I've had a Fukien Tea since February and it had done really well, was fully green and flowered in the summer etc but now its got to winter, I'm finding it hard to keep it warm. I read that its supposed to be kept above 20C but its really hard to maintain it above that temperature all the time, especially when the temperature drops through the night. My dad made a miniture greenhouse for it it to help keep it warm and I've tried to put in the window as well to give it as much light as possible but the leaves have lost the "cat's tongue" feel and are dropping and withering. I'm not sure what else I can do for it as I've got it in the lightest/warmest place in the house! I watered it about 5 weeks ago and it didn't seem to absorb anything, so I tried to feed it and it doesn't seem to have absorbed that for just over a week. Please can someone give some advice of what I should do as I don't want it to die!
Thanks in advance.
Shelf2006
- Gnome
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 5122
- Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:17 am
- Location: Western PA USDA Zone 6A
Shelf,
The crappy, peat based soil, that many purchased tree are in cause problems like this. It retains too much water and once it does dry it is difficult to re-wet.
If your soil is as dry as I suspect it is you need to take emergency action. Submerge the pot nearly to the rim for 10 minutes or so or until the soil is thoroughly saturated. This is not done routinely but you must take action now or the tree will surely die.
[url]https://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Carmona.html[/url]
[url]https://bonsaihunk.8m.com/info/FukienTea.html[/url]
Norm
I am not sure what to say. surely your tree needs more water than you have provided. If it is not being absorbed I suspect that you have problems with your soil or you simply let it get so dry that water is repelled.I watered it about 5 weeks ago and it didn't seem to absorb anything, so I tried to feed it and it doesn't seem to have absorbed that for just over a week.
The crappy, peat based soil, that many purchased tree are in cause problems like this. It retains too much water and once it does dry it is difficult to re-wet.
If your soil is as dry as I suspect it is you need to take emergency action. Submerge the pot nearly to the rim for 10 minutes or so or until the soil is thoroughly saturated. This is not done routinely but you must take action now or the tree will surely die.
[url]https://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Carmona.html[/url]
[url]https://bonsaihunk.8m.com/info/FukienTea.html[/url]
Norm
Hi,
Thanks for your response.
I'm not sure whether it could have something to do with when I had a look to check it wasn't root bound a couple of months ago, whether thats affected the soil in some way. I wanted to check so I pulled it out carefully to have a look and repotted it. I never let the soil dry out though when it did not absorb the water and its still quite damp, would you still recommend submerging it?
I've not changed the soil before either, it does seem to be in some sort of compost. I bought a bonsai potting soil bag from a local garden centre that says it incorporates special grit, would this stuff be definately suitable and providing the tree starts to improve, would you recommend doing this in the spring?
Thanks for your response.
I'm not sure whether it could have something to do with when I had a look to check it wasn't root bound a couple of months ago, whether thats affected the soil in some way. I wanted to check so I pulled it out carefully to have a look and repotted it. I never let the soil dry out though when it did not absorb the water and its still quite damp, would you still recommend submerging it?
I've not changed the soil before either, it does seem to be in some sort of compost. I bought a bonsai potting soil bag from a local garden centre that says it incorporates special grit, would this stuff be definately suitable and providing the tree starts to improve, would you recommend doing this in the spring?
- Gnome
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 5122
- Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:17 am
- Location: Western PA USDA Zone 6A
Shelf,
Did you read the information at the links I provided, particularly the second one? Both of these topics are discussed.
Norm
No! Evidently I did not interpret your initial post the way you intended it. Let the soil approach dryness before you water, soggy soil is a problem. When you say that the plant does not seem to absorb water do you mean that it takes a long time to dry out after watering? If so your soil is way too dense.I never let the soil dry out though when it did not absorb the water and its still quite damp, would you still recommend submerging it?
The soil sounds OK, a free draining fairly coarse mix is good.I bought a bonsai potting soil bag from a local garden centre that says it incorporates special grit, would this stuff be definately suitable and providing the tree starts to improve, would you recommend doing this in the spring?
Did you read the information at the links I provided, particularly the second one? Both of these topics are discussed.
Norm
Peter,
Fukiens are not temperate trees, They are tropical.
As such they do not experience a true dormancy.
They are not very happy [or often even alive] if subjected to prolonged temps below 50F [12C].
Here are a couple of care sheets about them:
https://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Carmona.html
https://www.bonsai-bci.com/species/fukien.html
Are you certain of the species your purchasing?
Shelf, If you read this let us know how it's going:).
ynot
Fukiens are not temperate trees, They are tropical.
As such they do not experience a true dormancy.
They are not very happy [or often even alive] if subjected to prolonged temps below 50F [12C].
Here are a couple of care sheets about them:
https://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Carmona.html
https://www.bonsai-bci.com/species/fukien.html
Are you certain of the species your purchasing?
Shelf, If you read this let us know how it's going:).
ynot