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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DavidN

Hi Marke2020
I'm surprised no one from your location has responded to this request.

Personally I haven't really heard of a Japanese Ash Bonsai. If you had a digital photo of it then you could post it here for us to possibly identify. If they are like normal Desert ash in Australia then there are very hardy trees.

I don't know what your weather conditions are like but your bonsai is still a tree and trees live outside, especially if you are in your warmer months. You really only have to worry if your temperatures go below freezing and I doubt it goes below 0 in England in spring.

Watering is probably the most important thing to get right with bonsai. Water only when the tree needs it. You can use a wooden chop stick to press down into the soil to the bottom of the pot and then pull it out. If the chop stick comes out wet and muddy, obvious you don't need to water. If it is dry then you water it well. You can always use your finger and press it down into the soil to check if it needs water in the same way.

Feeding, you would be safe with a liquid fertailzer, half stregth, every 2nd week in the growing season.

Your best bet would be to find a local bonsai club and join. They are invaluable if you find a good one. Also visit bonsaitalk and read as much as you can.

Best of luck
David

Marke2020

Thanks David,

I have got the chopstick in!! Does the name Faxinus Aspera mean anything to you I got that from the place it was bought. I looks well enough at the moment so I m happy its surviving. I ve heard it could be a Chinese Ash bread any ideas how it should styled (if I m feeling adventurous!).

Thanks for replying anyway.


Kind regards,

Mark

jloeschner

A google search for this species did not turn up anything. There are entries for Fraxinus, which is an Ash tree, and Aspera, which is an Ethiopian weed. For what it is worth, a google definition of "aspera" is "rough" or "hard". Maybe the nursery or store you bought it from had the name mixed up, or just plain wrong. A picture would really help in correctly identifying this tree.

Regards,
John

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jloeschner

Hmmm...another search for "Japanese Ash" turned up the name "Fraxinus mandshurica var. japonica". Perhaps this is your tree?

__________________
Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement.

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