thinwaifer
Seedling
My name is Kait, I live outside of Washington D.C. and this year for Christmas I told my boyfriend I wanted a bonsai tree. Not having researched, not having thought about it more than "hey, that would be a cool thing to have." I grew up gardening with my mom since I was old enough to sit up in the dirt while she worked in the garden, and we had a glorious garden room with plants of all kinds where I used to go and read in the afternoons after I got home from school. Since I moved away from home (in Texas) I've been living in apartments and thought the family green thumb and desire to decorate my home with growing things had skipped me.
Apparently I thought wrong. My thoughtful boyfriend bought me a beautiful bonsai tree, and a hands-on beginner 101 class to take at the nursery where the tree was grown. I had my class on Saturday, and I am happy to say I believe I am firmly hooked. I left the nursery that afternoon with new knowledge about my first tree (believed to be a Korean hornbeam, I got conflicting accounts) as well as a Schefflera bonsai-to-be that I potted and shaped myself and a bougainvillea starter bonsai that I bought from the nursery. I've also acquired several other plants in the last few months, a couple cacti, an African Violet, a Money Tree and a baby aloe vera. It's fair to say I am hooked on brightening my spaces with growing things now.
Any advice for a first time owner of Schefflera, bougainvillea, and hornbeam trees? I've moved the hornbeam outdoors to my sheltered balcony where I am checking on it daily, but as it is still dormant the teacher of the class told me I don't need to worry about it too much until the weather begins to warm. The other two I am keeping with a plant light, daily water checks and spritzing from a spray bottle a couple times a day. I'm wondering should I rotate all the plants, since the light they're getting is stationary? I'm planning on taking the Schefflera to my office, I've purchased a smart plant-light that mimics the day-night cycle of the changing seasons and has a built-in moisture sensor and humidity tray. I'll bring it home over extended weekends or when I'm gone on vacation (I have a friend who checks on my cat while I'm away and I'm sure she won't mind checking the trees as well). Any advice is greatly appreciated!
Apparently I thought wrong. My thoughtful boyfriend bought me a beautiful bonsai tree, and a hands-on beginner 101 class to take at the nursery where the tree was grown. I had my class on Saturday, and I am happy to say I believe I am firmly hooked. I left the nursery that afternoon with new knowledge about my first tree (believed to be a Korean hornbeam, I got conflicting accounts) as well as a Schefflera bonsai-to-be that I potted and shaped myself and a bougainvillea starter bonsai that I bought from the nursery. I've also acquired several other plants in the last few months, a couple cacti, an African Violet, a Money Tree and a baby aloe vera. It's fair to say I am hooked on brightening my spaces with growing things now.
Any advice for a first time owner of Schefflera, bougainvillea, and hornbeam trees? I've moved the hornbeam outdoors to my sheltered balcony where I am checking on it daily, but as it is still dormant the teacher of the class told me I don't need to worry about it too much until the weather begins to warm. The other two I am keeping with a plant light, daily water checks and spritzing from a spray bottle a couple times a day. I'm wondering should I rotate all the plants, since the light they're getting is stationary? I'm planning on taking the Schefflera to my office, I've purchased a smart plant-light that mimics the day-night cycle of the changing seasons and has a built-in moisture sensor and humidity tray. I'll bring it home over extended weekends or when I'm gone on vacation (I have a friend who checks on my cat while I'm away and I'm sure she won't mind checking the trees as well). Any advice is greatly appreciated!