Hello, I'm new here.... I think I'm in a spot of bother too.

[Andrew L]

Hi,
My name is Andrew I'm 22 and I live in Brisbane, I'm completely new to bonsai, my mother got me a fig(?) at Christmas time because I have always liked my parents tree (they got it in the early 70s)

On the 24th of feb I purchased a fukien tea for my girlfriends birthday from a nursery, on the way home with the tree sitting beside me I noticed quite a few ants around the base and crawling up the tree, I didnt think too much of it until I did some more reading up, today I noticed that alot of the leaves are covered in lots of tiny bumps... So I assume that it has a parasite and I have purchased a dud?

If it is a parasite would it be an easy fix? Or am I best to take it back? Id like to keep it because my girlfriend and I really like the tree.

Here's the tree in question. Any help/input/suggestion would be appreciated.



Sorry for the poor photo quality


Here's the one I got at Christmas.. My first ever, this will be my 'experimental tree' as I have no idea on what techniques to use to create an ideal tree.(feel free to make suggestions) My Specialty is vintage bicycles.
There is heeeeaps of things I'd like to learn and I will read up on here as much as I can before I ask too many questions.





Thanks.
I must also say, there is some amazing looking trees on this forum too.

[Andrew L]

I need to re-size the pictures

[jozaeh]

Hey Andrew!
Welcome to the realm of bonsai mate, it's such a fun place. Just get ready to have friends and family give you a 'whaaaa?' expression when they see how into it you'll get. (well at least that's what happened to me!). But at least there's tonnes of us like minded people to keep company with.

Now onto your trees, good buy with he fukien tea tree Andrew. Because that species has tiny little leaves they're great for bonsai. And the berries are a nice attribute too. Don't worry about those tiny bumps on the fukien tea, I have one myself and that's just a natural characteristic of the fukien's leaves. As for the ants, i've had some black ants on my trees before, and they were farming little aphids (or some other kind of little white clustering bugs) on the tips of new shoots. But that doesn't sound like it's the reason for your ants. Hopefully someone can shed some light on what might be causing your ant housemates.

Lastly, I'm sure you know this, but make sure that you're keeping your bonsai outside in the sun (or half sun)! I feel so bad when new bonsai-ers might think bonsai are inside plants and thus they keep them indoors. That's the only reason i mention it, but as i said, i bet you knew that already, so forget i mentioned it, ha!

anyway, have fun with the new hobby!
jozaeh


ps: vintage bicycles hey? I restored a good ol malvern star dragstar years ago (which i'm sure is too young to be true vintage), and she's so fun to go for a cruise on. What bikes have you gotten into?

[Pup]

G,day Andrew and as you were warned, Bonsai is an affliction to most who are here, welcome to it and enjoy.

Now to the ANTS they are to be discouraged, as they FARM pests for there own benefit. Which comes in the form of honey dew that the Pests secrete on the plants.
Also if there is a lot of the honey dew it will turn to Sooty Mould which will kill your plant.

So dunking your tree in water with some liquid soap will discourage them, and they should move out of the pot. Also when they are on the move spray them, with an insecticide,to kill them, being careful if it is an aerosol spray do not get it too close to the plant, about 30 cm away will be safe for the plant.

Keep your trees out side with a minimum of 4 hour sunlight per day preferably morning sun, keep them moist and well fed, and you will have the pleasure of there company for many years.

Cheers and again welcome to the affliction Pup

[Chris]

Hello Andrew welcome to the site have fun I like ya little trees

[NBPCA]

Are there any small black or clear "Blisters" on the leaf or branch?

If so you have a scale infestation. Keeping the tree outside reduces the amounts of bugs on your trees believe it or not.

Anyhow treat the infestation depending on what it is.

Grant

[Andrew Legg]

Hey Andrew,

Welcome. Pup's got good advice for you. One thing I find works well for ants is to spray them with diluted dishwashing liquid. Use about a teaspoon in a litre of water and mix it in good. It does not hurt the plants and works like a bomb on the ants.

Cheers,

Andrew

[Andrew L]

Thanks for the welcome people.

Jozeah, Ive got them outside in the garden near some bushes (for some shade) during the day, I bring them inside at night because I'm paranoid that a possum/dog/cat with damage them.
When I 1st got the little one I did keep it inside for over a month (until my mum told me not too), i kept it right by the window, it didn't seem to affect the tree in a bad way, (the house is very open and heaps of sunlight comes through)

I'm trying to work out a nice safe place to put them where they will get plent of sun (can they get too much and get burnt) and where I can see them.
I'm thinking of destiny up a shelf on my back verandah, it gets pleny of morning sun but does get shady during the day, I've got a pot with a whole bunch of herbs growing and they're going fine.

I will try the soapy water thing tomorrow and see how I go, I called the nursery and organized to take the tree back for them to check it out. (just to be safe)

One thing that I really don't know is what direction I should go with the trees. Let them grow normally and trim them as required? Or to trim them and shape them in a particular manner...



And Jozaeh, I race BMX, but I collect Italian racing bikes from the 70s-80s. Old bmx bikes from the late 70s-80s, plus a range of bikes from the 1900s onwards.
The malvernstar dragsters a quite sought after and can fetch a decent amount of money.
I work in the bike industry and am around bikes 24/7 so I thought I'd get into bonsai's as an escape/hobby.

[jozaeh]

Thanks for the welcome people.

Jozeah, Ive got them outside in the garden near some bushes (for some shade) during the day, I bring them inside at night because I'm paranoid that a possum/dog/cat with damage them.
When I 1st got the little one I did keep it inside for over a month (until my mum told me not too), i kept it right by the window, it didn't seem to affect the tree in a bad way, (the house is very open and heaps of sunlight comes through)

And Jozaeh, I race BMX, but I collect Italian racing bikes from the 70s-80s. Old bmx bikes from the late 70s-80s, plus a range of bikes from the 1900s onwards.
The malvernstar dragsters a quite sought after and can fetch a decent amount of money.
I work in the bike industry and am around bikes 24/7 so I thought I'd get into bonsai's as an escape/hobby.

Ah nice, it sounds like you've got the sun setup all good for the trees hey. and i don't blame your paranoia with the munching animal teeth! Possums are the nemesis around my house. And i've heard that figs do alright as inside bonsai (some types I think), so that's probably why the little one was able to stay alive by the window. Ahhh, 70's italian bikes and old bmx's, wow that sounds like a fun (and most likely pricey?) collectable hobby hey. And yeah, i've seen some of the dragstar go for a bit hey, but mine has too much sentimentality to it to ever be sold. And nice, an escape hobby from another hobby is always perfect, i've got around 4 going at once, it's great (yet four times the money, not great).

jozaeh