Just got my first bonsai tree because someone said I couldn't keep it alive for more than 2 weeks!!

Of course I'm going to prove them wrong!!

My tree is a Carmona, any basic advice for me to keep my baby alive?


cheers Dan.

Give it lots of light. Do not put on a heating. Do not let the roots dry out completely. Do not drown it.

Basically.. That's it.

Good lucck (and good night )

Hi Dan
In a bit more detail - Carmona don't like much variance in temps, and absolute min 50F. As close to a window as possible, bear in mind if you close a curtain over it at night the local temp will be much colder than the rest of the room. The soil it came in is probably crap, repot into a free draining mix, half & half potting compost & vermiculite is good, plenty of humidity is best and sitting it on a tray of moist gravel will help. Or keep on a well lit kitchen or bathroom windowsill, mine lives in the bathroom. Liquid balanced feed at normal dilution strength say once a week.

Dave

ironhorse wrote: Liquid balanced feed at normal dilution strength say once a week.

This is too much, certainly in winter. This frequency is only suitable when you have specific substrate & you use a specific way of watering your plant, which people with trees indoors do not use.

I would say once every two week is the maximum frequency for indoor trees IMO.

Works for me - bear in mind Carmona don't have a winter rest period, and when the soil is free draining you can feed more than otherwise

Dave

Water your bonsai approximately once a week or so, and make sure it gets plenty of direct sunlight. Place it near the window or outside somewhere in a safe place. Find a soil that drains quickly, and retain water.