名媛直播

Hi Everyone,

First of all, let me introduce myself: I'm 叠补濒á锄蝉 from Hungary. Also new to bonsai.

Secondly,I've been reading up on "how to bonsai" for a while now, but my first plans were to start some experiment beginning from spring... Or maybe very late winter with a willow tree, because they say that you can propogate those throughout the whole year.

BUT! Since I keep talking about stuff I'm interested in, my GF tought it would be fun to buy me a "名媛直播" (mallsai?). So guess what, I have a Fukien Tea for about 3 months now in my living room.

It's fun, and it looks like I can take care of it, since it didn't die, and still does not show any sign of dying. Woohoo, I'm able to do stuff responsibly. Magic.

The only thing with this story that does not look good, is the tree itself. Let's be honest, it's ugly as fuck. Besides being small, it does not show any sign of being a bonsai. Not even close to any style, it does not really look like it were grown by any guidelines, but since it's mine, I can't abandon this little guy, so I'm trying to make the best out of it.
It's Winter time here, with very limited hours sunshine, so thats why it's leaves might not be as small as they should be.

But let the pictures talk.
As you can see, the trunk is far from perfect, and the branches are very intricated, and 98% of them are hardened (making it close to impossible to wire it - at least that's what you can read on the interwebz).

What are you suggestions? Leave it be, and keep practicing on how to keep it alive, or should I try to make it better in any way? And if should I do so, what would your suggestions be?

I know that you have read 1 trillion of posts like this, and in no way I'll be offended if you try to bite my head off because of the same boring questions, but actually if you read about something, and when you watch videos about something, it looks so easy, but when the time comes to do it yourself, you suddenly have no idea where, and how to start it.

So any suggestions are apprecieated, and sorry because of my broken English, I hope you still manage to understand the point of this mess.

Thanks,
叠补濒á锄蝉

vagvolgyi.balazs wrote: my GF tought it would be fun to buy me a "名媛直播" (mallsai?).

I know that you have read 1 trillion of posts like this, and in no way I'll be offended if you try to bite my head off because of the same boring questions

So any suggestions are apprecieated, and sorry because of my broken English, I hope you still manage to understand the point of this mess.

No reason at all to bite your head off. You're completely aware of what you have and you're honest about it, even while you got it from your girlfriend. Also, you've kept it alive and are not coming here with the far too often repeated and depressing question 'how do I save my near-dead plant'.

Your english is fine and perfectly understandable.

Now... the tree... yep, it has no style and it's messy. I'd start by doing some basics - shorten the overly long shoots, remove shoots/branches that grow inwards and that cross eachother.

Take it easy, remember that you can remove a branch quickly, but it 'll take long to grow one back. Look up some examples, like here , look at the tree, try to find branches you need to keep, then wait and think again :)

You could do something more drastic and completely rebuild the tree, but that's something you can always do later.

I do think this tree could use a repotting. The soil doesn't look very healthy.

Thanks for your fast (and positive) reply

I've already cleaned up the tree a bit, I was just not sure about the bigger changes, but since you also have this point of view, I'll keep continue to progress in small steps.

Since I've no experience in bonsais, I guess when you buy a bonsai from a shop, they don't even use mixes (and they are probably really far from using appropriate mixes for the species), so that's what I expect in this case too.
It does not look healthy to me either, but I've read a few forums, sites, and even looked it up in books, and they suggest not to repot bought bonsais for a good while, and this 3 months doesnt feel like a good while to me
I thought I'll repot it late spring, maybe early summer (lot of different informations on the sites about when to repot FT), but do you think it will need it earlier?
There are 5-6 months left until summer, which is a significant amount of time compared to the 2-3 year repot period.

vagvolgyi.balazs wrote: I guess when you buy a bonsai from a shop, they don't even use mixes (and they are probably really far from using appropriate mixes for the species), so that's what I expect in this case too.

