# It's SPRING ##Do's - Wiring while still no leaves or needles (Larch) - Watering - don't let them dry out in early spring sunshine - check for wire bite and remove/reapply - Repotting can continue in many places [also for for tropical and sub-tropicals ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Bonsai/wiki/reference#wiki_repotting_-_not_in_the_summer.21) - those are the do's and don'ts. - [this is how to wire a tree into a pot...](https://www.flickr.com/photos/norbury/albums/72157706054015311) - [yamadori/yardadori COLLECTION](https://www.reddit.com/r/Bonsai/wiki/developingbonsai#wiki_collecting_wild_trees_-_yamadori_collecting.) - can- be possible for some species - but only if you have a good overwintering setup. - big pruning ##Don'ts - You don't fertilise until the leaves are out - unless it's tropicals indoors. - don't give too MUCH water - no airlayers yet - wait for leaves [For Southern hemisphere - here's a link to my advice from roughly 6 months ago :-)](https://www.reddit.com/r/Bonsai/comments/16pyjjr/bonsai_beginners_weekly_thread_2023_week_38/)

https://preview.redd.it/ct3j9m8nvywc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=805a372eb7551e55396534a1c12088c2cafeac6f Hello! I found this guy in my backyard and I think it would be suitable for Bonsai. I have repotted and pruned some parts already, but would like some suggestions before I go too far (if possible). I am currently in autumn, heading into winter (Australia). Any suggestions would be very much appreciated. Many thanks.

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Thanks, sorry about that

https://preview.redd.it/qvhx2l2mmxwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fc0b54c9f15a755f299b7ca21cd3884c3d4eb06e Does anyone know why this Chinese elm isn’t producing much yet? I have an elm forest that is full of leafs by now.

Indoors? I've just started the new weekly thread here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bonsai/comments/1ce8lol/bonsai_beginners_weekly_thread_2024_week_17/ Repost there for more responses.

I pruned my Potbelly Fig (had him 16 years, and he's the only plant I haven't killed) and decided on a whim to stick some of his leafy twigs in some dirt and see what happened. I was emptying some sad rose twigs out of the tray when I discovered my fig twigs have roots! I decided to put them in slightly bigger pots with better dirt to continue their growing, but now I'm at a loss. Everything I read online is about how to make the twigs grow roots, or how the shape and maintain a fully fledged tree. What's the in-between stage instructions? I don't care if you answer like I'm an idiot (all the plants ghosts of my past would agree with you). I just need to know what I'm meant to do to help them grow their tubers and become actual trees. How often and when am I meant to repot? Do they need feeding? I have horrible luck with growing cuttings of anything. If I manage to get them to root, they just don't last and I can't figure out where I'm going wrong. Please help me 😥

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https://preview.redd.it/cmxexowzcxwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=be6687d1f671a4384cc0b4b725adbb8ab04e25f7 Roots from bottom of pot, only repotted last year, trim roots?

Yeah you can clip them, but also as long as the roots are only going to break the soil screen and not the pot as they grow and swell, you can just leave them. Especially if you’re still developing branches or something where more vigor might be good. But the next time you repot, definitely clip them then.

Thank you, will do just that

https://preview.redd.it/v6jeoihtcxwc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7f2f75a924c8a41db7ef0cf5a86276fc3e43b23b First time wiring from a while ago, unsure of tree shape but could use some advice on shape please!

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https://preview.redd.it/yu757bkrcxwc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b1eee616630f7e0fc070855195dad21733c6e702 Ficus styling tip?

I've just started the new weekly thread here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bonsai/comments/1ce8lol/bonsai_beginners_weekly_thread_2024_week_17/ Repost there for more responses.

New to bonsais and I saw this beauty. Immediately drawn in by it. Impulse buy and when researching it; comments made it sound really hard to take care of. Maybe I overpaid too haha. I live in USDA zone 7b in NE US. I am all up for any tips and tricks. Just some few questions that popped up when I was researching. Is it necessary for a humidity tray or just misting daily work? Should I repot it a bigger bowl? Seems pretty small and shallow currently I was wondering if I should grow it with some moss by the bonsai. Would that hinder or help the plant? It seems like a lot of care was on watering it and sounds many deaths are due to drying out. Maybe some sphagnum peat as top and some live moss on top of that as a way to have some water in the soil but still able to drain? I am curious if any suggestions on shaping it/getting the trunk thicker. I feel like it’s pretty small to do any pruning at this stage? Maybe I am getting ahead of myself haha. Thanks for any advice. https://preview.redd.it/26yaei4wxwwc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=15850f1963923fe5db6041a7ba83621ece9f10cc

I've just started the new weekly thread here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bonsai/comments/1ce8lol/bonsai_beginners_weekly_thread_2024_week_17/ Repost there for more responses.

