New Bonsais

aimeerose

Hi there-
I have 3 new bonsais: Serissa foetida, jasmine (not sure what species), and a gardenia. I live at 7000 feet, it's about 60-75 degrees during the day and 35-45 at night. Should I be keeping these trees outside? Also, does anyone know what kind of light they prefer? Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you.

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Ravenna

Hi,

seen your "lonely" post there... The plants you mention are basically tropical plants and therefore indoor plants in temperate climates. They do appreciate being outdoors during the summer in most temperate areas though. I fear I don't know much about Fahrenheit and feet. I believe 7000 feet must be about 2300 metres high which is pretty high up in the moutains for them. When I worked in Africa quite a few plants that we consider tropical were still growing at that altitude (2000m) though we were running around in jumpers most of the time (on the other hand it also gets very warm very quickly there... was ideal for tea plantations). But they had cannas, tea, araucaria, tibouchinas, gloriosa superbas...

But that was pretty much near the equator. So I think it may mainly depend on the temperatures you have or will get. Can you give them °C


Regards, Ravenna

JTriptow

Aimee,

I don't know much about gardenia or jasmine, but serissas are fussy little trees. And tropical. Unfortunately serissa was one of the first trees I ever purchased while I lived in the high country of Colorado (about 9500ft.). I didn't know better. It limped along outdoors throughout the warm summer months but died quickly once winter hit.

If you want this one to survive, keep it indoors at any hint of frost. You may want to look into grow lights and watch how dry your home gets.

I'm sorry if this sounds like bad news, but the altitude, temperature, and dry environment will all conspire to kill this little tree.

Wish I could help more with your other two.

Jennifer

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aimeerose

Thanks for your replies. My post was getting very lonely. It's now getting to about 24-28 degrees C during the day and 4-7 at night. Maybe I should put them outside until it starts getting close to 0 C at night? I also recently transplanted some oak saplings and I'm going to attempt an oak bonsai. Anyone have any advice on that?

Thanks again.

Ravenna

Hi,

that means you have quite a wide variation in temperatrues. According to my books Gardenia needs a minimum of 15°C, Serissa and some jasmine species 7-10 degrees. The more sensitive jasmine even needs 18°C though there are also varietes that are fully hardy. Sounds as if it is still a bit too early to put them out in your area.

Hope that helps. (Values out of Encyclopaedia of plants and flowers, RHS).

Regards, Ravenna