名媛直播

hello all please would you mind giving some advise to a new starter wet behind the ears so to speak I have a cuphea hyssopifolia otherwise know as the mexican false heather, i understand it is sub tropical evergreen which has lavender flowers.

any advise on care for this bonsai i.e. its habits needs, best style to use for this bonsai it is very similar to the picture i have as profile just less foliage at the bottom as is currently in bloom.

Some most obvious-ish suggestions, humidity not so high keep outdoors (depends where you are) tolerates drought, moderate watering, normal way, and a really good thing is that it attracts butterflies. Partial shade. Zone 9-11 in usda units not ure what that is in the UK.

Hope this helps, if not search it up on Google for more detail or waitfor other replies

Good luck

I live in north west UK, its not usually very warm and usually quite wet, rains nearly every day if not every other day apart from a few weeks a year.

what style would you suggest suit this type for bonsai? I've been told it mostly grows laterally if that helps.

any other tips for a person starting bonsai in general like basic gear etc

Well the most useful tool for me is the shear, or even secateurs, but I suggest you put this guy under a little shelter, like underneath a ledge if it rains a lot. In winter, if it is below 4 degrees centigrade, then put it indoors, if not leave it outside. Make sure it has a bit of shelter. Possibly broom or informal upright May suite it. You can wate with a watering can but I use a water bottle and pour it very slowly on the soil, trying not to disturb the soil, but try to pour some water on the foliage to deter bugs, dust webs etc. try to put a humidity tray under it, I put salt in the water in the tray so no bugs can live in it. Research a bit more as I could be wrong, I would suggest the complete practical encyclopaedia of bonsai.

Hope this helps

Good luck.

bob wrote: In winter, if it is below 4 degrees centigrade, then put it indoors, if not leave it outside

So it is a good idea to move a tree inside, when it's below 4 degreec C, into my 24 C. living room?
Or would you recommend to move it to an unheated area, like a shed or garage?

Looking at the surface of a humidity tray, or actually the surface of the water left when you place a pot on top of it, do you think the amount of water that vaporizes into the air would have any noticeable effect on the humidity levels around the tree?
Could you explain to me please why such trays should better be called 'drip trays' ?

I see you advise a water bottle. I've been using a garden hose, with a spray nozzle. It doesn't seem to disturb the surface of my well-draining soil, but do you think that is wrong and do you advise against such techniques?


Thank you!

bob wrote: I put salt in the water in the tray so no bugs can live in it

Oh, I forgot. You put salt in the water that your trees stand in. Is that efficient? Would it not be better to put salt in your waterbottle ?

Auk wrote:

bob wrote: I put salt in the water in the tray so no bugs can live in it

Oh, I forgot. You put salt in the water that your trees stand in. Is that efficient? Would it not be better to put salt in your waterbottle ?

I *think* the idea is to not get salt on the soil surface, as that would result in white markings, and that is why it is put in the tray below the plant?

thank you guys for advise, i got clippers with the bonsai so thats a good thing, i will look into the styles you suggested which I appreciate. I bought a drip tray as well so that should help, I am keeping as an indoor bonsai forgot to mention as its subtropical and we have very random weather here one day freezing next day hot as hell. i now have a few hardy outdoor bonsai though a cotoneaster and lonicera and one i cannot I.D help on this would be appreciated will upload picture shortly as well as all my bonsai.

Flowe wrote: I bought a drip tray as well so that should help

Drip tray is the correct word. It is used to protect your furniture from water coming out of the drainage hole in the pot.
It does NOT help to provide more humidity. Do not put salt in it... if there is water in the tray and the salt dissolves, the roots may take it in and die.

That is why the water does not touch the bottom of the pot and you can use and make do and make it a humidity tray. Or some kind of lift of the pot may be in order. The other thing is that when water may evaporate, it takes 3 times the temperature for salt to evaporate and solidify in the roots above the drainage holes, the salt will sit in the tray.