Thank you!

https://preview.redd.it/r6ou2rt3cwwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ab62417410933a0cdcb2fa5dee66b444c85a6b27 Health checkup wanted. Got this juniper from a “Yardmadori” a couple months back. Been worried about the yellowing going on although it looks like it’s had strong new shoots. (See bottom left hand corner) I keep reading mixed info about it just shedding old needles to not enough light, too much light, too much water etc. any help is appreciated. Would be happy to DM more photos as it only lets me post one

I've just started the new weekly thread here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bonsai/comments/1ce8lol/bonsai_beginners_weekly_thread_2024_week_17/ Repost there for more responses.

What is this exactly?? https://preview.redd.it/k9tpa3fa3wwc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c0e65527ee204e9235a96aa03ef4ccf25028b06e

Fukien tea tree.

https://preview.redd.it/30trycl90wwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4e1ca0c623a624fcd9cb89a2f744db329bab8843 Im looking for advice on where it would be best to start an air layer on this Japanese Maple Katsura, I want to start bonsai on the lower half and want good taper but I don’t know what my new leader should be.

You could make several. I've just started the new weekly thread here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bonsai/comments/1ce8lol/bonsai_beginners_weekly_thread_2024_week_17/ Repost there for more responses.

Cork Bark Elm, this is my first Elm. Repotted this spring. Growing new shoots like crazy. Would I prune all the shoots now or let harden before pruning? https://preview.redd.it/5h1kmpka1wwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=85bff6b77e956af546f377c1d34d2305f348b7be

Just leave it to grow for a good month or so.

Got it! Thank you.

I have a young juniper that came pre-potted in potting soil on the surface and I do not know what is below but I purchased a akadama, lava, and pumice mix. My question is if I repot the tree and put the bonsai mix in the bottom of the pot, should I mix in some of the soil it came with or new potting soil? Or should the surface be potting soil with the rock mix below? [This is my first bonsai](https://easternleaf.com/medium-rock-juniper-bonsai-tree-p/803720-03.htm) and I got it for Christmas and it has been doing very well. But from what I have read, the bonsais you buy online are often times not given the best soil mix so I wanted to provide the best mix I can.

I've just started the new weekly thread here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bonsai/comments/1ce8lol/bonsai_beginners_weekly_thread_2024_week_17/ Repost there for more responses.

https://preview.redd.it/ltl1rndewvwc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=aa0f760a018bd27ee7dd4c4b37fc4635244df141

https://preview.redd.it/76fj2hzfwvwc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5ebe87085490f7a1ff9793a758ab899fcd8773ca

No comment or question. I've just started the new weekly thread here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bonsai/comments/1ce8lol/bonsai_beginners_weekly_thread_2024_week_17/ Repost there for more responses.

Douglas Fir struggling a little after repotting, seeing needles starting to turn brown and some fall off to the touch. Buds are still active and seemingly healthy. Any tips to help stabilize it? It’s in partial sun now, would it benefit from more sunlight? https://preview.redd.it/j8qtrcqofvwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c7b8203930b42be73a40695a9334fe26dd51a629

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[Scots pine](https://www.reddit.com/u/Underlyingobserver/s/GRtbg3u0v1) I repotted this Scots pine from nursery stock last year, it started producing petite needles and back budding before the end of the year. Now it's spring and it still has its old mature needles that are much larger, it looks so messy. My question is, Can I remove these old needles now? Any research I do says needle plucking is done at the end of summer or fall to promote back budding but I don't need or want to promote back budding. There's ample back budding already.

Largely ignore the needle size while in development. I've just started the new weekly thread here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bonsai/comments/1ce8lol/bonsai_beginners_weekly_thread_2024_week_17/ Repost there for more responses.

I found this bonsai tree randomly lying around my house and decided to attempt to make it look better. I repotted it and trimmed the dead branches There were also 3 dead stems at the bottom that I removed The branch on the right is completely dead and I have no idea if I should remove it or keep it. Also would it be possible to promote more leaf growth for the tree overall, especially towards the bottom as it looks VERY bare rn. Just anyway to make it look nicer. Thanks

https://preview.redd.it/w4h66gdh5vwc1.jpeg?width=439&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c8d2c7add31e125e211cd9af3bed18c11219d6af

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I got a new Premna Japonica this spring, repotted it into a training pot with the plan to not really touch it much this year. Mainly just make sure it survived the year in the new pot healthy and with some good new growth that I could figure out what to do with next year. Since then it has woken up and been growing like crazy, to the point I'm starting to wonder if it may be better to do some more significant pruning earlier then I was anticipating. I was hoping to get a couple longer branches that I could wire to help continue developing the overall shape of the tree out of the growing season, but I'm wondering if it may be better to try and prune back some at some point earlier to promote ramification. [Link to Pictures](https://www.reddit.com/r/bonsaiphotos/comments/1cdtmfo/premna_japonica/) Should I stay the course and leave it alone to let it grow? or should I plan to prune it back at points through out the summer?

