salt water on pemphis acidula

Is it really necessary to either spray or even to water with salt water? If yes, how often? How about tap water with rock salt?

A branch of one of my trees just dried up and overall the tree has weak-looking leaves.

Thanks for your future comments.

Visit Mody Magcalimot, at the bonsai garden in UP Diliman

He'll tell you all you need to know about bantigue!

cheers

Rexman,

Yes, salt water is pivotal for overall health. If your tree is weak, do not spray with sea water. It mght be suffering from root problems. Please place the tree in semi-shade and mist it frequently. Prune all dried branches. Pemphis recovers slowly, so be patient.

Kind regards,

Jose Luis

rexman wrote:Is it really necessary to either spray or even to water with salt water? If yes, how often? How about tap water with rock salt?

A branch of one of my trees just dried up and overall the tree has weak-looking leaves.

Thanks for your future comments.

yes Rex salt/sea water is beneficial for the health of phempis acidula. top water with rock salt will also work but be sure you got the proper proportion...fish emulsion works very well too.

die backs on branches of bantigue occurs sometimes. if your tree is weak dont feed the tree and water a lot...if another branch died out, wrap the whole tree in clear plastic bag to control the humidity level on the trunk and branches, remove dying leaves, they dont like too much cold. and put the tree in shaded area and pray. do not attempt to remove soil at this point, you might accidentally remove fragile roots.

did you repot? how old is the tree when you acquired it? Is it a established tree when you acquired it?

If you got photo please post it.

regards,
jun

Thanks Rich, Mody is becoming more famous!

Gracias Jose Luis, I'll do what you recommended. I have other info below.

Hi Jun, we did not repot. When I bought this, the former owner said it has been in the pot for 2 years already. When I bough it last Aug, we trimmed/wired and not a thing done after. I kept it in an area where it sees sunlight for maybe 5 hours only. I'm watering at least once a day. When I noticed some drying leaves and eventually the branches, I mist every now and then. I can see buds all over the tree though...

don't worry Rex your tree is ok. one probable cause of losing that particular branch was the wiring performed or during the tree's transfer of position,. during the process of wiring some branch snaps to the point that it cannot recover any more. You are lucky its not a major branch. as long as you can see new shoots coming out your tree, its in good health. the younger shoots were usually the one affected first if you got problem with the health of your tree.

based on the photo I think your tree can be placed by now in full sun exposure but water it two times a day.

btw. IMHO-I think the current position and design of your tree should be improved. semi-cascade with out much of the top would look better I think.
I'll try to sketch for you if you won't mind.

regards,
jun

sure thing jun. why don't i add this in the bonsai section and put in more pictures to have a better visual.

rex

Hi guys,

How come it's not advisable to mist the leaves of a bantigue when it's weak? Is this the same as not misting/watering with seawater when the tree was just collected?

Just wondering... because the fact that from what i was told bantigue's are collected near the shoreline wherein all they're getting is seawater?

(Im asking this because seawater is readily available in our area and i was advised not to spray/water my trees with seawater not unless the braches are about 2" long or longer )

anyone??

Hirow,

Pemphis acidula's tender leaves are not yet fully developed. As such, they are not able to absorb salt water. When salt water is present in fresh leaves, the deposits will cause new leaves to dehidrate.

Kind regards,

Jose Luis

Cool! thanks for that info jrod.

Hmm... tho I still have some q's in my mind regarding their location and what keeps them thriving along the shoreline without tapwater.

Forgive my noobness in this hobby

Hirow,

It is wise to ask questions. Pemphis, like Suriana maritima, Conocarpus erectus and other trees have adapted over the year to these conditions. As such, they have evolved ways to cope with their surroundings.

Although pemphis may live without the aid of salt water, it does best when you emulate their natural habitat.

Kind regards,

Jose Luis