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Good Choice For Beginners!
A Chinese Elm Bonsai Tree Makes A Very Special Gift For Someone |
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More Attractive & Cheaper Than Akadama!
Moler Bonsai Soil |
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Chrysal Bonsai Food |
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Akadama Bonsai Soil |
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Rainbow Flower,Bonsai Fertilizer 33ml |
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Crassula/Jade/ Money Tree Bonsai Tree Care Sheet Tender/Easy to keep/Excellent Choice for beginners
Introduction. The two species of Crassula/ Jade tree most commonly used in the art of Bonsai are C. Ovata and C. Portulacaria and are both native to South Africa, which means Crassulas are used to high temperatures and adapt very well to our modern central heated homes, making this species very well suited to indoor Bonsai cultivation. Crassulas are arguably the number one easiest Bonsai tree of all Bonsai trees to take care of and could also arguably be the number one best choice for a beginner to the hobby, although the Ficus and Chinese Elm are very close in their ease of care and also make excellent first time Bonsai trees. Crassula's are actually succulent plants, that naturally form a recognizable trunks and branches, the species most well suited to Bonsai is Crassula Ovata due to the fact that this form of Crassula has smaller leaves and also has the benefit of having lovely corky bark which is far more attractive than the bark of Crassula Portulacaria, as this appears more tree like. Where To Keep Them/Watering. Crassula Bonsai trees can tolerate low light levels, so if absolutely necessary you can place your Jade Bonsai tree slightly away from direct light, however there are many disadvantages to doing this, your Bonsai tree will not grow as vigorously and placing your Bonsai tree in a more shaded spot will result in a larger leaf size, spoiling the effect of your Bonsai tree and can also make your Jade tree top heavy and unstable. It is therefore recommended and far better for your Crassula Bonsai tree to be placed on a bright window sill away from a heat source, C.Portulacaria will also develop a nice red band on the edges of it's leaves if placed in a bright position. Unlike most Bonsai trees, this species prefers dryer conditions and requires little water, watering is only necessary every 2-3 weeks and even less in winter, you can tell when your Crassula Bonsai really needs watering when the leaves wrinkle slightly and feel slightly limp to touch, it is recommended that you don't let your Bonsai tree get to this stage though. Too much water for your Crassula will cause the leaves to grow large and floppy and make the Bonsai tree top heavy, to much water can also easily cause root rot in this species, therefore it is best to let the Bonsai soil dry out in between waterings. As this species prefers dryer condition than most other Bonsai trees a humidity tray in not necessary in this case. Crassula's are a very low maintenance Bonsai tree species and would be ideal for someone who wants a Bonsai tree which wont require maintenance on a regular basis, also if the owner is forgetful this would be a good choice as you only need to remember to water them a few times a month. Repotting/Wiring/Feeding/And Pruning. You will only need to re-pot your Crassula Bonsai tree once every 4-5 years which is another benefit if you are looking for a low maintenance Bonsai tree. Repotting too often will actually result in large internodes (distance between leaves) and larger leaves, as such re-potting should be kept to a minimum. When it does become necessary to re-pot your Crassuala Bonsai tree, the best soil to use is Akadama Bonsai soil, this is very free draining but will also hold enough water to support your Bonsai tree after watering, using peat based composts for Crassula's is not recommended as this can hold too much water and easily lead to root rot. Wiring can be carried out on Crassulas at any time of year, however you will need to be very careful when applying them as the bark marks very easily, it is best not to water your Crassula before wiring as this makes the branches less pliable. Wires should be removed after 3-4 weeks once the branches have set, although you can wire Crassulas it is recommended and far easier to shape your Bonsai tree by simply using the clip and grow method, pruning the tree to your desired shape throughout the growing season. It is also simple to promote branch growth on your Crassula Bonsai by pulling a leaf of in the desired area you would like a branch to grown, this will result in a bud forming in 1-2 weeks on the wound where the leaf once was, this will then grow in to a branch and can be pruned as necessary. Drastic pruning is only required if you wish to dramatically change the shape of your Bonsai tree, usually you will simply need to prune the new shoots back and pinch out the growing tips every so often to keep your Bonsai tree looking good. You will need to fertilize your Bonsai tree from spring onwards once a month using a balanced fertilizer during periods of active growth, in winter if/ when new growth stops, discontinue feeding until spring. The best way to ensure you keep your Bonsai tree healthy is to do as much research as possible(Internet and or books) on the particular species you own and also Bonsai in general as this will give you a broader understanding of the subject and will give you a far better chance of success with your Bonsai tree.
I hope this care sheet has been of interest and helpful to you, if so you might want to read the other care sheets on this site. It is up to you to use the information given here responsibly and Bargain Bonsai holds no responsibility as to how you use it.
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