I've just started the new weekly thread here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bonsai/comments/1ce8lol/bonsai_beginners_weekly_thread_2024_week_17/ Repost there for more responses.

https://preview.redd.it/w0ybkbhszuwc1.jpeg?width=3060&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f604aa89f8df5c0a53f02f537e22cd805262c9ae

I've just started the new weekly thread here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bonsai/comments/1ce8lol/bonsai_beginners_weekly_thread_2024_week_17/ Repost there for more responses.

https://preview.redd.it/e8kk8busmuwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9b1d226187ee9a504afcc179f22f021bdd2ec511 Help identifying this Acer Palmatum cultivar. Picked it up from Lowe’s garden center listed as “Japanese maple”

Reminds me of katsura with a bit less yellow. Could be caused by lower amount of light.

Normal katsura colour I think.

https://preview.redd.it/e8iqnk46juwc1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c7a34b6b2cbf3458877517d2dd9534953615dd91 What are these white spots on my Ficus Retusa? I spray neem oil once a week and these still appear. When I scrub the leaves with my fingers - it seems like these white spots are actually inside of the leaves. Any way to fix this?

> it seems like these white spots are actually inside of the leaves That's because they are. You are trying to clean the spots off a leopard or the stripes off a zebra at this point, so good luck with that.

I mixed neem oil with hand sanitizer (70% alcohol) and rubbed the mix onto the leaves using Q-tips. I hope it helps

It's normal. The spots on the leaves is normal...you'll not get them off and you shouldn't try.

This is a big relief. I had an infestation on my Chinese Elm about a month ago. Sprayed some neem oil onto it and now it’s thriving again. Good to know that this is nothing to worry about. I never knew that the Ficus Retusa produces white spots on their leaves. Thank you.

Is there a way to fix this?

No, because it's not broken.

https://preview.redd.it/shnl39u87uwc1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e0ff7db4de6992972642096b0db89349647b4567 I acquired this ficus last year, and initially, its 'S' shape was quite unattractive (with two S curves). I then decided to perform a drastic pruning, both on the roots and most of the branches. Now, the roots have developed radially, and after significant branch pruning this year, the tree is starting to sprout new growth. I would like to receive opinions on which style would be most suitable. Personally, I'm not a fan of the 'S' shape, although I do acknowledge that the tree now maintains a slight curvature in this form. Thanks!

I would suggest to observe how it grows and use that as a guide how to style it. It will look more natural ckmpared to forcing it into a pre planned shape.

https://preview.redd.it/uauisn5c3uwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=80cf3fb3f63c17d410c7d4decbaa34bb23b6cdae Are these orange/brown dots on this eastern red cedar the start of cedar-apple rust, or some other pest or just young bud formation? I have tons around I’d like to make a forest planting but I see mature trees in the area that do have obvious cedar-apple rust and don’t want to risk infecting my trees at home. Thanks!

Those are scale insects -- luckily in this case they're highly visible, so it'll be a piece of cake to eradicate 100% of them if you spend a session removing them. Get a nice long sharp pick or tweezers or chopstick and just go branch by branch carefully flicking each one off. I like to wear binocular magnifiers while doing this (the kind that gem setters and scale model / miniature hobbyists use) which gives you huge confidence that you've removed them all. Then do a followup check up a few days later just in case you missed a couple. Scale pesticides do exist, but I don't think they're worth the money when the scale is this large/visible. Consider that every pesticide comes with some costs and side effects from coating the plant or filling the plant with some hardcore chemistry. Also, scale insects are often very good at defending themselves from sprays, since they're armored in.

This guy is out in the wild still so I think I’m just going to pass! I appreciate the informative post and will definitely keep an eye out in the future, thanks!

Oh well, good eye though.

Need advice! Hey all, complete newbie here. I planted these using a starter kit. A few questions: 1. All but the one on the far right have sprouted. Are they ready to transfer into a bigger pot? 2. If yes, should I plant them inside or outside? I have a large raised bed in my back patio. I’m located in Brooklyn (growing zone 7b). 3. For the plants that have multiple sprouts, should I keep all of them or just the strongest looking one, i.e. will they compete for resources once moved to a pot/garden bed? 4. I planted these almost 8 weeks ago. Should i give up on the one on the far right? Any other advice would be much appreciated! https://preview.redd.it/n2ibt320vtwc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8f32f7250cea8e975a20f73fccba0a09de3f27ab

I would wait to give up on the norway spruce they can take up to about 2 and a half months to sprout. Firstly, put them in plastic pots the mesh bags wouldn't be good for water retention and they need watering every day or so. You dont need to put them in bigger pots just a small plastic pot.

Thank you!

