just.wing.it
Deadwood Head
Yeah, the mini Jade, or baby Jade...
Portulacaria Afra is it!
It's actually a completely different species from the true Jade, which is Crassula, I think.
Two New Additions to my Collection
- Thread starter Hawke84
- Start date
Portulacaria Afra is it!
It's actually a completely different species from the true Jade, which is Crassula, I think.
RichS
Mame
I always wondered that. I've heard both called the jade. But only the afra called spekboom. The guy I met from South Africa said they grow wild and huge there. They're actually considered kind of a weed. He said elephants travels miles to find "groves" of these to feed on for the water content. It's funny that in some places in the world a plant that might be considered a nuisance or weed is sought after in other countries and prized lol
just.wing.it
Deadwood Head
Yeah, they are also called Elephant's Plant, I've read...
And some people don't consider them to be capable of becoming a "real bonsai", because they are technically not a tree... they're a succulent.
Though when you take a second to look at these trees, by Jim Smith, I think his name is...I beg to differ.
Mine is very small, but I like them for year round bonsai fun!
RichS
Mame
Wow
coltranem
Chumono
Just a guess but that gets more light than a window sill can provide.
Hawke84
Shohin
so im struggling with my Elm, repotted and its been dropping leaves, i've moved it outside for some better air (im not moving it in and out) and its dropped and yellowed a lot more.
is this just the change its protesting to and it will bounce back?
is this just the change its protesting to and it will bounce back?
coltranem
Chumono
Where are you putting it outside. Plants that are inside in weak light need time to adjust to full sun. I am not sure how the elm reacts but i have seen vegetables struggle and the leaves get crinkly. You could try giving it a little strong sun at a time. Can you give us a bit more detail and the timeline.
Hawke84
Shohin
plant is outside in early morning sun but into shade fairly quickly, it was a later repot so buds were already opening, some of the new leaves have dropped off.
repotted 29th april outside 7th may but its been gradually dropping leaves since the repot
repotted 29th april outside 7th may but its been gradually dropping leaves since the repot
just.wing.it
Deadwood Head
The elm could shed it's leaves and bounce back.
Time will tell...and careful not to over water.
Most trees don't like roots being messed with after leaves open, also, it can do that when adjusting to a new area...but elms are exceptionally tough...
Time will tell...and careful not to over water.
Most trees don't like roots being messed with after leaves open, also, it can do that when adjusting to a new area...but elms are exceptionally tough...
Hawke84
Shohin
what about evergreens or tropicals like my fukien tea, do you repot these any time?
Would fertilizer help? I've read mixed thing about fertilizer after repotting
Last edited:
just.wing.it
Deadwood Head
Tropicals are best repotted when growing strong, usually mid summer.
I wait until I see new growth after the repotting, before fertilizing.
Hawke84
Shohin
@just.wing.it what about evergreens? or things like an elm which if kept indoors is everygreen? is that best at height of summer or before buds are opening?
do you think this is just scorched leaves?
do you think this is just scorched leaves?
just.wing.it
Deadwood Head
Well, it depends on the species...
It it's healthy, you could probably be safe with the elm midsummer.
Evergreen is a broad category, what are you dealing with?
I repot my Mugo in summer.
I am thinking of trying a yew this summer.
Ive done evergreen azaleas in summer.
Hawke84
Shohin
Sorry its chinese elm (Ulmus Parviflora)
whats your thoughts on bare rooting? the trees i get are in pretty bad compact nursary soil. ive read mixed things about removing all soil.
whats your thoughts on bare rooting? the trees i get are in pretty bad compact nursary soil. ive read mixed things about removing all soil.
Don’t fertilise an unhealthy or surviving tree.
Fertiliser is not food for it to gain strength, it is an addition to an already strong tree to push it harder.
Don’t push a barely surviving tree, harder.
The elm is definitely an outside tree for our climate, year round. Keep it out there and let adjust. They are very hardy and tolerant. It’s had some activity so it may drop some but more than likely, unless there’s some underlying problem we can’t see, it’ll bounce back. They are a tough species.
What substrate is it in now?
I can only comment on the elm, as I know it, not the Fukien.
Fertiliser is not food for it to gain strength, it is an addition to an already strong tree to push it harder.
Don’t push a barely surviving tree, harder.
The elm is definitely an outside tree for our climate, year round. Keep it out there and let adjust. They are very hardy and tolerant. It’s had some activity so it may drop some but more than likely, unless there’s some underlying problem we can’t see, it’ll bounce back. They are a tough species.
What substrate is it in now?
I can only comment on the elm, as I know it, not the Fukien.
Hawke84
Shohin
ok thanks. i bare rooted this, removed all the old soil and now its in Bark, Peat, Kyodama, Akadama from a local nursery (Herons in Horsham)
having bare rooted im nervous its done more harm than good
Well, it is a bit late to repot, I’d have usually repotted early spring, before bud break but, again, tolerant species hopefully won’t be too big of a difference.
You definitely gotta give it time to chill out now though and take care of it properly with watering and perhaps partial shade area. They are a full sun tree but just thinking partial shade due to the amount of stresses put on it recently.
Hawke84
Shohin
yeah think my timing was a bit off, my original logic was that it was an indoor tree when i got it and it was growing well but perhaps a mistake on my part.
its currently in a cold frame in a partial shade location so its fairly well protected.
Yeah I’ve not quite learnt enough or experienced enough to know the answer when it comes to the common question: “my tree is in terrible soil but it’s not the right time to repot, what do I do?”. Being able to judge the correct answer to that, comes with experience and I’m not there yet.
M. Frary
Bonsai Godzilla
You limp them along until the proper time comes around.
Sometimes an emergency repot is necessary due to root rot but most times if a tree has been growing in a medium,like nursery soil,they can wait.
The nurseries don't freak out because their trees are in what we call crappy soil.
Similar threads
