Bursera | General Info & Bonsai Cultivation

[Kurt Dillow]

Hemmy-
Great to see someone else on the B. microphylla roller coaster! Congrats on getting that flower! I have been held hostage by a specimen I found on Ebay a few years ago. View attachment 607402It came from a grower in FL and its life took a drastic turn waking up @ 7600' in central NM. Kept on heated seed mat in a S facing window in winter w/o water has kept it sufficiently interested in staying alive until I can get it back outside in time to receive summer monsoonal rains and the occasional pounding by hail. It has seen major branches removed as well as a particularly bad strike at a major trunk fork which is healing in a heart shaped roll over (Awww, such a kiss! Say it ain't so!) I rely on single digit humidity and an occasional Dithane treatment to stave off decay and keep the wounds closing. In years that don't see hail I keep it guessing by dumping it out of its pot or have my dog knock it over. It continues to insist on living despite all my loving ministrations. Gee, mine's never flowered. Wonder why?

@Pachycaul, they are tough trees. You could repot it into a wider and shallower container with a good 1:1:1 mix and it will probably take off like a rocket. Summer isn't the worst time to repot Bursera (assuming temps are not insane and can be protected for a few weeks), especially if you don't go too hard on the roots. They absolutely love fertilizers. If you can increase the humidity around the tree it will also grow faster. Possibly make a big gravel trey to place it on. Cool Tree and I like the repaired pot.