Wee Trees Bonsai Help Forum Advice for all
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Noob here!
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Author:  DeadBox [ 20 Mar 2010, 22:29 ]
Post subject:  Noob here!
I'm new to both Bonsai and this forum so I will start off by saying Hello to you all!

I'm hoping all you knowledgable people will be able to give me some help/advice.

Right, a couple of weeks ago a good friend of mine bought my other half a bonsai tree for her birthday. She isn't interested in bonsai, but I have been wanting one for years so she donated it to me. To start with my friend bought the bonsai from the well known bonsai nursery of Netto :o , plus it turns out he had left it in his bedroom for a few weeks before he got around to actually giving it to her (he didn't look after it for those couple of weeks either). To top all of this off he didn't give us the box either, so I don't know what type of tree it is! I will attach some pics in a second if anybody could identify it for me?

So that is the back story to how I have aquired the bonsai. Since I have had it I moved it to the window sill in my kitchen and watered it as and when it needed it. I then decided to have a look on tinterweb 1) to see if i could find out what type of tree it is, and 2) to find out some info into looking after it (as I have never looked after one before).

After reading about mallsai, I decided to invest in a new pot and some better soil as I noticed that the water was not draining through. So today I have re-potted it, trimmed the roots and planted in some better compost....oh and I added some mesh in the pot (I also got cocky and took a cutting and planted that to see if I can grow another (seems I've already caught the bug)). It was starting to lose leaves and wasn't looking to healthy when I origanally received it, but since putting it in the window and watering it it seems to have perked up, so hopefully re-potting it will help even more. I was planning on moving it outside once I have built somewhere for it to go.

I have then just come across this forum (probably would of helped if I had of come across this site 1st).

My questions are:

What type of tree is it?
Have I done things wrong?
Is there anything I need to know about this type of tree? and any tips or info?
Also, the tree seems to be slightly lose in the compost, should I have wired it in? or is it just because it hasn't rooted in yet?

I would be very greatful of any info that could help, I really would like it to survive.

I will stop rambling now and add some pics

Image

Image

Image

Oh, also the base of the trunk has seemed a lot darker than the top, is this because of the crud soil it came in? the compost that i took out was soaking. Sorry I did mean to take pics before and whilst re-potting.

Thanks in advance for any help and sorry about the long post.
Author:  DeadBox [ 20 Mar 2010, 22:30 ]
Post subject:  Re: Noob here!
Sorry the pics are a bit big, i'm not sure how to resize! :oops:
Author:  corin [ 20 Mar 2010, 22:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: Noob here!
It looks healthy not too bad at all
but it's a carmona ans they can be very tricky to grow
if it's happy where it is then leave it there
Author:  leejr [ 20 Mar 2010, 22:38 ]
Post subject:  Re: Noob here!
Its a Carmona (fukien tea) a change of soil is always best when brought from places you mentioned.
To wire the tree in would of been best but you'll have to leave now (well i would). Just try not to knock it about to much so as not to unsettle the roots. Hopefully the soil you potted it in is free draining. keep it damp and let it settle in for a few weeks then start feeding fortnightly or what ever suits you.If you can let it be outside in the summer months and bring indoors for the winter.
Author:  DeadBox [ 20 Mar 2010, 22:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Noob here!
leejr wrote:
Its a Carmona (fukien tea) a change of soil is always best when brought from places you mentioned.
To wire the tree in would of been best but you'll have to leave now (well i would). Just try not to knock it about to much so as not to unsettle the roots. Hopefully the soil you potted it in is free draining. keep it damp and let it settle in for a few weeks then start feeding fortnightly or what ever suits you.If you can let it be outside in the summer months and bring indoors for the winter.


I will leave it as it is, I didn't know about wiring it in until I came on here. I will have to learn how to do it and then do it next time I repot it.

I used Kyoto bonsai compost, it seems pretty free draining. Water was running out pretty quickly, within a couple of seconds. It was the only stuff i could find that seemed to be suitable.

I also bought some Vitax bonsai feed, will these be ok?
Author:  leejr [ 20 Mar 2010, 23:00 ]
Post subject:  Re: Noob here!
check this site out for tips :smallthumb:
http://www.bonsaichannel.com/index.html
Author:  DeadBox [ 20 Mar 2010, 23:11 ]
Post subject:  Re: Noob here!
Cheers for all the advice. Just glad I haven't done anything drastically bad.

I feel that I'm already getting addicted them. Where will be the best place to put it in the garden for the summer? my garden gets quite a bit of sun. I'm thinking of building a little bench/table to put it on.
Author:  Steve [ 20 Mar 2010, 23:17 ]
Post subject:  Re: Noob here!
Funny, my post disappeared. I sent it at almost exactly the same time Stymie did so maybe it was lost in transition.
Author:  splendidplumage [ 20 Mar 2010, 23:23 ]
Post subject:  Re: Noob here!
Mine disappeared as Corin posted too.

I think it is because if someone posts while you are writing instead of submitting your post it shows you their post and gives you a chance to edit. It is easy to not notice and assume your post has been posted like normal

EDIT while posting this Stymie posted and this got delayed for me to edit it. Case in point.
Author:  Steve [ 20 Mar 2010, 23:24 ]
Post subject:  Re: Noob here!
You pretty much covered it Don. I'll just add congratulations on the forming bonsai addiction. While there is no known cure you wouldn't really want one anyway.
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