Got some new Trees! (lots of pics and questions)

[cooldaddyfunk286]

hey guys...so, I got my boss into Bonsai...it didn't take much...he has always had an interest in it deep down inside just like I have, so we took a trip to the local bonsai center after work on Saturday. Nice little shop up in my neck of the woods. Not the biggest, but theres not much for bonsai up here in my area, and this guy has some great stock, so I am very grateful for him being around. I picked up a Ficus Retusa, and bossman got 3 trees, I guess you would call them pre bonsai? 2 different Chinese Elms, and a schefflera. So now our indoor gardening /organic /hydroponic supply shop has some Bonsai flare!

One of them he had repotted yesterday While I was out of work, and did a pretty decent job for potting his first bonsai! He even did root over rock method with one of the Chinese Elms after seeing it done on youtube. Im not sure if thats a common thing with chinese elm lol, but I think he did a pretty good job! The 2 S shaped plants, the other Elm and the Ficus we are going to grow them out for a while, focusing on fine root production. I have a store FULL of extremely beneficial products for root development. Many fine liquid fungal, bacterial and enzymatic inoculates, I will be focusing on Endomycorrhiza. I will also eventually be putting these into Air Pruning containers, most likely smart pots. Smart Pot makes something called the "big bag bed" and its a fold up raised, air-pruning bed thats 15 gal, and 8 inches tall by 24" wide. We are going to be growing them using a SolarStorm 440w LED with UVB bulbs on the sides ($1050.00 retail!!!). We may even use an old aquarium for the Schefflera and the Ficus to raise the humidity and encourage aerial roots. (is this right?)

Well now we are in for the LONG HAUL! ...now I have about 6-7 trees under my care in a matter of no time. I have my first Juni that I got a few weeks ago, another Juni Im growing out that I got on sale at the garden center, this 7 year old Ficus Benjamina that we are growing out, and these 4 new trees!

I'm going to have ALOT of questions...I did a good few hours of research yesterday and I learned a whole lot. But again, I am a total noob. I do have an advantage with my decade plus background in the indoor gardening industry, and Bossman is a 20 year hydroponic/greenhouse grower, hes a propagation master! ...BUT...I realize that I haven't even shoveled the SNOW off of the TIP of the iceberg! So please, I'm open to ALL constructive criticism and tips tricks or advice...share yours please if you have these types. I'm going to keep this thread very active, hopefully with all of your help!

So like I said, the main focus is going to be growing most of these out in the rooting pots and under the bad-ass LED...I will consider the future of the tree all the while.

I just have a question...should I be letting the branches grow to 6-8 sets of leaves or nodes and then cutting it back to 2-3 sets for branch ramification while Im growing these out? Or should I just let them grow wild for a while and fill out their new pots? is there any advantage to NOT pruning and just letting them go? I suppose the more leaves, the more light its processing, but them the inside isnt getting lit? or, if I do that, will my branch structure suffer? better off pruning every few weeks/months? mainly taking the Ficus Retusa for right now.

THANKS everyone in advance! Enjoy the pics! (sorry there are so many! just excited! )

-Jason-

 

[cooldaddyfunk286]

Transplanted the Chinese Elm and the Ficus...I used hydroton expanded clay balls, peat, coco, perlite mix, and some primo organic potting soil with lava rock, chunks of expanded clay and some other goodies...watered in with beneficial microbes kelp and a catalyst to feed the soil microbes, and right under the LED.

 

[sorce]

Funk,

Youve jumped in the deep end!

Your soil mix is thick. Coco, peat, potting soil. You could have done without those IMO. I think of bonsai soil way closer to hydro than garden. Ahem.... Hydro!

Find Walter Palls article about his soil and watering/feeding regime, you will understand.

Watering once a day is best for everyone IMO. Twice if you have time, but your mix must dry that fast!

I think folks are shocked a hydro guy has soil in his mix. (No responses)

Visit bonsaihunk.com for a good tropical education.

We can talk your trees in a min.

