My plant !

[mrme]

My plant.

1.
what kinda plant ?


I bought this plant. It was half dead. Now its 80% dead.
I cleaned it up re poted and put it near the window. There just has not been that much sun lately and things were bad to start with. But its just a "test" plant.

I really like the plant it looks like a little evergreen forest. The needles (when i took the picture and it was healthier) were dry and sharp. Since then the side facing the little sun was soft and a bright green.

I am wondering what type of plant it is. I was told its probably a Cypress. but what kind ? and is it actually a cypress. ?
Im told that the dry leaves are due to low sunlight (see below light)



Now I do have a few more questions So i guess Ill try to post them here.
3.
I have a typical pot light. I was wondering if i can change the bulb in it and have the right king of light at the right intensity to actually grow a light. The light will be directly above my plant (about 2-3 feet). If so what should i be looking for ?
4.
Is this plant salvageable (with the pot light)
5.
Can i buy a good starter plant that is cheap locally (in montreal) that is cheap ?
6.
Are there any cool bosai type plants that are cheap in general and readily available for cheap.
I am looking for a plant that is just a regular plant and slowly limit its growth. so something that is like 5 $ ish

 

[Redwood Ryan]

It looks like a Lemon Cypress, also known as GoldCrest Monterey Cypress.


Where on this Earth do you live? Can you fill out your profile?

 

[mrme]

thanks man.
Im form Quebec canada.

 

[mrme]

It looks like a Lemon Cypress, also known as GoldCrest Monterey Cypress.


Where on this Earth do you live? Can you fill out your profile?

looked at some pictures. You know. when it was dieing it looked kinda cool. the color was dull and the needles were sharp and the branches were dry and hard. Now the little new growth is brighter and the needles aren't as sharp. It really is loosing the mini evergreen tree look. Now it seems like all the needles will fall off and it will be more like a cedar. It really looks better when it dieing and has its baby needles.

I guess i should sort out the bulb issue... any ideas ?
I'm wondering if it is possible to get the right light at the right intensity that will fit in a traditional pot light ?

 

[edprocoat]

looked at some pictures. You know. when it was dieing it looked kinda cool. the color was dull and the needles were sharp and the branches were dry and hard. Now the little new growth is brighter and the needles aren't as sharp. It really is loosing the mini evergreen tree look. Now it seems like all the needles will fall off and it will be more like a cedar. It really looks better when it dieing and has its baby needles.

I guess i should sort out the bulb issue... any ideas ?
I'm wondering if it is possible to get the right light at the right intensity that will fit in a traditional pot light ?

What is a traditional pot light? There are ones that use fluorescent bulbs and others that use screw type light bulbs while others still that are LED....

ed

 

[mrme]

it is a GU10 led bulb.
I put the details in a more appropriate thread.
120 V 60 hz 5w 45ma 3000k 40d dimmable
made by bazz

 

[Paulpash]

It looks more like Cryptomeria to me ....

 

[Dav4]

Whatever type of plant it is, it isn't 80% dead but, rather, 100% dead...it just doesn't know it yet. Sorry, but this one is kindling.

 

[mrme]

Whatever type of plant it is, it isn't 80% dead but, rather, 100% dead...it just doesn't know it yet. Sorry, but this one is kindling.

It is definitely doing much worse. I dont understand why, I thought cleaning it up and putting it in the window would turn things around. Aren't things supposed to turn around or does that not work for bonsais!

 

[Dav4]

It is definitely doing much worse. I dont understand why, I thought cleaning it up and putting it in the window would turn things around. Aren't things supposed to turn around or does that not work for bonsais!

There isn't a tree on this planet that wants to grow inside a house. Though there are some that can tolerate inside growing conditions, evergreens such as this one will almost never last more then 6 months inside.

 

[Stiple]

evergreens such as this one will almost never last more then 6 months inside.

They will if you do it right. As suggested, a high power grow light can keep it alive for 18 months. This coming December will make it 24 months alive, and growing.

 

[Dav4]

They will if you do it right. As suggested, a high power grow light can keep it alive for 18 months. This coming December will make it 24 months alive, and growing.

99 times out of 100, the tree will be dead within a year, and usually sooner. You've kept yours (species?) alive for almost 2 years, which is commendable, but I can almost guarantee you it would be much healthier and vigorous if grown outside year round. Light is just one of several factor that needs to be manipulated drastically for indoor growing to be successful for any significant length of time.

 

[M. Frary]

Dave is so right. Look at your tree and then look at some pictures of the same species of tree growing outside. When you compare them does yours look as healthy as the example in the picture?
Trees grown outdoors consistently do better than those kept indoors. The ones kept outdoors get hundreds of years old. Ones kept indoors their whole life? Don't know for sure but I'll guess no where near as long. People try to grow any tree inside because they are told their tree is an indoor tree. Reality is that very few trees can survive indoors for any length of time. And those that can need very special care and monitoring.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

They will if you do it right. As suggested, a high power grow light can keep it alive for 18 months. This coming December will make it 24 months alive, and growing.