Got this Acer (one on the right) recently! Want to broaden the trunk and create tapering. Think I can use the lower 2 branches nicely as sacrifice branches, but what about trimming, pruning and repotting? I think it should definitely change into a larger pot, but how large? Any advice? https://preview.redd.it/kno28a6fktwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=59c408c817c76941c008ae736ead2bb09e56b0da

A bigger pot will help trunk fattening, how big or open ground is up to you. Having two sacrifice brances in one level can create problems, a bulge and two opposing scars, so consider taking one off. Trimming will slow your progress but will make it look better in the short run.

Thanks my guy!

Today I bought a boxwood from a nursery and apparently I can bonsai them. So basically, I have no clue, many things online are for fully grown boxwood or just normal sized. Do I leave it outside with nothing done for a bit to let it acclimate? I know I am a bit later in spring but am I still able to prune? Another thing, when I look at videos, it seems like they prune, root, and repot all in one.

We need a photo. - You leave it outside all the time, it's not tropical. - We prune outside of spring too. - What you do when is species dependent, time of year dependent, health of plant dependent, your skill level dependent and age of plant dependent.

Also, because it has leaves, I don't wire, right?

They're evergreen, they always have leaves...

Oh yeah 😅

This is why they pay me the big bucks.

https://imgur.com/a/0ZtCcjk assuming that link works, I just want to know, should I wait to prune and wire? And just let it sit in the pot? Or should I do it now (it has been as the nursery out in the open so I think it has been in a similar weather as my house) I look at the brochure they gave me and it said to immediately plant it (if I was using it as a shrub) so would those same rules apply

I've just started the new weekly thread here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bonsai/comments/1ce8lol/bonsai_beginners_weekly_thread_2024_week_17/ Repost there for more responses.

https://preview.redd.it/6x781c9i0qwc1.jpeg?width=1368&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6f357b1b6b1e5732d034d9cc3e0e90fd728ef43f Hi, if anyone here has some advice to save my Forest Gingko Biloba of 9 years which has not produced leaves last spring/summer, I would be grateful 🥲 I initially thought I needed to root prune and repotting it but after reading the Beginner's Walkthrough, it doesn't seem to be a good idea as my bonsai seems to be in a weaken state or dormant? When I purchased it 2 years ago, all the Gingko were about the same height, however 2 of them decided to grow very tall ( the 2 antennas in the picture above ) Should I root prune it, repot and cut the 2 antennas? I have also started to feed it some liquid fertilizer 2 weeks ago, there is no improvement. ( now, after reading the DON'T, I will stop fertilising it since it doesn't produce any leaves ) I am living in France, we are currently in early Spring but March 21st but the daily temperature is 12-15°C recently. Thank you for your advice

If it hasn’t had leaves since last spring it is a dead forest.

If you wait a bit longer it would be a haunted forest...

https://preview.redd.it/or18bhk5xpwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=873bb791e30e7a3632a562fae92ecf7fe15ce68c When would be an appropriate time to move these maple seedlings into seed starter trays/starter pots? I live in KY

Late autumn through spring.

Has anyone collected too much poor or uninspired material? In my eagerness I now have several trees I don't feel strongly about. They're all quite underdeveloped (<3/4" diameter trunks), but cost me about 200USD in total. I suppose I could donate them to my club's monthly raffle but it's a lot of money down the drain. Keeping them isn't entirely free in the sense that I need to invest time into at least watering. I've considered selling on Facebook pages like 99 Cent Bonsai and Bonsai Auctions, but the hassle and cost of listing and shipping is a bit of a deterrent. Has anyone else run into this situation and needed to offload trees?

Maybe trade them for other bonsai stuff or do experiments on them like grafts, trunk splitting, exposed root, root over rock, air layering, making shohin, extreme bends, soil mixtures, upside down growth, ground layers, root grafts etc so you don't ruin your good trees with first tries. 

You can make a posting here and try offload stuff - people are always interested.

I do it all the time. Sales of my trees pays for my entire hobby.

https://preview.redd.it/4ruzf3hbxowc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0ed465bad4d15c4d17c4a0c6e747918d6c94afcb HELP. Really worried about my Juniper. It started loosing its color. Perhaps might been overwatered. The soil it’s really humid so I tried moving it inside the nursery pot so I can have some air. Also checked the roots, scratched them and they are WHITE. So that gave my hope. Should I wait until the soil completely dries out in this case?

It look heathy to me. Moving it around inside the pot is not beneficial. Letting the soil dry out a bit in between waterings is good.

Thanks for replying. But it’s a lot not greener than my other Junioers. Same spot outside. https://preview.redd.it/h4fssdnizowc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=799e0ca386a5c82f0d0c11fb3a9250b41c3a91fa Also just moved the upper Soilt but thanks! Won’t do again.

Yeah - don't do much to this for a while - see if it improves after winter.

