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Mon, Dec 31, 07 at 16:48
| Hey This is my first bonsai which was given to me by my future mother in law. Yes it did come from a big box store. I know you have heard it all before. But I am not sure what type it is. Also I know if it stays like it is with the rocks glued on it is not a good thing. It is starting to lose some leaves already. It is sitting in front of my east window right now beside my orchids. Later on in the week I am adding a light for that area. I want to take good care of it so if anyone has any advice it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Christina
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Follow-Up Postings:
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| Hi, it's a Fukien tea ("Fookin T") - Carmona microphylla, and you get the pebbles off by using little pliers or something to lift them from the opening and then just peeling them off, plus adding a little soil if large chunks come off with them. The tree is tropical (indoors except in the summer) and the pot should be up on pebbles in a wide tray of water, with the water never high enough to touch the pot (and rot the roots). Allow the top of the soil at least to dry between waterings (usually every 2-3 days - not more unless the soil is still quite damp down into the pot - but that means poor soil (potting soil is too full of peat), so you'd repot into only about 50% soil and 50% grit for faster drainage. Don't bother mist spraying though. It does need very high light for up to 16 hours a day, so look into full spectrum bulbs (not 'Gro-Lites'), ideally fluorescent, 5-6 inches above the tree. If it's losing leaves it could just be readjusting to your home, or dry conditions (air or soil) or being watered too often to dry under those pebbles. And don't let it get cold. Do (not yet though) cut back straggly branches at least halfway to get new growth. |
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- Posted by bigshoes213 7 Oxford, MS (bigshoes213@yahoo.com) on Mon, Dec 31, 07 at 17:18
| Thanks so much for your response. You seem very knowledgeable. I will probably have lots more questions for you in the future. I am planning on removing the rocks sometime this week and repotting. Would keeping it in the pot it is in now be alright. Or should I repot in another smaller pot. I am going shopping later this week for grit and soil. I am going to wait to cut anything until I am more knowledgeable on the subject. Thanks again. I really appreciate the information. |
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| If the pot has good sized drain hole(s) the size is ok, if a bit on the tall vs wide side (for bonsai) - a rectangular bonsai pot (could be cheap plastic for now) may be more appropriate for training roots to grow more laterally rather than downward. |
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