bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Portulacaria afra (Baby Jade)

Well I have good news of sort:

I went back out to my stressed plant a few hours later to just check on it and as much to my surprise and as if I won a million bucks there is a large amount of new growth on the tree!!! I did not inspect for new growth the first time (did not expect to see any), just concerned for the growth and leaves already there and wanting to get a few pictures.

Little tiny singles (4) and a few doubles (3) are growing out or near the previously pruned ends. I originally spotted what I thought was possibly new growth or a bug/mite on first inspection... turned the tree to a position that I could remember where it was. When I went back out about 2 hours later (while the entire plant was "potless" and the sun came out and shined directly on it for probably 1/2 hour this little shoot I "marked" actually progressed further and now is a teeny tiny leave as opposed to a green spot. This happened in 2 hours or thereabouts.

I also placed a moisture meter into the soil at various places as well. The meter reads a "4" (on a scale of 1-10) on all locations which is just inside the "MOIST" area of the meter which tells me it is drying nicely and uniformly.

I did verify there are 2 drainage holes (seem rather large for this pot (about 3/4" each)) and both had mesh between the pot and soil over the drainage holes.

I feel a bit more confident about the survivability of this tree now. More so than originally felt.

I still will not water this little guy until I notice leave start to wrinkle.

27-May-2008	#16
K3JAE bonsaiTALK Artisan Join Date: May-2008 Location: Fayette County, Pennsylvania Country: USA USDA Zone: 5B-6A AHS Heat Zone: 3 4 5 Posts: 118	Well I have good news of sort: I went back out to my stressed plant a few hours later to just check on it and as much to my surprise and as if I won a million bucks there is a large amount of new growth on the tree!!! I did not inspect for new growth the first time (did not expect to see any), just concerned for the growth and leaves already there and wanting to get a few pictures. Little tiny singles (4) and a few doubles (3) are growing out or near the previously pruned ends. I originally spotted what I thought was possibly new growth or a bug/mite on first inspection... turned the tree to a position that I could remember where it was. When I went back out about 2 hours later (while the entire plant was "potless" and the sun came out and shined directly on it for probably 1/2 hour this little shoot I "marked" actually progressed further and now is a teeny tiny leave as opposed to a green spot. This happened in 2 hours or thereabouts. I also placed a moisture meter into the soil at various places as well. The meter reads a "4" (on a scale of 1-10) on all locations which is just inside the "MOIST" area of the meter which tells me it is drying nicely and uniformly. I did verify there are 2 drainage holes (seem rather large for this pot (about 3/4" each)) and both had mesh between the pot and soil over the drainage holes. I feel a bit more confident about the survivability of this tree now. More so than originally felt. I still will not water this little guy until I notice leave start to wrinkle. __________________ John Bonsai Guru... riiiiiight... But I'm gettin' there... in about another 100 years I should be right around the bend from it.