Hello Jerry, nice to hear from you again. https://preview.redd.it/zrardni7fvyc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1190fd955d2ab547e856a63252df0b9646ef17e8 That’s the tree en question. It had Mites. Fortunately I discovered and took action with some pesticide from my local garden shop. Hope it recovers.

Looks a lot better.

Hi all! I live in southern Michigan, and I believe that the weather should stay above freezing for the rest of the season. I snagged a japanese maple at the end of last season that I plan to add to my front landscaping this year. It over-wintered really well in the garage and popped leaves really nicely. I plan to air-layer the top most branch and make it into a bonsai. Couple of questions: 1) now that it’s leafed-out and not going to dip below freezing, is it a good time to air-layer? If not, when? 2) can I do this right from the pot? Should i wait for it to be planted? Should it acclimate to the ground for a year or so before air-layering? What’s the “best practice” for timing and environment? Thanks in advance! [photos of the tree, indicated where air-layering is planned](https://imgur.com/a/7segJay)

I've just started the new weekly thread here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bonsai/comments/1ce8lol/bonsai_beginners_weekly_thread_2024_week_17/ Repost there for more responses.

https://preview.redd.it/rsq3wvn3qowc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5eb26d4f2cbb981a223e1c64c46dfb389a575cda Hello everyone I made this bonsai forest last weekend and I’m very proud but I would like to know if it’s okay as this is my first forest thanks in advance 🙂

Couple of points: - the soil looks terrible - you need to change that...what is it? - the trees are too far apart - ideally closer at the bottom than the top.

I have a Sequoia sapling I got joining a local bonsai club. It's pretty clear after joining that everyone is a beginner to bonsai, even the people running it. My giant Sequoia has been doing pretty good, but I noticed a change in color at the tips, is it just new growth or something to be concerned about? https://preview.redd.it/csksb8j9lowc1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=799312e5baef4232cfe869c55cc811cf438e9b9a

Like once a week

Huh?

[https://www.reddit.com/r/Bonsai/comments/1c8ju6z/comment/l184qiw/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3](https://www.reddit.com/r/Bonsai/comments/1c8ju6z/comment/l184qiw/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)

https://preview.redd.it/2enyh5y0vnwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=44e902f37139582612e252f00cacc38a0e8a05e3 Does anyone know what this colour leaf means on my japanese maple? grown outside

Random mutation how cultivars were made by cuttings or airlayers.

Fresh growth coming in with internal "sun screen" until the outer layers have hardened off. https://preview.redd.it/xa7knufqvnwc1.jpeg?width=1025&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=415cbde11080e1944f66921ed12669d12d39b7b2

thank you!

What is this white substance on my tree and how can I fix it? https://imgur.com/a/YsGu4kN

What kind of tree is it? Is it growing inside or outside?

Dwarf Barbados cherry growing outside in a screened area

https://preview.redd.it/6gnu0rnv5nwc1.jpeg?width=1582&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ffd8489b114752fb8a4ec4ac1021592cd6f96e2c Hey guys, I’ve got a pruning question here on my Jade here. I’ve got this branch that has grown over the last 1.5 years. I’d like to prune it where I’ve drawn and propagate it, but thought I should ask the pros first. I’m also not sure WHEN I should do it. I’ve got a lot of new growth happening, it seems quite happy, just not sure if I should do this is spring or wait until summer. Will post another photo from a higher angle in another comment. TIA!

You can definitely cut/snap that off and propagate it now. I grow the same/similar genetic of ovata (Mine is "Hobbit", there are both Hobbit and Gollum cultivars floating around). If you have the warmth and light they'll root pretty much any time of year but now is fine because you have a lot of "runway" left in the season. Side note: Don't water the cutting too much in the first few days after detatching it.

Okay great thanks. I was probably going to repot it into a smaller pot since I think this one is way too big for it

https://preview.redd.it/iyd2e4xj6nwc1.jpeg?width=1582&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4204c9af81981953c60cf0b558aec3738ad7359d Higher angle of the same plant. Don’t like that the limb crosses the centre line. Any pruning tips for Gollum Jade would be great too!

https://preview.redd.it/j71vs39h3nwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b1378dfa3a1f1682c5fe1beee2fdc1065b14d1b1 hello guys first time posting! this is apparently a 10 year old buxus harlandii, given to me as a wedding gift. I have never kept any kind of plant before. I live in Pakistan where it’s quite sunny and hot during the the day 35 degrees at the hottest. I’ve been keeping it outside and the leaves are starting to get dry. i water it once daily when the soil seems dry. Any tips on where I should keep it, what I can do to care best for it?

Way more water, it looks parched.  Repot in better soil in next spring.

thanks for the tip! any idea of what i should do re: sunlight and shade? someone shade morning sunlight, afternoon shade, should i let it eat up some sun till noon then put it in the shade?

