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| Hello, I have just recently recieved as a gift 3 different plants from a friend, Among them is a begonia richardsiana bonsai. I have never grown any plants before let alone a bonsai and so I desperatley need your help so that my black thumb doesn't kill it. I've had it for about a week and when I recieved it, it looked wilted and the bottom rung of leaves had white dots on the tops of them that looked like frost but wasn't. I asked the friend who sent me these plants and she said she had never had a bonsai before but if it was anything like the Plants she has grown then I should remove the affected leaves. I did so and I am hoping my decision wasn't wrong.
After recieving these flowers I went to a health food store that sells a pure, highly- oxygenated water that was recommened to me to grow strong healty plants and I put it on a southern-facing windowsill. Obviously Arizona has very LOW humidity so I have been sraying the plant with a spray bottle daily to try and simulate that. I am also worried that the pot might be getting too cold, when I get up in the morning to check it the clay pot it's in is frezzing to the touch though the air in the room is about 67 degrees. So, don't laugh, :) I;m considering crocheting a sleeve to put around the pot at night to keep it from getting too cold. The plants came with come care guides but they were kinda vague and confusing. So that what I've done so far and it SEEMS to be doing OK but I can't be sure. Any advce would be much appreciated. Pictures of my Bonsai and the water I feed it: http://i313.photobucket.com/albums/ll397/guennee12/Bonsai015.jpg http://i313.photobucket.com/albums/ll397/guennee12/Bonsai005.jpg http://i313.photobucket.com/albums/ll397/guennee12/Bonsai008.jpg http://i313.photobucket.com/albums/ll397/guennee12/Bonsai011.jpg http://i313.photobucket.com/albums/ll397/guennee12/Bonsai013.jpg |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by jack_r 9 (jrbonsai@verizon.net) on Sat, Nov 21, 09 at 2:44
| I have no experience with this species but my search on the internet indicates that it is a USDA zone 11 plant. That means that it is not frost tolerant but will stand dry conditions. If your night time temperaturea are above 40 F, I think the plant should be outside where it will get natural morning light but afternoon shade. It is almost a succulent so let the soil get almost dry between waterings. I'm pretty sure you can use ordinary tap waster and forget about the superoxygenated water. This plant is able to live indoors and if your winters are cold I guess that is where it needs to be. Knitting a cover for the pot is a little over the top in a 65 F room. We kill more trees kindness (over watering, over feeding, over heating) than we do with neglect. You should join a bonsai club in your area to learn more about how to keep this plant alive and train it. Look on the internet for a club. If you Google "bonsai clubs" you will be able it find one in any sizeable city in the US. Good luck, Jack |
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