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How to get Mame bonsai to enter dormancy

  • hilyete1
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How to get Mame bonsai to enter dormancy was created by hilyete1

Posted 3 years 3 months ago #72968
Didn't really know what to put as a subject but here are the details. First, I'm not a beginner and have Shohin and Chuhin size trees that are outside year-round. Three years ago I bought some "fairy" trees at a nursery to make a penjing for a local bonsai show. It was not my intention to actually try to keep it, but just to have a miniature mountain scene mainly for generating interest for children and also to represent an area of bonsai that isn't often seen. After I dismantled the scene, I decided to keep 2 of the small trees, just to see how they might do indoors under LED lights in my china cabinet. I didn't expect them to actually live long. Three years later the miniature boxwood and Hinoki cypress are not only alive, but producing new growth almost continually. The boxwood seems to have even accepted a graft done over a month ago, My brain says this should not be happening. I'm afraid that they have actually been surviving as though they were going through one very long summer, and sometime soon, they'll need to go dormant or probably not be able to keep this growth going. I fertilize them regularly and the lights are on about 12-14 hours a day. So, why don't I just put them outside? I am gone most of the day and while my larger trees are easy to water in the morning and then again in the afternoon (for those that need it) when I get home, I know these little guys would need to be in at least partial sun, and probably dry out within 4 hours. I'm wondering, since they've done well inside, would it be possible to create conditions to cause them to enter dormancy for at least 2 months without killing them? I could put them out in the actual cold (garage) once they are actually dormant, but how can I get them there? Would reducing the light and chilling them over night (gradually) in a 40 degree F "chamber" (electric chilled cooler) work? Since they are both evergreens and both have new growth, most of the time, how would I pull this off without killing them and how would I know when they're actually dormant? Anyone have experience with this?
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  • m5eaygeoff
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Replied by m5eaygeoff on topic How to get Mame bonsai to enter dormancy

Posted 3 years 3 months ago #72980
I stand my mame and shohin trees in a tray with gravel and water. They are sheltered from wind and rain in winter and would only go into an unheated shed if the temperature gets below -2C of so for a few days. Otherwise they are out.
by m5eaygeoff
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