Mallsai Fukien Tea

[PhilC]

I've been interested in Bonsai for many years and now consider myself as at an 'intermediate' level due to the number that I have been able to kill. Right now my collection is just made up of potensai grown from seed or seedlings taken from firnds gardens. It's not an inspiring collection, but they are all still alive and I've been able to practice many skills on them ready for when they grow up into smaller trees .

Back to the point, My in laws have 'kindly' bought me a mallsai Fukien Tea last week, but as expected, it is pot bound and the soil is clay. All the advice about these is to root prune / repot in Spring. As it is right at the end of spring and the plant shows the remains of flowers, is it too late in the year, or the wrong time to do this job?

I guess just to feel at home, I should ask what soil should I use?

[Gnome]

Phil,

Welcome to the site.

I've been interested in Bonsai for many years and now consider myself as at an 'intermediate' level due to the number that I have been able to kill.---I guess just to feel at home, I should ask what soil should I use?

Ah, a sense of humor.

Sorry, Fukien Tea is not one of the species I grow so this specific question is outside of my comfort range. I would hate to tell you to go for it and then have blood on my hands. Perhaps someone else with experience with this species will answer.

Norm

[PhilC]

Thanks for the welcome, Gnome.

[ynot]

Phil,

Welcome

I am sorry but I do not grow Fukiens either, My understanding is that it is too late in the season.
Is it in rough shape health-wise or do you think it could ride out the season? I often hear they can be fairly temperamental.
[url=https://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Carmona.html]This[/url] says to 'repot as growth commences' ...

I also greatly appreciated your post, I nearly spilled my espresso laughing at the last line [img]https://www.mysmilie.de/english/green/smilies/big/img/008.gif[/img]

I take it from your 'intermediate status' that you are a 'serial killer' with respect to bonsai [Join the club ] as opposed to those 'crimes of passion' [Single victim] types...

That's good, I like it when people are dedicated
[img]https://www.mysmilie.de/english/green/smilies/cheeky/3/img/010.gif[/img] [img]https://www.mysmilie.de/english/green/smilies/cheeky/2/img/029.gif[/img]

ynot

EDIT: Phil, If you have not already seen it... You may enjoy this thread:
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3343 Let me know.

[constantstaticx3]

Its nice to have someone else here with a sense of humor .

Well I am not an expert on Fukiens but I do know that they are tropical and I may or may not be right on this but to my understanding tropicals can sometimes be repotted at any time of the year because, to them, there really are no seasons. Not sure if this is true but it sounds logical.

You could also do a pot slip with similar soil for this season.

Just some ideas .


Tom

[ynot]

Well I am not an expert on Fukiens but I do know that they are tropical and I may or may not be right on this but to my understanding tropicals can sometimes be repotted at any time of the year because, to them, there really are no seasons. Not sure if this is true but it sounds logical.

I actually agree with this approach wholeheartedly [And have repotted Ficus IE: at any time BUT they are far from picky...]

I am hesitant to recommend it for fukien for fear of it throwing a tantrum. I have never had one so I am unsure of whether their reputation is deserved.

You could also do a pot slip with similar soil for this season.

I considered mentioning that also but I get the feeling Phil would rather be rid of the current soil entirely.

I am in Gnomes boat here and I also want no blood on my hands...lol. ;)

ynot

[drzaiusx11]

I re-potted my Fukien Tea about 3 weeks ago (temps were in the 80s & 90s--just made sure it was in dappled shade) and now its doing better than ever. In fact my fukien tea seems to be the hardiest of all my trees--I've pruned about 2/3 of its foliage and it didn't even flinch. Its been sprouting new growth since about 5 days after the re-pot. I'd say go for it, from what I can tell they're very forgiving.

[PhilC]

Thanks everyone.

Ynot, you are right, I am a serial killer. Right now there the Quercus police are preparing to set up surveillance in my area. Fortunately, due to bureaucracy they haven't seen the file that the A[cer] team have on me, and if the FBI (Ficus Bureau of Investigation) ever get involved then I'll be Ent food for sure!

Thanks for that link, but I'd already been drooling over those pictures already. They are amazing and are truly inspirational.

Also, of course, thanks to drzaiusx11 for the species specific input. Now I have enough information to prevaricate for weeks.

[ynot]

Thanks everyone.

I only added some sillyness... But your welcome. .

Due to a personal oath { [img]https://www.mysmilie.de/english/green/smilies/cheeky/img/003.gif[/img] } I am required to ask: Can we see a picture of your FT?

Ynot, you are right, I am a serial killer. Right now there the Quercus police are preparing to set up surveillance in my area. Fortunately, due to bureaucracy they haven't seen the file that the A[cer] team have on me, and if the FBI (Ficus Bureau of Investigation) ever get involved then I'll be Ent food for sure!

[img]https://www.mysmilie.de/english/green/smilies/cheeky/img/026.gif[/img] LOL - I am already on the run from said agencies, But due to the plastic surgery I am getting much better looking. [img]https://www.mysmilie.de/english/green/smilies/cheeky/2/img/028.gif[/img][img]https://www.mysmilie.de/english/green/smilies/cheeky/img/027.gif[/img]

Thanks for that link, but I'd already been drooling over those pictures already. They are amazing and are truly inspirational.

I absolutely know what you mean.

It sounds silly to some...But when I see some of the trees in that thread...

Well, It just gives me that feeling you know [img]https://www.mysmilie.de/english/green/smilies/love/2/55.gif[/img] [img]https://www.mysmilie.de/english/green/smilies/love/19.gif[/img][img]https://www.mysmilie.de/english/green/smilies/love/4/90.gif[/img]

If you had ever seen me dance you would know what a truly traumatic event this is for those who witness it... But I still don't care. [img]https://www.mysmilie.de/english/green/smilies/cheeky/img/005.gif[/img]

Keep posting,

ynot

[PhilC]

Well, I've been away from home for a week and have found the secret to bonsai care. Let my wife look after them.

My Fukien Tea is sprouting twigs like a sapling and it is flowering. My outside potensai have also been rejuvenated.

The problem is, now I'm back they are in for a shock.

Obviously, while flowering there is no way that I'm going to repot it, so I will have to wait before prevaricating.

I guess procrastination will have to wait.

[PhilC]

Okay Ynot, here are the pictures, and no, I haven't read the link about taking good photos so the background is lousy, the lighting is wrong etc. but there is a tree in the middle, so it isn't all bad.

FRONT
[img]https://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p236/FComley/front.jpg[/img]

RIGHT
[img]https://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p236/FComley/right.jpg[/img]

BACK
[img]https://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p236/FComley/back.jpg[/img]

LEFT
[img]https://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p236/FComley/left.jpg[/img]