Murraya Paniculata (Orange Jasmine) - very good for indoor bonsai

[minkes]

Hi everyone!

I just want to share my experience with Murraya. I live in approximately zone 6b, and throughout my life, I’ve tried growing various species as indoor bonsai to have something beautiful to look at in our home.

One major advantage of tropical trees is that, if possible, they can be placed outdoors during the summer to grow stronger. However, many species I’ve tried didn’t do well because they are subtropical and require a colder dormancy period—such as pomegranate, rosemary, and others.

Most people know that ficus trees are among the best options for indoor growing. But in my experience, there’s another fantastic species for indoor cultivation: Murraya paniculata. So anybody who wants to try something else than ficus should give it a try

It’s quite easy to propagate in summer from cuttings placed in perlite. I have one that I grew from a cutting, and I’d love to share it with you. It thrives in my heated home, where the temperature stays around 21°C all winter. Of course, like most tropicals, it benefits greatly from being placed outside from late spring to early autumn.

Here are some photos of my tree—hope you like them!


Older photo from few years ago and few more from today

 

[minkes]

One more thing. It is very important to wire trunk and branches as soon as possible as they become quite stiff and brittle later on.

 

[Cadillactaste]

A good thread. Tropical... are a niche for northerners for sure to work out. I personally won't own a finicky tropical. BRT need higher humidity than I wish to strive for, so one I refuse to own.

But it's always nice to see ones finding success with tropical with a species that isn't overly bothersome. A change...it up for one wanting to sway outside of ficus.

I agree...outdoor growing for them is so ideal. It strengthens the plant as you say. As they grow and thrive in a natural setting of outdoors. No living plant ... began inside as a choice. But more of an option for those who reside up north.

 

[KateM]

They are wonderful and trouble free.
These two are 2.5 years from the same seed - 2 seeds from the same "berry".

 

[minkes]

Beautiful @KateM ! Mine never flowered. What is the secret to make them flower? I see osmocote fertilizer, maybe I should give it a go.

 

[KateM]

I am not sure. I see the difference between two plants, one started flowering in 3 month after it came up from seed, the other one took 6 month.
I do give them Osmocote...

 

[vp999]

I have one and I love them...They flowers pretty much all summer and the scent is heavenly ...After that, you get little red fruit which looks so nice on it too.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I had one at one time, during my "gotta get one of everything" phase. It got lost in one of my downsizing episodes. I remember loving the fragrance of the flowers. I think it was with me for 2 or so years. A little one from Meehan's Miniatures.

To get flowers, usually the plant wants just a little "more" of something. More sun is common. Longer day length might be the trick. Wikipedia lists April to October as bloom season, meaning more than 12 hours of day length might be needed. (Northern hemisphere dates). It's a "forest edge or beach edge species" meaning very bright shade with some direct sun. More often than not a reluctant bloomer will bloom with a little more sun or longer day length. But there's other tricks too.

More water, sometimes is the trick, but not as often. If it is not wilting, it's got enough water.

Native rage is wide, it's said to tolerate a wide range of soil pH and types from clay to sand to loam or whatever. Just about any bonsai mix or potting soil should be fine.

Fertilizer is simple, do what you would for any other bonsai, feed light indoors, a little more when outside in summer.

Temperature should not be a problem, usually. It is a tropical, which means it likes warmer temps and some humidity. With reluctant orchids, one trick is a sharp day-night temperature change. Under lights or on window sill day being 10 to 15 degrees F. warmer than nights is helpful. (6 to 8 C warmer). The change helps accumulate sugars. High night temperature can slowly weaken the plant.

Those are thoughts that come to mind to help bloom murraya. It is a neat small tree for bonsai. It really is related to citrus. It has some unique coumarins, that might give its pleasant fragrance it's character. I think I might just have to get another one.

 

[Melospiza]

A good thread. Tropical... are a niche for northerners for sure to work out. I personally won't own a finicky tropical. BRT need higher humidity than I wish to strive for, so one I refuse to own.

But it's always nice to see ones finding success with tropical with a species that isn't overly bothersome. A change...it up for one wanting to sway outside of ficus.

I agree...outdoor growing for them is so ideal. It strengthens the plant as you say. As they grow and thrive in a natural setting of outdoors. No living plant ... began inside as a choice. But more of an option for those who reside up north.

Murraya is fairly easy-going. It does fine in a sunny window, but is a bit prone to aphids and mealybugs. Those are easily handled. The mature tree has beautiful pale bark.

 

[tanlu]

I have a pencil of a tree in a 6-inch pot with general potting soil (to thicken the trunk) that’s been well-wired. I got it for my young daughter who loves the berries and is interested in growing small plants. I’d like to keep it as a small bonsai but haven’t seen any convincing examples of smaller bonsai with this species. I’m thinking of growing it out and cutting back to keep the berries looking large in comparison to the plant. I’d like to get some good trunk thickening this year. Any tips on how to achieve that with such a young plant? It’s growing outside in morning and afternoon sun.

 

[Ozz80]

Most people know that ficus trees are among the best options for indoor growing. But in my experience, there’s another fantastic species for indoor cultivation: Murraya paniculata. So anybody who wants to try something else than ficus should give it a try

Thanks for sharing, I actually find ficus a bit ugly. I was looking for an altenative to grow indoors and this tree looks quite nice I was wondering how they react to trunk choppipng and airlayering. Does anyone know about that?

 

[minkes]

They are quite easy to propagate via cuttings, so airlayering should be no problem.

 

[NashsMan]

My current Murraya paniculata is 6 years old. Prior to that I had one that was 30 years old but died in my greenhouse fire in January 2019. Both were trained as cascade style bonsai.

 

[Ozz80]

Well, I was only able to find one vendor selling Murrayas online here. The plant is delivered today. It appears to have iron deficiency at the moment (chlorosis on the newer leaves). The soil is peat. Meanwhile there are small buds on it which look like flower buds.

I understand that being a tropical, summer repotting will be appropriate. Besides, it prefers a slightly acidic soil, which is possibly the reason for chlorosis. I am planning to add some chelated iron at the moment for temporary solution to iron deficiency and after flowering, will remove berries and repot to a more acidic soil with a better water drainage.

Since it hardly falls below -4 C in Istanbul (which makes 25 F) it will stay outside whole year during the development phase.