Fukien Tee (was: Chinese Elm??)

Hello everyone. Writing tonight because over the weekend I purchased what I believed to be a Chinese Elm. I'm like 90% sure. So on that note, does anybody know how often they flower? It has the little spores that should grow the little white flowers. Also isn't the season coming around to safely trim some of branches? Thank you all!

Chinese Elm don't "flower" as they aren't a flowering tree. They will eventually produce insignificant flowers, with no petals, that turn into tiny nuts. To find out if yours is an Elm, put Ulmus parvifolia into Google images.

The "spores" that you see are most likely new buds that will extend and grow leaves soon.

then i guess simply put its not an elm then. It has little green "balls" hanging from stems that turn into tiny white flowers...

google Fukien Tea and see if the images you find look familiar.

Better yet, post a picture.

Maybe it could be a Carmona retusa? The flowers sounds like a match atleast

Definitely a Fukien Tea tree. My roomie told me it was a chinese elm. So now that I know WHAT it is, how often do those little flowers come out. And any care tips for this specific bonsai??

Storm wrote:Maybe it could be a Carmona retusa? The flowers sounds like a match atleast

Same thing. The correct botanical name is Ehretia microphylla. It produces a two- or three-flowered cyme here & there all over the tree whenever it is content. It will bloom under fluorescent lights all winter.

<<And any care tips for this specific bonsai??>>

It likes warmth, high light, and fairly high humidity. It is not a good candidate for windowsill growing in the North. Does not bud back easily. Very strong apical dominance. Needs good drainage.
Iris

PS. I see you live in Cobleskill. Consider joining the Mohawk Hudson Bonsai Society. Pauline@pfmbonsai.com
Iris

Yes, I checked it Bonsaisr, but I had no idea what kind of tree Jim talked about, and I was just thinking since I have one of these myself.
Where I live, it is standing in the windowsill, and its getting full of leaves. It does actually backbud well for me - leaves that is, but not so much branch growing.
I have a much too sandy soil for it, so I was thinking about repotting one of these days into the new soil im currently using.
Maybe too early yet? It doesnt show any signs of suffering, and it actually doesnt get much light. (maybe because its so dark here, hehe).
It seems to flower whenever it feels like it. Suddenly its full of these small flowers, and a week later, they drop off.
It is a fun tree to have, if you ask me. Take care of it

Thank you all for your help. Unfortunately I do go to college and live in a dorm room. In my dorm room I have 2 Golden Gate Ficuses, A Jade, and a Bamboo plant all growing. I spend some time each day caring for them. However I only have 1 window, and the heat grate is pretty much IN the window...so I have a few issues. The trees are all doing well, I know that ficuses do well with little light, but im worried about the Fukien. It is still very young and un-trained, but its too early to start clipping branches off. Soo im in a pretty dormant state with them for now.

@Bonsaisr

I was actually referred to her already some weeks ago by someone at a greenhouse I go to. The greenhouse name is Faddigans near albany, pretty nice place, bought all my bonsais from there. I looked at her site, but she doesn't have any showings near me any time soon...then again I realize it's winter = P

BonsaiBoy wrote:
I was actually referred to her (Pauline Muth) already some weeks ago by someone at a greenhouse I go to. The greenhouse name is Faddigans near albany, pretty nice place, bought all my bonsais from there. I looked at her site, but she doesn't have any showings near me any time soon...then again I realize it's winter = P

If you look on Pauline's web site, you will find the Newsletter of the Mohawk Hudson Society, the Twig. It will give you the club schedule. They meet the last Sunday of the month, usually in Voorheesville.
Iris