Earlier start than I was expecting, new trees.

Hi all, ok I am starting earlier than I thought.

For my recent birthday I have been given two bonsai trees from a garden centre. A Chinese Elm around 6" high and a Buddhist Pine around 8".

The labels with them read as follows:

Chinese Elm: Best kept indoors in winter with periods outdoors in summer. Likes bright position. Water frequently and feed regularly in the growing season.

Buddhist Pine: Keep cool indoors in winter with periods outdoors in summer in semi shade. Keep moist and feed moderately in growing season.

OK as a total novice I'd like to ask a few things.

When is the 'growing season'? (presumably spring)

I don't know when these trees were last watered/fed so do I assume I should do it straightaway?

What constitutes 'periods outdoors'?

Neither tree appears to have been recently pruned although the pine has the classic 2-way curve in its trunk. Can post photos if necessary.

I need to know how to care for these lovely little trees quickly so I don't kill them

Hello Wolftree and welcome to the Forum.

At this point inyour career, I recommend you dedicate yourself to reading as much as you can. Beware that this is a very addictive hobby. You can start off at the following website which I have found to be very helpful: http://www.bonsai4me.com/Basics.html.

I recommend you read with URGENCY the article called: A guide to Watering Bonsai.

Please let us know if you have any specific questions after reading through and we can gladly provide advice.

OK cheers will do.

320 views and only one reply?

Well, you've received some sound advice already. And due to your lack of response thus far, I'm sure most other people assume this sufficed... I'm not familiar with your climate, so I can't give advice on where you should keep your trees. Perhaps posting some pictures would generate more replies, that and a little more info about where you're keeping the trees... Hope you get the answers you're looking for.


G

You have been given good advice, but one other thing would be to join a club, that way you get the right advice from those in your area, face to face.

Wolftrees wrote:Hi all, ok I am starting earlier than I thought.

The labels with them read as follows:

Chinese Elm: Best kept indoors in winter with periods outdoors in summer. Likes bright position. Water frequently and feed regularly in the growing season.

A comment on the label. "Best kept indoors in winter." --- That depends on what your winters are like, and I don't pretnd to know that. If it stays below freezing day in and day out for several weeks at a time, you're probably better off keeping it inside. If it normally gets below freezing at night and warms up in the daytime, you tree will certainly survive out doors. (But it can be kept inside, too.)

"with periods outdoors in summer." -- In spring, summer, and fall, your tree will be happiest if it is outside all day and all night. Brief periods indoors for display are OK.

"Water frequently" -- Follow AK Panama's advice and memorize the watering article. Overwatering is a very common cause of death for a new-to-bonsai person.

"feed regularly in the growing season" -- The growing season is spring and most of summer (maybe all of summer in the UK). "Regularly" would be every two weeks, following the instructions on the label of the fertilizer you use. Use a common houseplant fertilizer; I dunno what's available over there, but any garden center will have something.

Buddhist Pine: Keep cool indoors in winter with periods outdoors in summer in semi shade. Keep moist and feed moderately in growing season.

The Buddhist pine is a Podocarpus. The same instructions as above apply. Many people treat it as a true tropical, but it can take quite a bit of cold. It probably would be best for you to keep it inside in the coldest part of winter, though. Spring, summer and fall, out doors. This tree does not really like living inside.

Watering and fertilizer as above.

snip

Neither tree appears to have been recently pruned although the pine has the classic 2-way curve in its trunk. Can post photos if necessary.

Before you attempt to prune either tree (though the elm will be very forgiving of your mistakes -- the Podocarpus will NOT be forgiving) read whatever Harry has to say on his website about pruning. I'd also suggest that you find and join a bonsai club. Someone from the UK can point you are one near you, I'm sure.

Photos will be good.

Hope this helps, a bit.

I need to know how to care for these lovely little trees quickly so I don't kill them :shock: [/quote]

Wolftrees has already been given advice on his nearest clubs and IBC members in his area in an earlier thread.

Thanks all, have read the watering article and am acting accordingly.

I live in the north east of England and winters can be pretty rough with snow etc from November to March although it doesn't always come.

These trees came totally out of the blue hence the slight panic as I don't know how well they have been treated while now. Pics to follow asap.

Heres some pics. I hope they look normal and healthy?

I read the watering article and it basically said water only when its dry, but then water it well. I wanted to re-read it but the link to the article has broken?