Sorce

 

[edprocoat]

I know its probably just the timing of the pictures but your mix seems to be bone dry, not a real good thing as you know. The arboricola/scheffelera will quickly lose the aerials if allowed to stay dry. The Elm looks more like a root beside rock and it has a nasty reverse taper just above the giant stone its holding up. The "S-curve" Ficus and Fukien Tea are at opposite spectrums of ease of care, the Ficus being bullet proof while the Tea being perhaps the most finicky hard to please of all the tropical plants used for Bpnsai.

ed

 

[M. Frary]

Surprised nobody brought up the point that the Chinese elm is an outdoor tree. Also I'm not sure about bare rooting the elms this time of year. Not sure because I don't live in your area. As for tropicals I haven't a clue.
Welcome to the forum.

 

[sorce]

Yes. Root beside rock. That one. I would layer a nice new radial Nebari on it and make a broom.

The S. Not fukien. It is an elm. Good! I, well. I fukien hate the tea tree as you may have read before! Love elm! That one could be layered into a good tree or 2 also.

The scheff. Houseplamt.

The ficus. Aka the boot. Base looks just like a childs shoe! .....
Your low branching seems mostly on the inside curve. A general no-no. You may want to address.

The pic where you can read tallest thickest strongest. Shows 2 low branches. I would chop it to there, use those 2 branches and hope for 1 or three more to sprout there and make a nice little sumo banyan.

I have been spritzing mine daily lately and have aeriel roots forming. You could pull that off probly without a tank.

I forget if its Poink or Grim, one of those cats share my beleif of taking it right back to a good beginning asap. No sense wasting time growing what wont be used. I think this ficus could use to get its start there soon.

That said. To actually give you my answers to your questions.....
Growing out is typically for trunk size. I think you are there already with the ficus. Of you intend to keep the top, i would wire it down a bit to even out light. Maybe cut it back to a silhouette. Remove anything growimg from the same spot to stop reverse taper.

Off the top. And let those next sections grow out to about half as thick as the current trunk. Then chop back and start canopy building in a year or 2.

Letting them go will let the sap flow which, provided enough light, will induce backbudding pretty well too.

Under lights I keep the tops pretty thin or you get to chasing your tail with thin low branches. Defoliation. Half Leaf cutting. Pruning. Or just bending them sumbiches out the way works for different situations. Depends what reaction you want.

Sorce

 

[cooldaddyfunk286]

some updated pics...

Many new trees since I first posted. here they are, let me know what you guys think!

thank you! (there is also 2 bigger Junipers at home in my back yard, a Nana and a Blue Tam, both doing very well, I'll have to get pics)
-Jason-

 

[Cadillactaste]

I'm new and all...but some of those seem to need not be treated as tropical...

 

[cooldaddyfunk286]

I am new as well...The temp usually stays between 75-82 degrees F, and the RH usually sits at around 45-70% fluctuates when we water or foliar spray. I mist the trees that like more humidity and foliar feeding, and we have wrapped/mist the trunks on 2 different trees hoping to encourage/further the aerial rooting, A Schefflera and a Ficus. When the weather permits again, we will use the good ol' Sun and treat each tree according, as best as we can here in NY anyway.

We are still finding our way with growing these trees almost against their will in the grow tent, but the Trees certainly love it. Every one has been struttin its stuff, even with trees on different ends of the spectrum. I was wondering if there is anything I need to go about doing for the trees as far as dormancy or defoliating? We are still finding our way. We just got into Bonsai about 6-8 weeks ago, but it totally has us by the short n curlies! haha

Please, if anyone can offer some advice on how to properly treat these trees if pretending that we live in southern Florida year round isn't going to work out. Like I said, we are still finding our way and are extremely new to bonsai, but growing plants indoors is our THING, so at least we have that right. We have mainly been focusing on fine feeder root development and over all growth for now.

thanks again.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Maybe a specific list of what is in there...so no confusion. Thought I seen some conifers that need dormancy though...but, maybe I am wrong.

 

[Cadillactaste]

I don't wish to come across as a negative Nancy...but, to put that many in a set up that...you offer for sale in an establishment. Seems like a sales gimic. To not do your homework and expect all to have the same care is not in my grasp. When it was suggested earlier that you had some trees that didn't belong in that set up. So you add more...one is to learn as they go along...I understand that. But, to not even list the varieties...and ask if they all can do well without naming species. At trees that are at a distance...

Same photos in another thread...praising the system...sorry...if I seem skeptical. As well as you have never posted any where else on the forum...except your two threads. Hm-mmm interesting don't you think.
http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?17075-Ficus-Retusa-what-to-do-now

 

[Paradox]

Am I the only one that the new pics show up as blue question marks?

