Dear All,
I am the new member in this forum and also only one week old since I bought a bonsai plant from a super market. I would appreciate to receive some inputs and feed backs since I am very apprehensive about how to proceed about taking care of my plant. Though I have done extensive reading over these last few days and read as much as information as possible, still I would like to post this message in order to get personalized inputs on my specific case.
a) Please have a look at the link
https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=48570&l=e6b77&id=532086463
Please comment on the current health on my bonsai. The label said it is 4 years old.
From what I read and saw till now, I concluded it is Chinese Elm. Kindly confirm. I am aware that the ideal environment for this plant is outside. Since I am keeping it inside ( the location is my office which is on the third floor and Air conditioned). I have kept it facing West near the large glass which I hope would provide sufficient lighting.
b) As I understand due to no open ventilation in the office and continuous air conditioning it is probably on the dry side for the plant,I am planning to buy a humidity tray for my bonsai this week end. Please provide inputs what kind of tray would be appropriate for my plant.
c) I am watering it as and when required, IE as suggested by many specialists! digging my finger in the soil and if it is dry then only I go to basin and using my fingers to direct the water from the tap to flow from top on the soil and let it flow through the bottom, also I try to moist the leaves with some water . I continue this ,till I feel the soil is completely wet. I repeat this after half an hour just to ensure that the soil is completely saturated with water. The touch of the soil is damp and not too soft after the watering. Right now I am using this method to water it around every one and half days.
I am concerned about the coming weekend ( starting Friday 3 pm till Monday 8 am when I will be back to office) . I am just hoping that plant would not get dehydrate during this period.
Please advice if its OK to let it without water during this period or if its necessary to water it please provide suggestions or alternative methods on how to tackle this issue.
d) The sticker on the pot suggested fertilize it every 15 days. But I am not sure about it. Kindly provide suggestions on the frequency, type and the method to fertilize it.
e) I have also read about pruning and re potting but I believe I should concentrate this winter to survive this plant and till next spring plan for these two.
Please comment..
f) Finally some general info.. I am living in Bucharest , right now the outside temperature is around 35 degree C . The inside temperature is maintained around 20 degree. Starting from mid of September it will be fall and from November onwards it will be winter here.
I will be looking forward for your inputs!
Thanks in advance..
-
Gnome
- Super Green Thumb
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- Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:17 am
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sudeep,
Hello and welcome to the forum. I am glad to see that you have obviously been doing some research. Your plant looks healthy for now but as you are aware inside is not really the ideal situation for most species. This brings me to the identification, I don't believe your tree is a Chinese Elm. Unfortunately I am not able to identify it, perhaps someone else can help.
Did the label provide any other information? Perhaps it was labeled as 'tropical' or 'sub-tropical' or perhaps even 'indoors'? You may or may not be able to maintain it inside over the winter depending upon the species.
You are correct not to worry about re-potting and styling right now, better to spend some time getting a feel for it's requirements. For the humidity tray, the more square inches the better. I assume you know not to fill it so high that the pot is sitting in water.
Air conditioning is tough on plants and the weekend may be even tougher if it is turned off and the temperatures rise. If you really are intent upon keeping it at your office the weekends will be the first thing you need to address.
Perhaps you could place it inside of a large, clear plastic bag to maintain humidity until Monday. It need not be truly air tight in fact it is probably better if it is not. This is not really much of solution but intended just to get you past this coming weekend.
Norm
Hello and welcome to the forum. I am glad to see that you have obviously been doing some research. Your plant looks healthy for now but as you are aware inside is not really the ideal situation for most species. This brings me to the identification, I don't believe your tree is a Chinese Elm. Unfortunately I am not able to identify it, perhaps someone else can help.
Did the label provide any other information? Perhaps it was labeled as 'tropical' or 'sub-tropical' or perhaps even 'indoors'? You may or may not be able to maintain it inside over the winter depending upon the species.
You are correct not to worry about re-potting and styling right now, better to spend some time getting a feel for it's requirements. For the humidity tray, the more square inches the better. I assume you know not to fill it so high that the pot is sitting in water.
Air conditioning is tough on plants and the weekend may be even tougher if it is turned off and the temperatures rise. If you really are intent upon keeping it at your office the weekends will be the first thing you need to address.
Perhaps you could place it inside of a large, clear plastic bag to maintain humidity until Monday. It need not be truly air tight in fact it is probably better if it is not. This is not really much of solution but intended just to get you past this coming weekend.
Norm
Hello Norm,
Thank you for your valuable inputs. The label on the plant stated that it is for indoor, not to be exposed under direct sunlight, ambience temperature between 15 to 25 degree C , water daily and fertilize it every 15 days.
I am thinking to bring the plant to my desk where it will be less heat and will try to use your idea to keep a transpert plastic over it. I hope it survives over the weekend.
Regards,
Sudeep
Thank you for your valuable inputs. The label on the plant stated that it is for indoor, not to be exposed under direct sunlight, ambience temperature between 15 to 25 degree C , water daily and fertilize it every 15 days.
I am thinking to bring the plant to my desk where it will be less heat and will try to use your idea to keep a transpert plastic over it. I hope it survives over the weekend.
Regards,
Sudeep
Most likely a Sageretia theezans. The important thing to remember with them is they're very intolerant of dry air. A large humidity tray with an occasional spraying of the leafs is a good idea. Try doing a google search on Sageretia theezans. I usualy get good info on exotic species that way. They also like bright, but not direct sunlight.