not so valuable fukien tea

Hi IBC.

I observed that the fukien tea trees and shrub in the wild has a tendency to weep if kept unchecked. so...I tried to experiment on one of my less valuable fukien tea tree. this is the result and I want to share it with you.

please note, that this tree got no taper whatsoever and the nebari is not too good also, the trunk got a very bad bend on the center. this tree was given to me and used to be a trash in someboby's garden...so I won't regret my work on this tree, ..hehehe.

before.



after..


regards,
jun

In the USA Fukien Tea are imported and sold as "Mallsai" with pronounced S curves, glazed pots and glued on rocks (to keep the soil in during transport), most are bought as gifts, kept in the house, over or under watered and have a short life.
On a recent trip to China we saw some Fukien Tea.
The first photo is in front of our hotel in Shunde near Guangzhou and the second is from a demonstration during a Bonsai exhibit/competition at the Chenchun World of Flowers near Guangzhou.





My apologies for not getting more of the Demo, but the exhibit drew me away.

Very nice tree.
Im a bit jealous to be honest. Ive been struggling with my crappy mallsai's since I started. 2 days ago both of them went into the compost heap.
Now they are dead, and they didnt grow anything since I got them.
Good job to you.

I think you´ve done a great job with it! What a transformation!

Storm wrote:Very nice tree.
I’m a bit jealous to be honest. I’ve been struggling with my crappy "Mallsai's" since I started. 2 days ago both of them went into the compost heap.
Now they are dead, and they didn’t grow anything since I got them.
Good job to you.

I think you are a little far north to grow this somewhat finicky tropical.

BTW, there are at least three leaf sizes in Fukien Teas, from largest at about 3/4 to 1 inch down to the smallest at about 1/8 to 1/4 inch.

Billy,
thanks!
Yes, I think fukien tea trees is one of their favorite trees for bonsai. I saw lot of them in my visit to China.

regards,
jun



People,

BTW, speaking of China. I was wondering before, why we got few post of Chinise bonsai here in IBC...then I realized in my last visit to China that they can't access IBC in most part of China except in Macau and Hongkong ...due to Socialism form of government and Censorship in the net, they dont even have facebook or twitter.
When I learned that, I began to appreciate more the post of trees coming from people sharing them like Rob, Billy and Jose Luis among others. Otherwise we'll see only half of the trees of the world,,,because half of the inventory of bonsai (I think) is in China.

regards,
jun

Storm and AK,

Thanks guys!

Mallsai fukien tea trees can be improved, I think. It's better than my straight trunk tree.

regards,
jun

jun wrote:Billy,
I realized in my last visit to China that they can't access IBC in most part of China except in Macau and Hongkong ...due to Socialism form of government and Censorship in the net, they dont even have facebook or tweeter.
When I learned that, I began to appreciate more the post of trees coming from people sharing them like Rob, Billy and Jose Luis among others. Otherwise we'll see only half of the trees of the world,,,because half of the inventory of bonsai (I think) is in China.

regards,
jun

I am not sure the restrictions on access to the internet in China is that limited, we have a few members from China and they are not located in Hong Kong or Macao.

Yes Billy. that's how limited it is. I have tried to access my account in Shanghai to no avail, same thing happened last year in Beijing trip, and I asked a local Chinese friend and she told me that social networks in China were censored by the government. except in the special regions

regards,
jun

JUN ,, Another good tree in the makeing!! i see nothing wrong with the trunk at all.. interesting form you have made here,,i know it had to take a while to wirethis one....good job i wish i could keep one alive!!!! TAKE CARE JOHN

Jun
Nice Tree, you surely have another work of art..


ferdz

Jun (et all) thank you for suggesting the weeping style. Your tree's transformation is great and the roots really support the design IMHO. I have a medium size F. tea with exposed roots and wonder if a weeping effect will enhance the tree's beauty. I don't have a photo of it ... yet!
Best, Todd

Todd,

Thanks!.

goodluck with your fukien tea...I'm sure it will look Ok. please, do post the outcome.

regards,
jun

Ferdie,

thanks pre!

regards,
jun

JUN,, I would like to know how tall this one is...like it has been said we can get small ones here,,i like this style but are not the limbs brittle??? any way it is a nice tree like always...take care john

Hi John.

The tree is about a foot high.

You can do this design better with mallsai trees.

FYI- Chinese elms can be designed in the weeping form too. It's challenging but fun to do. you'll find it interesting to do. Just remember to lessen the volume of branches specially with Chinese elms, and create different length. The objective is to create a 3 Dimensional weeping tree, meaning branches at the back should be partially visible from the front, and it would be difficult to do with overcrowded branches. With the tree above, around 70% of the branches were removed. do the front first going to the back branch by branch.

regards,
jun

Hi IBC.

Update:
Letting the tree grew wild. not for a very long time as Fukien teas grows very fast here.





cut 2 main branches



No turning back with this one.
I am planning to change the pot, any suggestion guys?

regards,
jun

WAY more dramatic presentation, jun. i like what that does for this tree a lot. do you think a smaller pot, or will you keep the new pot about that size?

Thanks Jesse!
I find the current container not suitable anymore and unbalanced. Too heavy leaning on the right side now.

regards,
jun

How abuot a kurama?