A little fun for the afternoon

dkraft81

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I was walking through the local nursery the other day, and I notice their trees were 25% off. I decided to pick up this little serissa for something to play with whenever I got bored. I figured it would give me something to do this winter.

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dkraft81

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I spent much of my work week looking at this tree, noting that the branches were straight and the tree overall was flat both in the front and back. I questioned myself asking with the exception of the price why did I buy this tree. Well a couple of days ago I saw a possibility with the tree as a raft style. I figured there was not much to lose, and today I gave it a shot. This tree really reminded my of the cottonwoods down on the river that have been knocked down by floods and trampled by cattle. Considering all the flooding we have expierenced this month I think it will a memorial tree of sorts. On a side note the pot was not the preferred one I had, but with the roots being the way they were I had to go with a deeper pot for now.

Thought and suggestions are always welcome.

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Redwood Ryan

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Good luck! Everything I've done, including looking at them the wrong way, has managed to kill them. Tough trees to play with, or even stare at.
 

fourteener

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Good luck! Everything I've done, including looking at them the wrong way, has managed to kill them. Tough trees to play with, or even stare at.

I love hating those things at this point. Wish I could unlock the code.
 

dkraft81

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I have had issues in the past with them too, which is another reason I questioned my purchase. ;)
 

Dav4

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They're much hardier then people think. I believe they are rated as zone 7 trees, and I know they are planted in the landscape here around Atlanta, where it frosts and freezes from November through April. I have never grown serissa as bonsai, but I suspect part of the problem with their perceived difficulty as bonsai is that they are probably babied, coddled, over watered, and over protected when they shouldn't be...just a guess though.
 
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dkraft81

Shohin
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They're much hardier then people think. I believe they are rated as zone 7 trees, and I know they are planted in the landscape here around Atlanta, where it frosts and freezes from November through April. I have never grown serrisa as bonsai, but I suspect part of the problem with their perceived difficulty as bonsai is that they are probably babied, coddled, over watered, and over protected when they shouldn't be...just a guess though.

Out of curiosity when left in the cold do they drop their leaves? I have always kept mine indoors. In colorado it will definitely be too cold to leave it out.
 

Dav4

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I'm pretty sure they do, though I have no practical experience with this species. I agree about them not being able to survive a Colorado winter, but I do know they can tolerate frost without issue, and perhaps freezing...someone with more experience with serissa will need to confirm this, as well as give you knowledgeable advice about overwintering in cold climates.
 

Anthony

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If you have the time and patience, test for

[1] Light needed when the temperature is allowed to drop to say 45 - 32 deg.F

[2] How that temperature affects a plant in a pot, as opposed to a plant in the ground.

[3] Could you simply put the tree into a cold room with a window facing North/South/East or West ? A cold room stabilised at say 45 deg,F

[4] Does it need humidity ?

The old Japanese images showed a very simple situation [ for a zone 7 ] of a cold glass greenhouse. Colorado, would need just a bit more warmth to meet the requirement.
I hope the shrub is worth it.
Grows well just grow and clip by the way.
Good Night.
Anthony
 

dkraft81

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like the gravel topping

Just some crushed granite I got up in the mountains. Its nice to have around. I was using it in my soil mixture, but its pretty heavy so I have just been using it for top dressings.

Anthony, ill have to try experimenting if the weather warms up a bit. The last two nights were down to 35 and 38, and I dont want to expose a newly potted tree to the elements right off the bat. This would be the first time I have tried a serissa in a more non organic based soil. The trees ive tried in the past were put in the nursey's "bonsai" soil, which is almost strictly organic. Im thinking/hoping the ability to dry out quicker may help.

Dusty
 

Anthony

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Dusty,

please experiment on rooted cuttings or some other expendable. I am sorry I can't just beam across some plants, from the backyard, we have tons.
Here's hoping for the best.
Good Day.
Anthony
 
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