My Serissa

mattbonsai1

Hi, I've been a member on this forum for quite a while, but only recently have i come on here and have been looking through the forums and threads, reading up about things etc...

I am new to this forum, but not new to bonsai, (check out my profile for a bit more info) although, compared to many, i have only just begun.

My personal favourite tree in my collection in my Variegated Serissa ( Serissa Foetida Variegata ) Cultivar - Unknown. Several of the members may recognise this tree from BonsaiChat.org where i post often, but i have decided i will give her a bigger audience now, seeing she deserves it as she gave me flowers, this is the least i could do.

I've had her a couple of years now, and the first picture is her shortly after i got her. not appealing to anyone in bonsai, i know, but something attracted me to her ( maybe the bargain price £16 ) <- (p.s. That little tree is kinda creepy )

The second photo is her a couple of months ago, after being lovingly cared for by me (first bonsai attention) as you can probably see, she has come out quite well.

The third photo is the reason she is being displayed, they are her flowers, this is the first year since i got her which she has flowered, so i am very happy with her progress.

Be as harsh as you like with your oppinions, shes downstairs so she can't hear ya!

-matt-

Attached Images

	bonsai 003.jpg (19.3 KB, 129 views)
	serissa.jpg (33.2 KB, 144 views)
	Serissa flowers 001.jpg (41.9 KB, 97 views)

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PinkFloyd

Hey, that's a nice serissa. They are my favorite tree. I have several varieties, my favirite being a varigated with purple flowers. Once they start flowering, they will usually keep them on most of the year ( at least here in south Alabama they do).


John Lee

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buddhistpine

thats a fine little tree,and if its your favorite,then all the better,no harsh opionion here!

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gregb

Matt--welcome to the forum Nice documentation of your tree, too. While you have succeeded in filling out the foliage on the branch tips, one thing I find you've lost is a view of the trunk and the branch structure. If you look at the photo of the tree when you first got it, you're able to see all that.

Should be a simple matter of trimming out a few leaves and shoots to be able to see what's going on in there. This is just my take on it and you have the most important problem out of the way and that is keeping it healthy and getting enough growth to make some changes. Serissa propagate easily by cutting and if you like them remember to root you prunings for yet more fun

biboubou

Hi Matt,

The plant is indeed a nice one & quite easy to grow.
The fact that it's flowering probably means that you take good care of it
Unfortunately the bonsai look of it is quite problematic.Here are some thoughts:
- The trunk lacks good tappering.
- The trunk width is not proportional to plant's height.
- The general shape is non-natural.
- As already mentioned by Greg, the trunk & branch structure is invisible.
- Nebari, even if unclear from the picture, seems to need attention

I think that's enough for today.
Sorry for being picky.

The nice guy sitting next to the tree looks nice though ...

theelmboy

i think that eventualy this will make a very nice bonsai , maybe by removing all the branching and starting over with the trunk, i am not familiar how this specie will react to this kind of treatment but i would definatly would consider de-branching it if this kind of specie can handle it.




chris

tuod666

good thing you have a healthy serissa...one of my favorite trees...

kragmire

First, let me say it looks very healthy - which is not always an easy thing with serissas.

Second, if you are happy with the tree and enjoy it, don't let what I have to say take away from that

I think your main challenge with this tree will be the trunk and the primary branch location. The two main branches are too low and too close together, and you have a long stretch of trunk with nothing in the middle. The tree looks a little bit to me like a topiary - long stretches of bare branch with a "powerpuff" of foilage at the end.

I would start by separating the masses of foilage to add more layers to the tree. Try to break up your apex into several masses of foilage, maybe moving some branches down into the bare space to de-emphasize the bare trunk. Do the same with the two lower branches and aim to creat flat pads of foliage instead of balls. You really really want some new buds to pop on the trunk. If this doesn't happen, you might consider grafting branches on the trunk. I'm not sure how this would work with serissas (I don't have much experience with them).

Here is an example (not a final image but an idea of where you should try to head)



www.bonsainut.com

mattbonsai1

Cheers for all the advice guys.

i know what your mean when you say she isn't very "bonsai - ey" and has a more topiary look about her.

cheers for the virt kragmire, makes her look alot more healthier.

I have a method of inducing budding on the trunk circulating in my head right now, and im going to wait untill spring when she starts throwing out lots of growth before i do anything to her, for now i'm just going to enjoy the flowers!.

Cheers again for the ideas guys, keep em coming.

-matt-

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