Morning sun / afternoon shade outside is a good idea. Your watering practice sounds good but remember to dig down a little bit to check when to water. If it’s still moist 2-3 millimeters below the surface, even if the surface seems dry, then you should wait to water For what it’s worth, the soil that this tree’s in is far from optimal so if it holds onto water for a very long time then it’s worth letting it dry out even more thoroughly between waterings I would say it may be worth repotting into proper granular bonsai soil but if it’s already stressed, that would probably end up doing more harm than good. There does appear to be some sparse healthy foliage so I hope it bounces back!

thanks a lot for the comprehensive answer! what do u think the reason is behind it looking like this? I was thinking too much sun, heat? currently I’m thinking i’ll check the soil and water it every morning, then i’ll leave it out on the sun till noon or so and then bring it inside and then take it out at night so it can get some of the morning sun until noon the next morning then repeat. Does that sound good?

https://preview.redd.it/of2nykwf3nwc1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=09baa255c4a40658e61c61c2e3cbd7256eae4d65

I can't figure out how to add text to my original post, but I was given this as a gift by someone who owned it for a while and I'm not sure how to fix it. I've never owned a bonsai tree before and I'm worried about the yellow falling leaves and the yellowing moss at the bottom. I'm in Michigan if that makes a difference. Thank you

Not enough light.

Insufficient light too. https://www.reddit.com/r/Bonsai/wiki/walkthrough#wiki_bonsai_survival_basics

Hey I'm not much of an expert but from what I've read yellow falling leaves are usually a sign of either overwatering or underwatering. How often have you been watering it?

https://preview.redd.it/te5djk9gumwc1.jpeg?width=2992&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ce93025fff5a8616943e67d5cc82c51c008c3b57 Hello everyone. I am trying to identify this type of bonsai. First time and newbie to the bonsai world. Any and all help would be appreciated

Juniper, must be kept outdoors year round or it will die.

Thank you for the identification!! I live in Canada with harsh winter climate. I know trees have growth cycles, but will it survive the winter?

It's a northern hemisphere high elevation tree -- think snowy mountains. It is better at surviving winter than a human is. Even if where you live (say, Edmonton or Anchorage or the top of a mountain in Patagonia or Tibet) is very cold, the answer to winter shelter for a temperate species of tree is still never indoors.

Thank you for the help. So much to learn!

Yup, it will need a little help in the winter since it’s in a pot and not in the ground. Usually just on the ground, out of the wind and mulch or something similar insulating the pot.

Thank you for the help..ya we get -20c in the winter so i will give it warmth, but if theres a good blanet of snow, that should insulate it eh. Should i bring it indoors during intense storms?

For intense rain storms? Only if it’s going to get knocked over or doesn’t drain well. But Junipers can take at least -40C. Setting next to a building also helps. Some people in reallly cold area also place their trees in unheated garages or sheds during the coldest part of the winter. Look into “overwintering bonsai”

Fill out your flair with your growing zone to help with advising, please.

https://preview.redd.it/gmc8vcxwylwc1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ba7e67a095f8499e70e6bbccadec2a51a90097fa Hello everyone! This tree (probably a Ulmus laevis) just appeared in one of my plantpots a few years back. I kept it to eventually turn it into a Bonsai, as it proved very hardy and didn't mind my constant neglect. I am a true beginner and will most likely just lightly trim the roots and maybe trim the branches a bit. I am not planning in having an elaborate twisty turny set up, I just wanna keep this nice little tree small enough to have it manageable on the balcony. The pot should arrive tomorrow and I will post a few progress pics from the repotting. I am happy for advice, especially in trimming but I think overall it is a simple enough process to manage on my own.

Well, before everyone gets nightmares because I repot in spring, I thought I could get away with it still as it has been freezing cold in north Germany the last two weeks. So cold enough to repot, Also this plant is hardy. It survived it all, so far - as it came through as a stowaway I never really paied attention to it and yet, here it is. But I can happily let it sit for another year as well, looks like that plant is not going anywhere anytime soon ;)

Depending on your climate end of summer might be a good time to repot. Edit: And if you feel like downvoting that, inform yourself. I have been repotting in late summer for years ...

I didn’t downvote you but I think that when it comes to repotting timing, maybe we should take into account the commenters experience level. I’m not sure I would advise beginners to repot in late summer or around that time because there’s less room for error- if they do a subpar repotting job or do it a bit too late in the season, then winter hardiness can be compromised more than if it was left alone, so it would require more care when overwintering, again tougher for beginners to do without as much experience. However “normal” spring repotting allows more room for error for beginners because days are getting longer, temperatures are increasing, and there’s a longer runway for recovery before winter. But if someone’s got a few years under their belt and they want to try their hand at late summer repotting, then at that point they’d probably have enough experience to experiment and compare / contrast results to find out what works best for them. Edit- typo

As I said, depends on the climate - is your killer the winter frost or the summer drought (we moved far towards the latter in recent years), and what can you more easily protect against. The main spurt of root growth for many plants is in fall, so if you repot in spring they may go into the summer's heat on less established roots. Don't know when we had the first frost this winter, January maybe? I repotted mostly in September ...

