dhelix33
Sapling
I bought my Fukien Bonsai Tree "Buckaroo" end of July 2023. I knew after taking care of this tree, it could go a couple days in the sunroom without some water water - the tree was doing well since arriving to our home. I knew I would not be able to water my Fukien Tea Bonsai Tree for a long weekend in Southern California - five days. So I added my automated watering system - which worked perfectly [See Image 1]. I did do some study into the Bonsai Tree I have. My Fujian Tea tree shares similar leaf and trunk characteristics as the Chinese Elm [mine with trunk "s" shape training as a sprout]. In addition, my Fujian Tea tree blooms white flowers that can appear throughout the year, most prevalently during spring and early winter. I started seeing blooms in mid August [See Image 2].
Herein lies the rub, the first week of September we went to see the children in Maryland, while I had the automated watering system programmed to push water in the pot for 4 seconds every other day, I did not set the function 'ON.' So Buckaroo sat for five days without water [yikes!]. So, to add insult to injury, instead of just watering the tree to help restore it to health - I decided to shock the tree's entire ecosystem further by repotting in a new larger pot [cleaning up and pruning the longer roots - to promote growth]. From what I see there are no absolutes for Bonsai repotting soil - but I read and understood some of the science for suggested bonsai tree growth and care of the soil mixes I used for Buckaroo's repotting].
Every bonsai tree is different, so I repotted my tree to best suit recommendations for my Fukien Tea bonsai tree [See Image 4]. I first layered about a half inch of organic soil - to cover the bottom of the new pot and drain screens. Next I layered in about an inch of bonsai soil which are small pebbles - to promote drainage, [the pebbles are also filled with nutrients]. Next about another inch of organic soil - with about 1/4 teaspoon of fertilizer mixed in. The final layer was of bonsai soil pellets. I also packed organic soil around the tree root. I trimmed away all the dead and dying leaves to promote future growth and development. Pinching away all brown and wilted leaves from the stems with tweezers - I have been told are helpful for the survival and revival of your bonsai tree .
The day I repotted Buckaroo, I did move my tree from our sun room - and then to a table on the patio to get direct sun all day after repot. After doing so, I saw a recommendation that the tree remain stationary at least 4 weeks after repotting - so the roots will propagate - yikes! Buckaroo bonsai looks so bare after I defoliating trimmed away dead leaves to encourage and nurture future growth and development [See Image 4] - with fingers crossed the tree will survive me!
Herein lies the rub, the first week of September we went to see the children in Maryland, while I had the automated watering system programmed to push water in the pot for 4 seconds every other day, I did not set the function 'ON.' So Buckaroo sat for five days without water [yikes!]. So, to add insult to injury, instead of just watering the tree to help restore it to health - I decided to shock the tree's entire ecosystem further by repotting in a new larger pot [cleaning up and pruning the longer roots - to promote growth]. From what I see there are no absolutes for Bonsai repotting soil - but I read and understood some of the science for suggested bonsai tree growth and care of the soil mixes I used for Buckaroo's repotting].
Every bonsai tree is different, so I repotted my tree to best suit recommendations for my Fukien Tea bonsai tree [See Image 4]. I first layered about a half inch of organic soil - to cover the bottom of the new pot and drain screens. Next I layered in about an inch of bonsai soil which are small pebbles - to promote drainage, [the pebbles are also filled with nutrients]. Next about another inch of organic soil - with about 1/4 teaspoon of fertilizer mixed in. The final layer was of bonsai soil pellets. I also packed organic soil around the tree root. I trimmed away all the dead and dying leaves to promote future growth and development. Pinching away all brown and wilted leaves from the stems with tweezers - I have been told are helpful for the survival and revival of your bonsai tree .
The day I repotted Buckaroo, I did move my tree from our sun room - and then to a table on the patio to get direct sun all day after repot. After doing so, I saw a recommendation that the tree remain stationary at least 4 weeks after repotting - so the roots will propagate - yikes! Buckaroo bonsai looks so bare after I defoliating trimmed away dead leaves to encourage and nurture future growth and development [See Image 4] - with fingers crossed the tree will survive me!