They won't actually. It's not just a lighting issue, it's a dormancy issue.

 

[Stiple]

99 times out of 100, the tree will be dead within a year, and usually sooner. You've kept yours (species?) alive for almost 2 years, which is commendable, but I can almost guarantee you it would be much healthier and vigorous if grown outside year round. Light is just one of several factor that needs to be manipulated drastically for indoor growing to be successful for any significant length of time.

I've kept mine inside knowing it was an outdoors tree, it's a juniper procumbens nana. I wanted to do an experiment.

This is the beginning of the second winter it has been kept inside in my grow tent.

 

[Dav4]

They will if you do it right. As suggested, a high power grow light can keep it alive for 18 months. This coming December will make it 24 months alive, and growing.

I've kept mine inside knowing it was an outdoors tree, it's a juniper procumbens nana. I wanted to do an experiment.

This is the beginning of the second winter it has been kept inside in my grow tent.

Based on your first quote, this should be the 3rd winter inside for the juniper. No matter. I'll keep growing mine outside as they really seem to like it!

 

[mrme]

Thanks guys. I often forget that each plant is different and just assume that is i can only get the basics down everything should at least be OK.

So for this plant though it may be able to keep it inside.. there is no way i will manage to do that at my current level of experience.

The plant is maybe 10% alive.

I live in quebec canada Temperatures can drop to -30 Celsius. currently it is about +5 to +10
should i shoot this plant out side ? maybe try to keep the snow off it once in a while ?

still haven't found the bulb i mentioned yet. but i am wondering what type of plant would be easy to grow for me.. (assuming i get the bulb (gu10) and assuming i don't get the bulb).

I really do not want to spend a lot. I have a lot to learn i don't mind buying a 10 plant that is not technically sold as a banzai but can be grown inside like a bonsai with trimming down the roots and what not. Ill mess up but a 10$ loss to learn is OK is better then a 100$ with no learning.

This is supposed to be a decorative plant or have the potential to look cool. I really like trees that look like real tress out doors. when i bought this one the ding part looked like little evergreens and i was going to chop them all down except one.
any ideas ?

 

[edprocoat]

Thanks guys. I often forget that each plant is different and just assume that is i can only get the basics down everything should at least be OK.

So for this plant though it may be able to keep it inside.. there is no way i will manage to do that at my current level of experience.

The plant is maybe 10% alive.

I live in quebec canada Temperatures can drop to -30 Celsius. currently it is about +5 to +10
should i shoot this plant out side ? maybe try to keep the snow off it once in a while ?

still haven't found the bulb i mentioned yet. but i am wondering what type of plant would be easy to grow for me.. (assuming i get the bulb (gu10) and assuming i don't get the bulb).

I really do not want to spend a lot. I have a lot to learn i don't mind buying a 10 plant that is not technically sold as a banzai but can be grown inside like a bonsai with trimming down the roots and what not. Ill mess up but a 10$ loss to learn is OK is better then a 100$ with no learning.

This is supposed to be a decorative plant or have the potential to look cool. I really like trees that look like real tress out doors. when i bought this one the ding part looked like little evergreens and i was going to chop them all down except one.
any ideas ?

MRME, I think what you are missing here is all trees grow better outside. Tropical varieties do best indoors when weather dictates it with good lighting and proper care. Your tree really looks dead, maybe it will come back but I doubt it as it should be dormant now, no new growth now and its weak already ...

ed

 

[Skinnygoomba]

In my limited experience. I have two tropicals indoors at the moment (too cold for them), and the ability to be indoors is specific to tropicals, but they too are much happier outside.

In comparable weather between inside and outside (70 degrees) the tropicals are using enough water that they require daily watering when outside. When inside they can be watered once every 2 days in my circumstance, 3 if I am running my humidifier.

 

[mrme]

In my limited experience. I have two tropicals indoors at the moment (too cold for them), and the ability to be indoors is specific to tropicals, but they too are much happier outside.

In comparable weather between inside and outside (70 degrees) the tropicals are using enough water that they require daily watering when outside. When inside they can be watered once every 2 days in my circumstance, 3 if I am running my humidifier.

Ok I bought a special bulb SUN BLASTER (http://sunblasterlighting.com/cfl-lamps.php) for the set up 26 watts 1700 lumens "full" 6400 spectrum compact fluoresent.

The site clearly says.... Just set up your plants, carefully place your light sources and watch your garden prosper....

I am not prospering.

The guy at the bulb store says it should be OK with a bonsai.

But tress growing outdoors rather then indoors makes sense.

What can I grow with this bulb that is cool. I even changed the housing of the pot light to accommodate for this bulb !

Is there no bonsai that will grow for a beginner indoors with this light..

CYPRESS UPDATE.
I had put my cypress outside for a bit. with the weather falling below zero, as you said it is not doing well. So i brought it back in to see if my light has any effect on it. I gave up on the plant itself but curious to see what the light can do if its not too late.