New to bonsai; Can't tell if i should prune

[FukiEthan]

Just got my 6 year old carmona (fukien tea) last week and while i love the thick foliage it is already developing i feel like it is crowded with old leaves and i should prune to start developing the style and make way for new growth. Opinions? Any criticism is much appreciated

 

[sorce]

Welcome to Crazy.

Nice Name!

Sorce

 

[FukiEthan]

Welcome to Crazy.

Nice Name!

Sorce

Thank you! Any tips on the specimen?

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Welcome to the site.

Before we recommend anything about pruning it is important to know the environment in which you are keeping this tree.

 

[sorce]

Any tips on the specimen?

Don't let mites get hold, especially indoors.

It'll drop its leaves if moved and then go on living if you act like you don't care. But let it think you're worried and it'll die.

Search Fukien by member @Anthony , I thrive off of what a tree Really is, and Anthony has posted these things about Fukien.
There's other BS too! Lol!

Sorce

 

[FukiEthan]

Don't let mites get hold, especially indoors.

It'll drop its leaves if moved and then go on living if you act like you don't care. But let it think you're worried and it'll die.

Search Fukien by member @Anthony , I thrive off of what a tree Really is, and Anthony has posted these things about Fukien.
There's other BS too! Lol!

Sorce

Don't let mites get hold, especially indoors.

It'll drop its leaves if moved and then go on living if you act like you don't care. But let it think you're worried and it'll die.

Search Fukien by member @Anthony , I thrive off of what a tree Really is, and Anthony has posted these things about Fukien.
There's other BS too! Lol!

Sorce

Thank you for the tips and i will definitely read those threads. Peace!

 

[FukiEthan]

Welcome to the site.

Before we recommend anything about pruning it is important to know the environment in which you are keeping this tree.

I live in a 5b hardiness zone (Indianapolis, IN) and i have been keeping it outside on my balcony where it mostly gets shade with good direct sun in the early afternoon

 

[MrWunderful]

Do you know when the last repot was, the soil makeup or status of roots?

 

[sorce]

I just got back from Indianapolis!
Y'all got them English Roundabouts!

Sorce

 

[FukiEthan]

Do you know when the last repot was, the soil makeup or status of roots?

I got it from Brussels(seems like a popular vendor) and it is still in it's "training" pot (black plastic pot). I have been letting it adjust before i transfer it to the ceramic pot it came with. The soil is bonsai soil, 30% organic material i believe, came with the tree. I have not looked at the roots yet

 

[FukiEthan]

I just got back from Indianapolis!
Y'all got them English Roundabouts!

Sorce

Heh, yes they are annoying in my opinion. But they do make for smooth traffic, Carmel, IN is the worst

 

[Bonsai Nut]

It's tough to keep Fukien tea in Indianapolis. I struggled with them in Chicago. They are a true tropical that thrives in heat and humidity. Your tree looks very healthy right now, but start planning for winter and where/how you will overwinter your tree.

Your tree doesn't look badly overgrown, and the soil looks good. If you want to prune anything, wait until new growth pushes out at least two pair of leaves, and you can prune back to a single pair on upper parts of the tree that are growing very strongly.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Is there a local Bonsai Club you can get personal help from?

 

[FukiEthan]

It's tough to keep Fukien tea in Indianapolis. I struggled with them in Chicago. They are a true tropical that thrives in heat and humidity. Your tree looks very healthy right now, but start planning for winter and where/how you will overwinter your tree.

Your tree doesn't look badly overgrown, and the soil looks good. If you want to prune anything, wait until new growth pushes out at least two pair of leaves, and you can prune back to a single pair on upper parts of the tree that are growing very strongly.

Thanks for the tips, glad to know my tree looks healthy i don't have much of a gauge for that yet. As for winter, i have some full spectrum LEDs for light and i have a 3'x4' grow tent that's about 6' tall and was thinking about setting that up on the balcony if Fukien go dormant but i don't think they do, so will probably have the tent inside which traps all light and should keep the humidity up? Not totally sure

 

[FukiEthan]

Is there a local Bonsai Club you can get personal help from?

Good point....there is a bonsai club here i could join that would know Indiana's climate well