Help! I haven't got a Clue!

Marke2020

Hi all,

I have just joined this site as my G/friend has bought me a Japanese Ash Bonsai. I have never looked after a Bonsai so I m going in a bit blind here .

If anyone has got any tips what so ever please leave me them. I have bought a few basic books but sometimes I get the feeling there written in Japanese!!

I have scanned the internet for tips on Japanese Ash but have nt found anything useful as yet.

My bonsai is 5 years old and I live in the UK - so this tree is best indoors (I think).

I am an absolute beginner so no matter how obvious you may feel something is please include it. watering, feeding, etc etc.

Anyone who replies - thanks for saving this trees life .

Cheers,

Marke2020

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jjeter

Hi Mark,


Welcome to the world of Bonsai. I hope you enjoy it. I have done a little looking for the "japanese Ash" and could not find anything. I did find a Chinese Ash (Franxinus chinensis) and a Manchurian Ash (Fraxinus manshurica) from the US Dept of Ag (plants.usda.gov). I did not find anything specifically about ash as a bonsai, however, they are from the olive family (new to me), so I would treat them as an olive. This means that they are outdoor plants, except for maybe overwintering. You can probably get by with good protection and be OK. I don't know about UK winters so you might want to find a club near you and check with local members for wintering ideas. This goes for soil, repotting, watering, etc. I would not keep the ash to wet, being from thei olive family, they like damp but not wet roots. So let it get a little dry between waterings. A common mistake is that bonsai are indoor plants. Very wrong! With a few exceptions, they are outdoor plants. Some tropicals can make it indoors, but I put mine outside when the low temps are about the minimum growing temps.

My experience, first try to keep the tree alive and healthy. Then you can start on the styling, etc. I have killed many by doing to much to fast. I have had to take a step (or two or three) back from when I started. Take it slow and learn about your trees, how they grow and what makes them healthy. Keeps the cost down, and the emotion up (although it is hard to get down when talking bonsai).

Anyway, welcome to the addiction.

Jeff

jeremy_norbury

Also never heard of Japanse Ash - but apparantly it IS Chinese Ash, according to this:

http://www.systbot.gu.se/staff/evaw...s/japonica.html

and this:
http://www.systbot.gu.se/staff/evaw.../chinensis.html

Anyway, as Jeff said it's outdoor, most things are in the UK. UK has a very temperate climate - somewhat similar to bits of Japan and China.

Outside, it needs to be somewhere bright - with several hours of direct sunlight per day (weather permitting).

Needs watering whenever the soil surface is dry to the touch - probably every day in good weather. You need to have someone look after it when you are away for more than one day or it WILL die. They do that, guaranteed.

Obviously depending where you are there is almost certainly a real Bonsai seller within an hour's drive. Worth a visit - you'll learn a lot from talking to the owner - he'll know all the local clubs, sell you some "tackle", bonsai feed, a pot or two and a few more little bonsai "starter" trees for a few quid.

Jerry
Amsterdam

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Marke2020

Thanks for the tip Jeff. I went back to the shop where it was bought and told the name of the tree was Fraxinus Aspera. Does that match your Chinese Ash idea? It likes to be moist in the Summer and I need to water it sparingly in the winter.

Thanks again for the help.

Mark