New Gardenia

[Jason]

How far should i cut them back? Sorry in advance for all of my noobness.

You're asking all the questions I have too

[kcpoole]

Gardenias Should backbud onto bare wood, so in theory you cut them back past the last of the foliage.
I have never tried this myself so cannot say for certain tho.

What i would be is to cut back the long ends and leave to first or couple of sets of leaves so the tree will still be able to photo synthesize

Ken

[matlea]

I haven't completely cut back the whole tree, but I did on some thick branches and they back budded easily. I also nipped or trimmed existing branches at the same time so these didn't dominate.

[Andrew F]

Gardenias Should backbud onto bare wood, so in theory you cut them back past the last of the foliage.
I have never tried this myself so cannot say for certain tho.

What i would be is to cut back the long ends and leave to first or couple of sets of leaves so the tree will still be able to photo synthesize

Ken

Ok Ken ill look into thinning out the top till the roots come back.

The bonsai gods must be shinning on me the weather has been great.

[Andrew F]

Hey guys,

This tree has persevered thru the worst weather that mother earth could throw at her. Looking good, and its dropped all of the larger leaves

Its basically been a month i can afford to move it into gen pop with all of my other tree's and start giving it watered down tonic.

[Jason]

.. Also watch out for mealy bugs (white fluffy things) they like the new growth and crevices. Just spent time this afternoon taking them of my two gardenias and also did a follow up spray.

Nice score too... As ken said just let it grow and recover... Look forward to its progression

What did you spray it with? And thanks

Seems my gardenia has a case of the white fluffy things Couldn't figure out why the ants seems to love that particular tree, untill I had a closer look and could see the tiny little white things

It is mealy bugs right? not scale? I read that ants love scale... so I'm not sure which it is

[Pup]

.. Also watch out for mealy bugs (white fluffy things) they like the new growth and crevices. Just spent time this afternoon taking them of my two gardenias and also did a follow up spray.

Nice score too... As ken said just let it grow and recover... Look forward to its progression

What did you spray it with? And thanks

Seems my gardenia has a case of the white fluffy things Couldn't figure out why the ants seems to love that particular tree, untill I had a closer look and could see the tiny little white things

It is mealy bugs right? not scale? I read that ants love scale... so I'm not sure which it is

Ants are very good farmers. Any thing that produces secretions of sugar, they will protect so they can use the honey dew. Any ant infestation should be treated with a strong insecticide, or simply drown them in a bucket of water.
From your description they are mealy bugs and are loved by the ants.
Pup

[Jason]

Ants are very good farmers. Any thing that produces secretions of sugar, they will protect so they can use the honey dew. Any ant infestation should be treated with a strong insecticide, or simply drown them in a bucket of water.
From your description they are mealy bugs and are loved by the ants.
Pup

Thanks a heap Pup. They are actually quite fascinating, but unfortunately I don't want them living there I first mistook them for sand/gravel that had bounced up from an overzealous watering

I have it sitting in a shallow tray of water now, as those ants found that tree no matter where I put it... but I think I'll have to 'rope off' an area from the puppies and sort it out properly

My first bonsai infestation So proud right now lol