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| Hi, am I going to have trouble if my bonsai seedling doesn't rest this winter?
This bonasi is from an apple seed and is 'version 2'. Last years 'version 1' was doing well kept outside and naturally hardened off/hibernated during the onset of winter...if I hadn't left the pot on a ledge where the cat could knock it over i assume it would still be with me today. Version 2 is from a seed of the same apple but I have kept it indoors all year (it's 11 months old). I had expected it to loose its leaves and harden off during winter, but instead it is happily continuing to produce leaves and hasn't hardened off anywhere, everything is still green. I see the hardening off and leaf drop/hibernation as the natural process this type of tree is supposed to have and worry that if it hasn't properly 'rested' I might have trouble re-potting it in the new year. It is definatley from the apple seed and not a weed and I generally keep the room temperature quite cool. Is my bonsai ok in the state its in? |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| All you can do now is wait til after the last frost in spring and put it out then, for life. Either it'll make it or it won't and there's not much you can do to change it at this point as you have not said where you live, so I can't comment on whether you can even possibly acclimatize it to being outdoors right now or not. |
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- Posted by pineslayer (My Page) on Sun, Dec 31, 06 at 13:40
| Without knowing more about your apple tree (and where you live), a winter hardy tree can usually skip a winter now and then without horrible consequences (it is almost as if the winter had been unusally mild). However the cold is often necessary for its reproductive cycle, so without the winter you might not get flowers, fruit, etc. Likewise, kept indoors for too many years and the tree will weaken each year and most likely die (depending upon the species). Here in Southern California some stone-fruited trees like plums, apricots, etc, will only flower and bear fruit if they are planted on a North-facing slope in a cool low area (like bottom of canyon) where winter temps get down into the 40's. However they will LIVE regardless of where you plant them (just not flower and fruit). For a little seedling I probably wouldn't worry too much about it. www.bonsainut.com |
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