First bonsai (a serissa), have a few questions

[persiphone]

Hello everyone, I've just joined the forum. I have received a lovely little serissa for my birthday but I suspect it is far too young for me to do anything to it yet. I have been reading up on how to care for the species and some pages say it can actually be a difficult one to care for.

I know the general consensus on watering is to water it thoroughly when it is on the drier side of damp, give it a good amount of morning and midday sun, and I read that serissa likes it to be a bit more humid so I'll keep it in a tray of water (obviously not touching the soil.) I also read that it prefers a less windy spot. Is there anything else you could suggest?

Also out of curiosity, do you think this particular one was started from a cutting or seedling?

serissa bonsai.jpg

[Jimbomelville]

Hi Persiphone,
To cover everything you will need to know to progress this little Serissa into a bonsai will not fit here.
I would recommend you follow what you know for the moment and read / google everything you can find on starting out with your first bonsai.
I am sure that in a very short time you will gain some knowledge, become more adventurous and begin your serissa's journey.
Good luck.

[persiphone]

Could you guess at all how long it will be until I can prune and shape it? I'm having trouble finding information on pre bonsai.

[KIRKY]

Hi Persiphone,
Firstly as a guess, it would more than likely be a cutting, as seeds take a long time to develope commercially. Your plant is very young so you dont have much to work with. You should for the moment focus on the health of your serissa as it looks a bit bare. If you google serissa bonsai you will note tighter more compact growth. That is what you would want to achieve. You can wire at anytime for shape, generally with all Bonsai the sooner the better, before branches become stiff and or brittle. So if you want to shape now you can. Trimming will depend on the style you want to achieve. Serissa's are fairly slow to develope. So don't forget to feed.
Cheers
Kirky

[persiphone]

Hi Persiphone,
Firstly as a guess, it would more than likely be a cutting, as seeds take a long time to develope commercially. Your plant is very young so you dont have much to work with. You should for the moment focus on the health of your serissa as it looks a bit bare. If you google serissa bonsai you will note tighter more compact growth. That is what you would want to achieve. You can wire at anytime for shape, generally with all Bonsai the sooner the better, before branches become stiff and or brittle. So if you want to shape now you can. Trimming will depend on the style you want to achieve. Serissa's are fairly slow to develope. So don't forget to feed.
Cheers
Kirky

Thanks for the fantastic answer!