Growth Slowing Down Greatly

Joetronix

I have a Serissa Foetida 'Mt. Fuji', or at least I'm fairly sure I do.

Anyway, when I first got it (mid-summer) it grew really fast.

However, I was afraid that it would die being that it was close to a window that gets pretty darn cold now that it's the winter. My solution was to get a growing light, and mount it in a cardboard box. That's where my bonsai has been for about a month or two now.

The plant seems to be loosing ground on growth. It loses more leaves than it grows back.

Is this normal since I'm not using regular sunlight?

Anyone know why this could be happening?

Also, there are some new sprouts growing around the base that I've been working on growing for a while now. They seem to be doing pretty good.

Anyway, is there anything I can to do promote more growth and new leaves?

Thanks,
-Joe

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Aaron_K

Hi Joe,

Serissa are fickle plants at the best of times and I would not recommend on keeping it inside a cardboard box with a lamp, apart from anything else, it could be a fire hazzard!

The window will be fine so long as the ambient room temperature doesn't drop below 10c/50f. If you are unsure, get a little thermometer to test. The tree will benefit from the natural daylight, and you can always top it up with the artifical lighting as well. Being in the box will reduce the airflow, thereby reducing the evapouration of the soil, and so it may be staying too wet for too long, unless its very fast draining and could possibly give rise to fungal infections.

Growth does slow down in the winter, as light intensity isn't at high, and the temperatures tend to be somewhat cooler. Serissa will get dark brown / black dots on them if it is not receiving enough light, so watch out for that. If the leaves yellow and fall, this can be a very good indication of over watering. When the weather warms up, and the nights are well above 50f, get it outside in the sunshine, wind and rain - it would thank you for it if it could .

Just get it out of the box, keep it away from the cold and water accordingly.

Hope that helps.

All the best,

Aaron

__________________
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Muriel Strode

Vulpes pilum mutat, non mores!

"A fox may change its skin but never its character"

Joetronix

Well, when I had the light in the box I made sure the temperature wouldn't reach a level where it would get anywhere near fire starting temps.

But yeah, what you said sounds about right. It has been staying damp a lot longer because of the box.

I'll give it a try in the sunlight for a while and see what happens.

Thanks.

EDIT:

Window Temp ~55°F
Near Bonsai Temp ~65°F

Aaron_K

Hi Joe,

55f in the window should be fine. Just make sure you don't open the window or let a cold draught on to it.

All the best,

Aaron

__________________
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Muriel Strode

Vulpes pilum mutat, non mores!

"A fox may change its skin but never its character"

Joetronix

Yeah, the 55 degrees is against the window, where the bonsai is sitting is around 65. That's a relief. I'll make a new thread a few weeks from now documenting progress.