Natal Plum is a member of the family that includes Gardernia. Good choice for indoor bonsai. Though quite honestly my gardenia blooms better and more often than my Natal plum ever did. They tolerate low humidity well. If you forget to water, they will survive an occasional drought, if not too often. I live right at the IL-WI border, on the south side of the ''Cheddar Curtain''. ''Da Bears''. So I grow it as an indoor most of the year tropical. My first one seldom bloomed during its 20 or so years. I was pruning it too often. I never let it get big and bushy. I believe part of the problem is they really need full sun to bloom well, and indoors, a pane of glass cuts off a minimum of 30%, modern inert gas filled double pane glass cuts off 60% of incoming light. Even in my light garden, which is high tech & quite bright, it seldom bloomed. My light garden is bright enought to bloom Bouganvillea 3 times a year, but not Natal plum. Natal plum does develop nice trunks and have a rough bark, and will eventually make a believable tree. Flowers will have to be the occasional bonus, not a regular occurance in our climate. They are tough to get to bloom. Let it grow out and get bushy, pruning back only once a year if you really want flowers. Maybe let it grow out until it blooms as said above, even if it takes 3 years. Then note the age of the branch that bloomed, one year old, two year old or whatever, and adapt your pruning to maximize wood of the right age to bloom. I bring my natal plum indoors when night time temps start dropping into the middle 40's F at night in autumn. I don't put it out untill its time to plant peppers & tomatoes in spring. Mine tended to bloom in autumn or winter, sometimes early spring. Once it blooms, only do your pruning shortly after blooming each year. Bring back into ''bonsai shape'' and let itgrow out again. See if that works.
The new one I have now is still to young and small to have bloomed for me.
Honestly, in my experience, there are better species for flowering bonsai, but as a drought tolerant bonsai Natal plums are great.
) I have had a Natal Plum since August, and it is growing like a weed. I know it needs some serious pruning, but I want to see it bloom. I would appreciate any advice. Should I let it grow, and see if it blooms, or go ahead and prune it. I have an Australian Brush Cherry that is putting out some buds, so I thought the Natal Plum, might start soon also?
