digger714

Hello, my name is Brad. I have started with Bonsai about a year ago. I have done landscaping, so i am familiar with the basics. I have just started taking cuttings from my plants and starting them under fluorescent lights. I have both indoor plants like ficus', and also outdoor trees, like pines, and maples. When my old boss closed the store, i got some 1000 watt growing lights that i have moved them to after rooting. All is well, but im know some plants/trees need to go into a dormant stage. How should i grow those? Should i only start cuttings in winter and get ready for spring, or try to imitate the outdoor temps? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Good luck with all yours.

Brad

JLDoggett

Trying to recreate outdoor conditions is not easy. Having said that I see youo are in NC, are you near the coast or more to the western part of the state? If you in the more temperate area you could start your temperate cuttings and keep them going through the winter then taking them outdoors when it is safe. However next winter they should remain outdoors. Tropicals could be started at anytime as they will should never know they are not in the tropics.

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digger714

I am near Charlotte, so halfway between the coast and the mountains. Closer to the mountains though. Do you think it is still warm enough to get good roots before winter? I have them in my garage, so the indoor plants will do fine i think. I have several types of Ficus. A few fukien tea. I have alot of pines, maples, assorted shrubs, i am going to eventually turn into bonsai. I just want to grow them larger first. The lights are made for growing, and are very strong. I have a couple of weeping willows i started, and they are growing 2-3 inches a week, but again, not sure if they need to freeze to survive? Thanks again.

Brad

JLDoggett

Is the garage heated? If not the ficus and teas should be moved indoors and keep them under the lights. The rest I would leave in the garage for the winter. When they decidious trees lose their leave they need no light while the evergreens will be happy with the weak light through a window. Just remember to keep them lightly watered.

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"Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant with the weak and wrong....because sometime in your life you will have been all of these"

And I further resolve to click on an ad, each time I visit, to help support the site and to be welcoming to lurking guests when you join! After all, you're already here.

digger714

The light i have is very strong. It keeps it around 75 or so during time on, and yes, i do have the garage heated, but only have it come on at night if its gets below 55. Should i run the lights for the same amount of daylight hours, or should i lengthen it? Thanks again.

Brad

JLDoggett

The pines and maples would like it to be colder than 55 while the ficus and teas will love the warmth and light from your light unit and would rather the lights were on for 12-16 hours a day.

__________________
"Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant with the weak and wrong....because sometime in your life you will have been all of these"

And I further resolve to click on an ad, each time I visit, to help support the site and to be welcoming to lurking guests when you join! After all, you're already here.

Phil

Sorry, as I don't often get time to post but I just happened to notice this. I also keep my deciduous trees in the garage for the winter although it's not heated. If it were I'd be spending about $4,000 a month during the winter months! However as Jim pointed out the deciduous trees would never survive in a heated garage. Winter storage locations for cold weather/deciduous trees should be between 20F and 45-50F. This temperature range provides the ideal environment for dormancy. The location should not fluctuate frequently above and below 32F since this will cause repeated freezing and thawing of the roots, soil and inner bark of the tree and can result in damage or death of the tree, particularly maple species. If the winter storage location is always below 45F, light is not necessary for the dormant bonsai and they may be kept in the dark until growth begins in the spring.

As for the Ficus follow Jim's advice for lighting and by all means place them on a humididty tray filled with pebbles and water to provide as much humidity as possible.

~Phil~

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digger714

Thanks Phil. Thats what i was thinking. Hard to do both in the same location. What about evergreens? Like Hollies? Thanks for the advice.

Brad

JLDoggett

Evergreens go outdoors or in a cold place.

__________________
"Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant with the weak and wrong....because sometime in your life you will have been all of these"

And I further resolve to click on an ad, each time I visit, to help support the site and to be welcoming to lurking guests when you join! After all, you're already here.