Dwarf Kumquat

Vermontoise

Question from a neophyte... Is a dwarf kumquat considered to be a cousin to the bonsai family? I have one 12-13 inches high and am wondering if it can be "bonsaied". (Pics below)

Bonnie

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Vermontoise

Above is back view, and below is front view:

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Jay

Basically, if a Tree (or Shrub) will live in a container (Bonsai Pot) it can be a Bonsai. That said there are some trees that will live in the container but the leaves are far to big to make a good looking Bonsai. It may or may not be good for indoor use.

If you like it...and want to try it.... DO IT!!

Fortunella I think is the plant name you are looking for,
http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/faq/faq11.html is a list of possible subjects. This list is one persons (Jim Lewis) feeling on what will be a successful indoor possibility.

Hope this helps
Jay

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A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49...
Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing

Vermontoise

Jay,

According to his list, I think it must be a fortunella japonica.

This one is a bit scarier to me, as it's not quite a bonsai to start with - but you all here on this forum are so courageous that you make me think I can at least give it a try too!!

Jay

Please remember, some of the trees on that list 'may' be suitable for indoors. But some are harder to deal with than others. I am not an expert, far from it, but I would give it a try if you are game.

Remember, one of the facts of life when doing Bonsai is that you WILL kill a few trees, if you like this plant, keep it as a house plant.

Jay

__________________
A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49...
Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing

Vermontoise

Guess that about sums it up, eh? :-)

I *am* interested in trying a kumquat; maybe I should buy one myself to try instead of using one that was a gift. Meanwhile, I'm still doing research (before doing any cutting!!)

Bonsai-gecko

I say give it a try. I've got 2 citrus reticulata that I've started from seed a few years back that I plan to attempt to bonsai. The only draw back I've seen is leaf size. Therefore, I'm figuring on a larger size bonsai.

I do have another Citrus.(Citrus aurantium 'Chinotto' (Myrtle Leaf Orange)) that I bought from a bonsai nursery. This tree has leaves about 1/2-3/4 inch and is well suited for bonsai.

Interested to see how suitible kumquat is myself though, since I had a seed sprout 2 weeks ago from kumquat I bought at the store.

There are lots of info for citrus growers on the net if you do a search. Just remeber that citrus likes a well draining sandy soil, yet at the same time is a very thirsty plant. Give it an acidic fertilizer when in growth, and additional iron if it developes chlorosis, other than tat they are hard to kill.

Vermontoise

The leaves on the kumquat are about 1-2 inches long right now - how small do you think they can get?

Interesting too that there's little mention of kumquat being used for bonsai on the web, although it does appear on lists as being "bonsaiable". I can't find any pictures.

Bonsai-gecko

I wasn't sure what the leaf size was on kumquats since my seedling hasn't produced its first set of true leaves yet.

I've managed to get over 50% leaf reduction on my citrus though. Your leaf size doesn't look bad in the pictures.

Brussels bonsai nursery does sell calamondin orange for bonsai. Not sure if its a kumuat or a hybrid of it, but heres a link

http://www.brusselsbonsai.com/shops...ndinOrange.html

Looks great fruiting.... thats the drawback of citrus by seed though... will be about 10 years till mine fruit