normally would take a larger plant, chop it (in half, or more or less depending on various factors) and plant in a larger pot to grow a fat trunk for a couple of years, as well as a new batch of smaller branches and leaves (tho' of course fruit won't reduce). If you think you can grow one as a houseplant, however, and learn to keep it alive for some time (beyond the 'easy' summer), then you could investigate going further and bonsai-ing it. |
RE: Help Starting a Lime or Citrus Bonsai
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| gamachii: I have been growing citrus trees indoors for years. (as potted plants, not bonsai). If your dorm has a window that faces anyway but north, it is worth giving them a try. I have raised a grapefruit from supermarket fruit seed in the past, and I currently have a 'Meyer Lemon' and a 'Bearss Lime'. They have been doing fine in potting soil in a 14" pot by an east window for the past 3 winters. I give them a Summer outdoors, and bring them in when the temps drop below 50°F. They flower every March, and I have gotten fruit by hand pollenating the blossoms. They are only about 3' tall. Give them a go, and if they work as potted plants, then try bonsaiing them |
RE: Help Starting a Lime or Citrus Bonsai
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| I have a baby tangerine seedling (2 1/2", 3 sets of leaves) and a larger one (10") that I'd like to try doing bonsai on. I've never tried it, but these guys are "free", started from a sweet tangerine I enjoyed for lunch one day! Which is the better candidate to start--the baby or adolescent? The adolescent already has some side branches started due to a near-death experience when a friend promised to water while I was on vacation but didn't--it forced the plant into survival mode, I guess, and it dropped most leaves and shot out two side branches at about 7 and 8". Thanks for any advice! |
RE: Help Starting a Lime or Citrus Bonsai
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| interested and want to learn citrus bonsai.I've many grapted citrus here in the philippines |
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