Lillipilli Holding Fruit

[MelaQuin]

Okay...throw some tips my way. My lillipilli was a powder puff of flowers and subsequently full of mini fruit. But the fruit doesn't seem to be sticking. Aside from applying Super Glue... what are your recommendations to feed the tree to get the fruit to stick? Having said that, I could also ask if rats like undeveloped lillipilli fruit. It just crossed my mind that I have not seen any fallen fruit... just very immature fruit and the bigger stuff is gone.... not on the soil or in the water tray. Maybe I should move this tree to the stand-alone rack and see what development occurs after that.

But still, advice on retaining fruit could still be necessary.

(And, yes!! I have several poison feeder spots around the fences but the rats like my passionfruit so they are around and I can't go overboard with 1 dog and 3 cats. - all of whom I want to retain!!]

[kcpoole]

Doesn't the Cats and Dog keep the rats away?

They shodu do a better job thanany poison

[Hector Johnson]

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[Steven]

Hi Lee,

I have lost fruit (and branches) to possums. They LOVE the LP fruit! I also have rats but don't think they have been eating them due to the lack of rat poo around my benches.
A friend of mine has built cages from timber and chicken wire that sit over his fruiting bonsai to protect them. I have also heard of a lady who uses bird cages that she collects from Council clean-ups. Both would work except they would detract from the appearance of your mighty fine benches!

Steven

[PeterW]

I have 2 camellias and 1 gardenia, potted, but just garden plants not bonsai. All are very mature plants and all develop flower buds but never get to show a flower! I have asked at the nursery and been told to use a low nitrogen fert on all of them. I used to use Charlie carp on them and changed to a fert that the nursery recomended. Now over 2 years later, still nothing, i have tried healthy plant products, healthy earth and numerous other stuff all to no avail! If you find something MQ, please let me know. It is so frustrating, i see these plants all ready to flower, next minute they are all over the floor.
Peter

[Asus101]

Try a high potassium fert.

[MelaQuin]

Cats need long whiskers to effectively pinpoint the killing spot, they also need triple coats to stay warm enough to prowl at night. The gene that causes the Devon Rex coat to curl robs it of kerotene that makes the hair pliable and few Devons have much beyond stubs for whiskers and with only a single coat [down only] they require supplementary warmth at night for contentment. Prowling the garden is not comfortable. The dog makes a marshmellow look aggressive. Plus the fact, the last thing I want is a cat on my bonsai benches!! Better losing a few fruits to a rapacious rat than lost branches to a meandering cat.

[Hector Johnson]

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[MelaQuin]

I've moved the tree to a stand with a narrow round metal riser. It would be hard for rats to ascend [or so I think] so I am keen to see if the developing fruit stays and holds. Thanks for all your advice.....