Re: New heights
Posted: July 20th, 2012, 7:32 pm
It will probably drop all its leaves in the Melbourne climate anyway so i would defoliate it and give it a rest.
Billa - as to its true name we may never know. Both P. pashia and p. calleryana have spines. I also seem to remember seeing differing shaped leaves on some of the calleryana too. If it fruits there may be some chance of id but the name will not affect how you treat it or how good it turns out to be as a bonsai.
I don't think it will matter whether you defoliate or not. Like chinese elms, the tree will be dormant enough at this time of year anyway, even with leaves still on. I'd expect the old leaves to drop when the new ones grow in spring but take them off if you feel the urge too strongly.
As a fowering tree you will need to develop branches with plenty of flowering spurs. Horizontal wood develops spurs more than vertical shoots. Also feed with 'flowers and fruit' type fertiliser (tomato, azalea, citrus, etc ferts are all similar too) to help encourage flowering.
No need to worry about 4 days in a box at this time of year _ the tree is dormant or near dormant so would manage a week or 2 in the dark without stress or drying out.