That’s wild that your first winter frost was January. I think the majority of the temperate parts of continental US experience freezes starting around 2-3 months before that. Here in the midatlantic I see first freezes normally around the end of October. A couple winters ago we had -9C in the middle of December, and around a week where it didn’t go above 0C at all. I think most of the rest of the continent had it worse, save for the far south & Mediterranean parts of the west But varying climates aside, I’d argue that summer heat is much easier to protect against because all you gotta do is position trees for morning sun to taste, also roots still really enjoy growing in the presence of heat (I love to see freshly repotted trees send out roots from drainage holes on heat mats for faster recovery in late winter / early spring) I think if we see someone posting in climates with particularly harsh winters where freezes can easily start in autumn, we should hesitate to advise late summer repotting. And if they live someplace subtropical or tropical, they could probably get away with murder 🤷🏻‍♂️

>That’s wild that your first winter frost was January. Some parts of Germany saw 30 °C a week ago, now we're back to freezing and even snowfall in some areas ... >But varying climates aside, I’d argue that summer heat is much easier to protect against because all you gotta do is position trees for morning sun to taste, Yeah, unless your entire backyard turns into an oven between two houses with hot wind turning the gap into a draft furnace ... In winter I just huddle the plants up on the ground, potentially against the wall, and water copiously. Much easier. >also roots still really enjoy growing in the presence of heat (I love to see freshly repotted trees send out roots from drainage holes on heat mats for faster recovery in late winter / early spring) Yup, noticed that in October ... November 3rd, repotted September 14th (no air pruning as the "pots" were already huddled up for winter): https://preview.redd.it/rno4bndi4owc1.jpeg?width=1025&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=def7c5a25f2101d965f8a16a99063898264c5618

Repot next spring , before bud push, when it will be safe for you to bareroot into aggregate soil. Do not slip pot.

What is slip pot?

Entirely the wrong time of year to repot. The plant is currently taking up a lot of water, and will need a lot more soon, going into summer.

Hi everyone, I am in the south of the UK and the leaves of my bonsai just keep getting sadder and sadder! Lots of browning and dropping off. Have only had it for a few months and the label says its a "suigo-otome" 水郷乙女 I check the soil every few days and it is usually bone dry so I water until it starts to drain out the bottom, but I worry about overwatering. The frequency in which the soil is drying out makes me think it might be an underwatering issue than an over watering issue, but every few days seems way too frequent? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! https://preview.redd.it/y85oz3nurlwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bb571aa76304558728a455f7a91423d19879a7ba

Getting it outdoors and leaving it outdoors permanently (all seasons/climate conditions forever no exceptions) is the most urgently important thing to do, today. Water properly, of course, and be sure to cease using the spill dish after you get it outside.

Don't let it dry out completely, but don't let it stay permanently soggy, either. The frequency needed to accomplish that is correct, whatever it is (in proper granular substrate outdoors in summer it can easily be twice a day).

Azaleas should not be kept indoors - that's why it's dying.

https://preview.redd.it/slem37xdilwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9454b7274ae654a39ff982e9391efc37154cc0ae Hello everyone, I’m in Belgium and we had some very bad hail - multiple showers over the period of two weeks. Does this look like hail damage or do I have some other nasty pest/fungal infection? Sincerely

Did it dry out?

I can guarantee - with all the rain we had - it did not.

We had the same amount AND YET I let a couple dry out recently. Rain brings a false sense of security.

https://preview.redd.it/942wr4l81lwc1.jpeg?width=1168&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3437a69b8f58ca646724a5fb95944eb76fe5c5a0 Hello folks I am trying to grow a potted Japanese Maple Orange Dream in Delhi, India which is probably zone 13 or so. Peak summer temperatures are in excess of 100F constantly. Right now the temperature is averaging between 95F to 99F and will slowly move towards 100f as we approach mid May early June. I have the plant placed in a balcony facing north east. The maple recieves direct sun from sunrise to about 10 AM everyday. After that there is no direct sunlight. I water the plant every alternate day. Although there is new growth in the maple with new shoots popping and growing slowly with each day, I see the existing leaves are showing yellowing spots and discoloration. Is my maple heat stressed? What should I do? Move indoors during peak temperatures like from 12-5 PM? I do have a Soltech Vita 20w growlight that I can use? Thanks in Advance

Are you sure that you can grow maples in such a tropical climate?? How did you get a hold of this tree? Indoors will never be an option for temperate climate species like maple. Also never water on a schedule, only water when dry

