Species Please!

danrhodes1987 · 09-23-2009, 12:35 PM

Hi,

Can you name the species of this Bonsai Im only a beginner and have no idea what species this plant is.

http://www.saveitwith.us/storage/IMG...90923-1731.jpg

Also does the plant look, over watered, under watered? Im new to this but reading everything I can find!

Thanks in advance.

Dan

treebeard55 · 09-23-2009, 07:57 PM

Dan, you have a Fukien tea, Ehretia microphylla. Sub-tropical, so don't let it freeze; native to southern China and the surrounding area; nice, small pure-white flowers (that my wife loves.)

From the pic, the soil looks quite wet. Let it dry out partway before you water again; this is to let air penetrate the soil and bring oxygen to the root cells. Then water thoroughly, let it partly dry again, water thoroughly, and so on.

Keep an eye out for pests. Our local mealybugs have a particular sweet tooth (sweet mandible?) for this species. Remember that the UK's native bugs are exotics as far as this species is concerned!

centaura · 09-24-2009, 08:31 AM

Yes, the tree is a fukien tea. They are fairly easy to keep, but are very, very prone to getting bug infestations. That picture makes it look like its in regular potting soil - you're going to have to be very careful of your watering with that type of soil. You can't let it get bone dry, but it can't stay wet either. Make sure that you're poking a finger at least one knuckle into the soil when you're testing it for moisture.

-Centaura

noissee · 09-24-2009, 10:52 AM

Stick a chopstick into the soil and make sure it hits the bottom. instead of using your finger, just pull it out every day and feel the chop stick. sometimes the top of the soil will be dry when you poke your finger in, but the bottom will be soggy. this will allow you to check all the way to the bottom. Are you keeping this inside? It needs humidity and light, so if you do keep it inside make sure it has both.

digger714 · 10-14-2009, 11:57 PM

I tried the chopstick, it works great. I think ill just put it in for 20 minutes or so, then take it out and check it to keep it from rotting. Thanks for the suggestion. Yep, definately a fukien tea. Dont let it dry out though. They dont like it.

Brad

09-23-2009, 12:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
danrhodes1987 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Rotherham, UK Posts: 3	Species Please! Hi, Can you name the species of this Bonsai Im only a beginner and have no idea what species this plant is. http://www.saveitwith.us/storage/IMG...90923-1731.jpg Also does the plant look, over watered, under watered? Im new to this but reading everything I can find! Thanks in advance. Dan

09-23-2009, 07:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
treebeard55 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Warsaw IN, USA USDA zone 5b Posts: 510	Dan, you have a Fukien tea, Ehretia microphylla. Sub-tropical, so don't let it freeze; native to southern China and the surrounding area; nice, small pure-white flowers (that my wife loves.) From the pic, the soil looks quite wet. Let it dry out partway before you water again; this is to let air penetrate the soil and bring oxygen to the root cells. Then water thoroughly, let it partly dry again, water thoroughly, and so on. Keep an eye out for pests. Our local mealybugs have a particular sweet tooth (sweet mandible?) for this species. Remember that the UK's native bugs are exotics as far as this species is concerned! __________________ Treebeard 55 Steve Moore http://hoosierbonsai.blogspot.com The most important bonsai tool is your brain.

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09-24-2009, 08:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
centaura Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South Bend, IN Posts: 334	Yes, the tree is a fukien tea. They are fairly easy to keep, but are very, very prone to getting bug infestations. That picture makes it look like its in regular potting soil - you're going to have to be very careful of your watering with that type of soil. You can't let it get bone dry, but it can't stay wet either. Make sure that you're poking a finger at least one knuckle into the soil when you're testing it for moisture. -Centaura

09-24-2009, 10:52 AM	#4 (permalink)
noissee Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: florida panhandle Posts: 206	Stick a chopstick into the soil and make sure it hits the bottom. instead of using your finger, just pull it out every day and feel the chop stick. sometimes the top of the soil will be dry when you poke your finger in, but the bottom will be soggy. this will allow you to check all the way to the bottom. Are you keeping this inside? It needs humidity and light, so if you do keep it inside make sure it has both.

10-14-2009, 11:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
digger714 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Mooresville, NC Zone 7 Posts: 16	I tried the chopstick, it works great. I think ill just put it in for 20 minutes or so, then take it out and check it to keep it from rotting. Thanks for the suggestion. Yep, definately a fukien tea. Dont let it dry out though. They dont like it. Brad

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