Yesterday I’ve got this Serissa Mallsai for a price of a hamburger. My Swiss Serissa feels good in its place, but the different origins could create problems for the new tree. Let’s see if that one will became something, or just down to none.

Ugly as it should be..



You can see in the middle a coarse, rotten root just broken out, and all of the look unproportionate.


That side looks a slight better.

The stone was cemented onto the root also...


Hammer the tool for the job..


The root system on the form of the bonsai pot, but all wrong direction.


I just put a stone under the roots to encourage some lateral growth. In the same time the roots also get arranged towards a better direction. I couldn’t cut down the weird one, cause too much feeder roots on it.

Looks much better, isn’t it? Im thinking to cleaning and wiring also, hence it’ll probably drop down the leaves due to the repotting.
I planned to keep in that training pot maybe 3 years to get better roots.

Soil:
2 p Seramis
1 p Pumice
3 p Red scoria (0,5-2mm)
1 p Rhododendron mix (for acidity)
1 p Orchid bark

I would have potted with a technique to help it reach neagari style. I think it could fit the style pretty well

Madartej21 wrote: I would have potted with a technique to help it reach neagari style. I think it could fit the style pretty well

Yes, I agree.
Neagari suits it!
On the other hand... I don't like Serissas.
Uninteresting, smallish, fickle and boring.

Below a Brazilian example of a Serissa neagari:

[quote="Clicio" post=41389On the other hand... I don't like Serissas.
Uninteresting, smallish, fickle and boring.
[/quote]

And they are touchy. Very touchy roots, touchy to movement, touchy to incorrect watering, and even touchy when you look at them the wrong way. They just drop their leaves and fall over.

Still.. for the price of a hamburger I wouldn't hesitate (if it's a McDonalds plain hamburger )

Felidae wrote: Looks much better, isn’t it?

Yes. It does look better this way

I like the front and movement on the last pic Felidae posted.
I wouldn´t bother making a larger bonsai from this material, but it could be a nice shohin one day.
And have a guess what I would do with it?

and regarding roots - I wouldn´t expect any interesting forming while buried like that - wouldn´t hesitate to airlayer at the top of current soil level as soon as the tree recovers from repotting and starts to grow significantly.

Clicio wrote:

Madartej21 wrote: I would have potted with a technique to help it reach neagari style. I think it could fit the style pretty well

Yes, I agree.
Neagari suits it!

Guys, I understand, but it was sooo hellish ugly, specially with the missing root, that I couldn’t stand for. It was two more on the shelf. Next week I’ll pick up one more, and do Neagari, oki?

On the other hand... I don't like Serissas.
Uninteresting, smallish....

Ok, ok got it! I’ll never gift a Serissa for you..

Auk wrote:
And they are touchy. Very touchy roots, touchy to movement, touchy to incorrect watering, and even touchy when you look at them the wrong way. They just drop their leaves and fall over.

Still.. for the price of a hamburger I wouldn't hesitate (if it's a McDonalds plain hamburger )

I was scared with the other (Swiss one) also, but it didn’t dropped more than 3-5 leaves when I moved. When I turned back into the same position according to the sun how it was inside, it stopped shedding. Looks like that species “tell” immediately if something not right and I can corrigate, like yellow leaves for too much water, etc... Well we’ll see in 2 years if they still kicking.

Auk wrote: Yes. It does look better this way

Thanks, I have hope for that

Mimo wrote: I like the front and movement on the last pic Felidae posted.
I wouldn´t bother making a larger bonsai from this material, but it could be a nice shohin one day.
And have a guess what I would do with it?

Thanks Mimo, I’ll try to aim something similar Shohin really looks good, proportionate size for it.

Mimo wrote: and regarding roots - I wouldn´t expect any interesting forming while buried like that - wouldn´t hesitate to airlayer at the top of current soil level as soon as the tree recovers from repotting and starts to grow significantly.

Uhh.. Layering is not a bad idea! Maybe a torque could be enough also. I’ll thinking.