Depends on what shop, but if that's a supermarket/mall/hardware store/common nursery, yeah... you'll get standard soil. That isn't necessarily an issue, as long as the soil drains properly and doesn't stay too wet. Do note that, when talking about bonsai soil mixes, it usually concerns trees that are grown outside.

they suggest not to repot bought bonsais for a good while

I can agree with that - I nowadays wait one year before I touch newly purchased bonsai or bonsai material.
However, if it is necessary, it's better to repot than to leave it in bad soil. Not sure how bad your soil really is, I can only see the surface.

I thought I'll repot it late spring, maybe early summer

That's late. I'd do it in early spring.

I guess you already checked the page on this site?

That isn't necessarily an issue, as long as the soil drains properly and doesn't stay too wet.

It drains seemingly properly. I'll keep an eye on it!

Do note that, when talking about bonsai soil mixes, it usually concerns trees that are grown outside.

Woah, that's something that I've not found anywhere yet! I thought that indoor and outdoor doesnt really matter in terms of soil, because in case of tropical trees, indoor only "simulates" (well, as much as it can simulate) being outdoors. Going to read up on this matter.

Talking about simulating outdoor "features", I'm planning to move my bonsai out for summer, when the lowest temperature is constantly over 15C. There are a few weeks like that in Hungary, and lot of other weeks where it might be better for it indoors during the night. This seems to be suggested on a lots of sites, but I guess you have to be careful with it. It seems a lot harder to find the "microclimate" outside. What are your toughts on this topic?

I guess you already checked the page on this site?

Ofc I did, I just found very conflicting informations around the net, so I was like... mmmkay, lets take the middle! But I can't really tell the credibility of the sites:/

I have had one of these for three years. You can wire the branches, even thicker ones, they are quite soft and respond well to shaping, but best to move them gradually over a period of time to minimise the risk of damage. They do not like to be moved around and are best left to acclimatise where you know they are growing well - mine lives indoors all year, just gets turned regularly to balance the growth. The soil they are sold in is often the original stuff they were grown in, sometime with a top dressing of better stuff, if in doubt then repot into say 50/50 organic/inorganic and this can be done at any time of the year. As regards styling, I don't think any Fukien Tea will be regarded as pretty no matter what you do with it - I second Auk's advice re pruning, very careful thought before you chop anything off! But cuttings are quite easy to root if you want to grow more tres.

Dave

vagvolgyi.balazs wrote:

Do note that, when talking about bonsai soil mixes, it usually concerns trees that are grown outside.

Woah, that's something that I've not found anywhere yet!

My bad. It's not really accurate. The difference is that indoor trees are tropicals or semi-tropicals, and the soil mixture will be a bit different (but what I did not write is that actually goes for outdoor trees as well - the mixture is different per type of tree). Ironhorse already gave the correct tip for the mixture for your tree.

I thought that indoor and outdoor doesnt really matter in terms of soil, because in case of tropical trees, indoor only "simulates" (well, as much as it can simulate) being outdoors. Going to read up on this matter.

Indoors it usually doesn't rain so you have full control over the amount of water your plants get. My trees are outside, I haven't watered them at all since... october I think. A very well draining substrate containing little or no organic material is essential.

I'm planning to move my bonsai out for summer, when the lowest temperature is constantly over 15C.

Ironhorse responded to that too. I don't think it's bad to place it outside though, if the conditions are right - and do keep night temperatures in mind, that may be a lot lower than temperatures by day.

About soil... read this, completely, and you'll know more about it then I do

Hi Dave,

Thanks for shareing your experience with this tree!

What really catched my eyes is rooting. I would love to propagate. Can I try that whole year? I have some good looking stems now!

I think you will have more success with rooting unwanted new soft growth in summer, but this species doesn't have a dormant period as such, so give it a go. Assuming you have little experience in propagation (apologies if this is not so) your cuttings should be planted in free draining soil in a warm spot, kept moist but not overwatered and it is beneficial to cover the pot with clear plastic to keep moisture round the leaves until roots develop - I use clear drinks bottles cut in half for this. Rooting hormone powder may be useful too, I usually dip the base of the cutting into this before planting.

Dave