Fukien Tea, need tips on styling..

[Average_joe]

Got this tree today as a started Bonsai. Its a bit different from the photos shown (ebay lol) so now im a bit unsure about what to style it as... Just wanted some advice from you guys as to what you would style it too.

I really wanted to make it a broom style but i think i may have to go slanting or informal (obviously will have to loose a branch) simply as thats the way its going...

What would you do??

[GavinG]

Put it in a big pot, grow it long, fertilise a lot, cut it hard once a year. When you have a solid trunk with lots of angles, it will tell you what it's style has become. You need length to get thickness.

Gavin

[Average_joe]

So basically just let it grow crazy and prune it back hardcore once it gets a bigger trunk?

Pruning now wont do much will it?

[PaulC]

Hey Joe !!

Wow, what can I say without seeming to be brutal ?

I think perhaps we should work backwards in your questions ?

You ask what would I do ?

Honestly ............I would stay away from ebay, and favour your local bonsai nursery, and if you have none close, visit your local nursery and give your well earnt money to honest growers of plants.

That being said, you are now the proud owner of an ebay bonsai.

So where to from here ?

Your Fukien Tea in this form would not lend itself to a broom style.

Though it seems you have gone to geat tasks to mark out the trees direction ( front, back and sides) I wonder what made you choose these directions for the tree ?

You air thoughts of different styles, and I can see your thoughts regarding the styles.

I can see other positive directions for your fukkien, but rather than seem rude to suggest my thoughts at this early stage, I invite others to suggest their opinions.

I look forward to other members input regarding this tree.




Regards,



Paul

[Average_joe]

Hey Joe !!

Wow, what can I say without seeming to be brutal ?

I think perhaps we should work backwards in your questions ?

You ask what would I do ?

Honestly ............I would stay away from ebay, and favour your local bonsai nursery, and if you have none close, visit your local nursery and give your well earnt money to honest growers of plants.

That being said, you are now the proud owner of an ebay bonsai.

So where to from here ?

Your Fukien Tea in this form would not lend itself to a broom style.

Though it seems you have gone to geat tasks to mark out the trees direction ( front, back and sides) I wonder what made you choose these directions for the tree ?

You air thoughts of different styles, and I can see your thoughts regarding the styles.

I can see other positive directions for your fukkien, but rather than seem rude to suggest my thoughts at this early stage, I invite others to suggest their opinions.

I look forward to other members input regarding this tree.




Regards,



Paul

If i could have avoided ebay i would, it was just cheap and wasn't bunnings lol (no Bonsai Nurserys around me anywhere)
I know its not a Bonsai yet its just a twig in a bonsai pot I really didn't want to get a near finished Bonsai and i also didn't want to grow one from seed/cutting, as i have a JBP with alot of growing to go... Really i wanted a 'practice' tree just so i can learn some finer points of creating bonsai...

I know broom wont work (which is annoying as thats what i wanted to do...)

Slanting/informal i think is the direction i will go (or just slanting) As for the Front, well because that the way its grown, so to begin with i made that the front

[Graeme]

I will say one thing for you mate, you like - no, love a challenge. While your choice of a Fukien Tea is a good Bonsai choice, the choice of it for what you want it for wasn't so good. Unfortunately Fukien Tea isn't up there on the top of the fastest growing list. While they will grow a good coverage of foliage in a pretty short time they are slow to put on any real wood.

Might I suggest, if you want a 'practice tree' that you find yourself a Ficus? Port Jackson would be the pick if you can get it, but any fig will do. They can be grown pretty fast, they cover mistakes fairly quickly and easy and they are damn near indistructable. Oh yea and they make great looking Bonsai as well. By all means keep going and learning with your Fukien as well because it will be a nice tree in time, but that is the problem, time. Get the little fella out of that Bonsai pot and into an 8 or 10" plastic pot and start 'practicing' and good luck with your learning.

[Average_joe]

I will say one thing for you mate, you like - no, love a challenge. While your choice of a Fukien Tea is a good Bonsai choice, the choice of it for what you want it for wasn't so good. Unfortunately Fukien Tea isn't up there on the top of the fastest growing list. While they will grow a good coverage of foliage in a pretty short time they are slow to put on any real wood.

Might I suggest, if you want a 'practice tree' that you find yourself a Ficus? Port Jackson would be the pick if you can get it, but any fig will do. They can be grown pretty fast, they cover mistakes fairly quickly and easy and they are damn near indistructable. Oh yea and they make great looking Bonsai as well. By all means keep going and learning with your Fukien as well because it will be a nice tree in time, but that is the problem, time. Get the little fella out of that Bonsai pot and into an 8 or 10" plastic pot and start 'practicing' and good luck with your learning.

Damn! Haha my choice was between a Fukien and a Ficus Benjamina.... i like the Tea due to the much smaller leaves. Thats fine i can plant this one (in a big pot) as everyone has recommended and get going right away on a Ficus Just one question. I live in NSW and its VERY cold outside... I got this tree as its ok for an indoor plant (well indoor at night, then on window sill in most day, sun light thru day) If i put it in a big pot will it be fine outside all winter? I mean it wont snow here, i live near Sydney, but will it get too cold?

Oh and i DO like a challenge. If its easy there isn't much point doing it, what will you get from that Still i dont want to kill my tree!

[Graeme]

Maybe the Sydneysiders will confirm, but from my aged memory ( ) I seem to remember the Fukien Tea is totally deciduous in Sydney. They loose all leaves over the Winter period, but shoot back with mucho gusto come Spring. They can be a sooky plant though, even in the Tropics and I have had them drop all there leaves for any number of reasons. One of which was because the tree was dead, which makes it a bit hard sometimes.

By the way, Benny isn't my first choice for a beginers Ficus either, best to go with the Port Jackson IMHO.

[Average_joe]

Maybe the Sydneysiders will confirm, but from my aged memory ( ) I seem to remember the Fukien Tea is totally deciduous in Sydney. They loose all leaves over the Winter period, but shoot back with mucho gusto come Spring. They can be a sooky plant though, even in the Tropics and I have had them drop all there leaves for any number of reasons. One of which was because the tree was dead, which makes it a bit hard sometimes.

By the way, Benny isn't my first choice for a beginers Ficus either, best to go with the Port Jackson IMHO.

HAHAHA yep.... A dead tree will do that HAHAHAHA!!

My problem with Port Jackson is its a bit boring But seems to be the best choice for me maybe?