 

[Giga]

Look like you jumped before you looked(not trying to be to mean here)I would advise to do A LOT of research first and stop buying things. Not everything is meant as tropical and will die if not kept outdoors. I can't help feel like we're feeding a troll

 

[Cadillactaste]

Look like you jumped before you looked(not trying to be to mean here)I would advise to do A LOT of research first and stop buying things. Not everything is meant as tropical and will die if not kept outdoors. I can't help feel like we're feeding a troll

Yup...ditto.

 

[cooldaddyfunk286]

they aren't for sale, we are obsessed with these things...you guys are nuts. lets rewind here alittle, Im not a troll...and Im not out to sell anything by being on this forum, we arent selling our bonsai trees period. Im asking for legitimate advice here.

 

[Giga]

they aren't for sale, we are obsessed with these things...you guys are nuts. lets rewind here alittle, Im not a troll...and Im not out to sell anything by being on this forum, we arent selling our bonsai trees period. Im asking for legitimate advice here.

Well these please actually post the species you have-or better yet research each one-as it looks like there's a couple pines and juniper in there. Maybe we all got of on the wrong foot but you came off a little over bearing and asking for advice that we couldn't really help you with due to the fact we didn't know what you got in there, and blasting your equipment stuff.

 

[M. Frary]

I think I saw a couple junipers and some kind of pine maybe? People grow junipers inside all the time I'm told. I'm not sure about the pine though. I believe that those may need a dormancy period. Maybe someone that knows for sure will chime in.

 

[cooldaddyfunk286]

2x Chinese Elm
2x Ficus Retusa
1x "weeping Ficus"
1x Hedgehog white spruce
1x dwarf Mugo Pine
1x Schefflera
2x black olive
1x gardenia
1x Jaboticaba
1x Mt. Fuji Serissa
2x Nana Junipers


I think thats everything. I should have provided a list before guys. I apologize.

 

[Cadillactaste]

they aren't for sale, we are obsessed with these things...you guys are nuts. lets rewind here alittle, Im not a troll...and Im not out to sell anything by being on this forum, we arent selling our bonsai trees period. Im asking for legitimate advice here.

I'm sorry...I never thought for a moment bonsai was the real interest...though you "speak highly" of said system they are in. Not sure why one who had bonsai...wouldn't look up general care for said trees...with a solid knowledge of a growing system.

We are still finding our way with growing these trees almost against their will in the grow tent, but the Trees certainly love it. Every one has been struttin its stuff, even with trees on different ends of the spectrum.

An earlier post by a member:

Surprised nobody brought up the point that the Chinese elm is an outdoor tree. Also I'm not sure about bare rooting the elms this time of year. Not sure because I don't live in your area. As for tropicals I haven't a clue.
Welcome to the forum.

Yet wait...let's refer to your list...what is on the top of the list? Something that was mentioned awhile back...that it an outdoor tree.
cooldaddyfunk286
2x Chinese Elm
2x Ficus Retusa
1x "weeping Ficus"
1x Hedgehog white spruce
1x dwarf Mugo Pine
1x Schefflera
2x black olive
1x gardenia
1x Jaboticaba
1x Mt. Fuji Serissa
2x Nana Junipers

Advice given...yet...still in tent. Hm-mmm oh wait...now I remember!

We are still finding our way with growing these trees almost against their will in the grow tent, but the Trees certainly love it. Every one has been struttin its stuff, even with trees on different ends of the spectrum.

I think your trying to sell tent systems...why else not ask more about said outdoor tree in the set up earlier? Asking about what care it needed outdoors? No nothing...no comments to any of the suggestions of members. Just praising this tent system. Negative Nancy I am typically not...but, I like when someone is up front...and your replies seem off. If I am wrong...I am sorry. But, can you see where I am coming from? Anyone?

 

[edprocoat]

The junipers, spruce and the pine should not be in that group. They are outdoor only cold hardy plants that need dormancy periods. They also will need far less moisture and humidity than the other plants you have.

The Chinese Elms can be inside plants if kept with good lighting. Although all your tropicals will get a real boost if you can get them into full sun in the summer. In nature the Chinese Elms will be similar to an evergreen variety by never losing all their leaves at once. I have seen them referred to as "semi-tropical". I have several that are in Ohio in summer and Florida in winter, where they were purchased, and have never seen dormancy during their lives of 8-10 years.

ed