Dilemma, which tree to choose

JDubinski

I am taking a class this weekend to start creating a "specimen" tropical tree at Bonsai West in Littleton, MA. They have culled out some good mature stock of Kingma ficus, Bougainvillea, portulacaria, and black olive for students in the class to work on. I have two smaller portulacarias and a kingman ficus. Has anyone worked with the other species before? Right now I am partial to picking out another ficus. I really love the one I already have.

Just wondering if anyone had thoughts on bougainvilleas or black olives?

Thanks for your input.

Jeff

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Bonsai Barry

I love my black olive but it certainly doesn't put the growth on like a ficus.

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agraham

The ficus will probably be easier to keep in good shape over winter where you are.Bougies and black olives both need more sun than ficus.Black olives can also be tempermental when repotting(in my experience).

andy

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Kitsune

The ficus will be one of the easiest and more forgiving of the trees you're looking at. And if you like the species, I think that's reason enough for me...


That being said...

Bougainvillea are *beautiful* trees, though they can be a bit more of a challenge. Not only for light requirements, but general care, getting them to flower (there are nifty tricks for that!) amoung other things. Will you get a chance to look at the stock before you choose? If so, pick two of those species that you would like to have (research and make sure you can supply the needed growing conditions), and then go with the piece of stock that speaks to you.

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JDubinski

Thanks Andy, Barry, and Kitsune

I think I may be leaning more towards the ficus. I have a couple of different species of ficus now (benghalensis, beinjaminica, kingman, and green island) and I am beginning to see that it is one of my favored trees to work with.

I do get to choose which tree I would like to work with. The nursery has picked out what we can choose from their more mature stock and then we pick from that.

I do have a grow lights in my office where I keep my trees during the winter, am an not opposed to getting more grow lights if needed to keep my trees happy.

I am looking forward to the class and will probably go with the tree that "speaks to me" the most like you suggested.

Thanks for your input!

Jeff