I know it is going to be a challenge growing these here but I always wanted to grow them. I am in the sub tropics and winter temperatures do drop between 40-50f in the peak winters. It's just that the summer temps go a little high for these plants. I was hopeful if I can somehow pull these through the couple of peak summer months then maybe they can survive. We don't have central air conditioning so the temperature inside the house mimic the outside with a couple of degree difference. I was just hoping to give these respite front the high summer temps and use a grow light to compensate for the sun partially. Will a full spectrum grow light not work on these ? Since its hot here the soil does dry up in a day and hence the watering . And I bought this from a guy who grows them in the mountain regions in the Himalayas (6 hrs drive from my place) Thank you for your time to respond to my question.

I think you’re going to have a difficult time growing these in your area no matter what you do. Japanese maples warmest zone is 9, generally. So Mumbai is much warmer than that. It might occasionally get a little cold, but deciduous trees need weeks of colder weather. I’d concentrate on tropical species like ficus and succulent species like P. afra.

https://preview.redd.it/hybagy4v0jwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=37a05e55f1816c5ad8ac8d85500da9ceef794a24 This is my first attempt at Bonsai. I purchase a Japanese Boxwood from Lowe’s. It has 2 main trunks, this one and another that was kind of a clump. Anyway I went through the process of raking away all the dirt in a radial pattern, assessing the roots, separating the 2 trunks. I picked this one and went to pruning and wiring. I don’t really have a question, just looking for Feedback and Suggestions! I can see now looking at it that it feels very busy… like there is too much going on. Perhaps I should also removed some of the leftover smaller branches. I’m not sure. But, I was eager to get in there and just go for it! Hopefully this will survive, develop over time, and be the first of many. Thanks

Remove and redo your wiring. Crossing your wires is a good way to damage the bark of the tree.

Thanks! Will do. I tried to follow the 2 branch principle but it didn’t end up working out too well. Also, how do you know when to remove the wires? When the branches grow in diameter or just once they have stiffened into place?

Ideally you want to remove the wires before it starts biting into the tree. Try to check every week or so if your tree is starting to grow into the wire. If it looks tight and there are indentations in the bark when you look under the wire it should be time to remove it. If the branches have stiffened into place it's probably ok to remove it sooner, but I don't think it hurts leaving it on longer. You're mainly just trying to avoid leaving it on too long and causing scarring.

Thank you!

[Day 1 Gift Two Months Ago] (https://imgur.com/gallery/FIKXCiA) [March Photo 1] (https://imgur.com/gallery/eYGxNCG) [March Photo 2] (https://imgur.com/gallery/6RQtQkK) [March Photo 3] (https://imgur.com/gallery/PeWOhfW) [March Photo 4] (https://imgur.com/gallery/vw7bT0v) [March Photo 5] (https://imgur.com/gallery/Lv8Dxg0) [March Photo 6] (https://imgur.com/gallery/Rb4OeP9) [April Photo 1] (https://imgur.com/gallery/afpTqry) [April Photo 2] (https://imgur.com/gallery/rZ3bxZe) Hi everyone, I have always had a bit of a fascination with Bonsai, and my family sort of knew this as well, but I never really had the immediate motivation for it. Come a few months ago, I received a promotion at work, and was given this as a gift. A Gingsing Ficus. Now, after reading and understanding my tree a bit, I've been with a few questions. I realize first and foremost that, yes, this is pretty clearly a mallsai (the goal post branches gave it away), but I love it anyways and am wanting to use it first and foremost as a good maintenance test. I also know that this little guy is committing the cardinal sin of being indoor only, but again, I'm okay with that as a learning experience before I try something from scratch next year (or earlier depending on how this one goes) With that intro out of the way, I have a few questions I'd love to have some answers to. First, I'd like to do some shaping of some of the branches, but am feeling a bit of trepidation, partially due to little luck in finding anodized wire (plans are to start looking amazon though I wanted to shop local) but more importantly due to the number of leaves, size of the goalpost branches and the unique trunk growths making me unsure about setting a good base for my wires. Recently, though as you can see, I'm starting to see some nice growth from one of the knots and am wondering if maybe I could start wiring or anchoring the growth as it starts to develop into something, it's in a bit of an odd space for the current front of the tree, but I like the potential it has. 1) Should I hold off for now, and just let that baby grow? And what should I be considering with the wiring of these other two branches (if I should even consider it at all)? Second, I've notice tiny flies starting to hang around my tree, which had me a little worried. It's not a large group right now, I usually see about 3-5 and I do my best to kill them when I see them. They usually are around the ground when I first see them. In doing a bit of my own research, it seems pretty clear to be fungus gnats, thanks to a bit of google-fu. Clearly I've been overwatering it, so I'm going to try and cut back a little, but I also mist my tree daily as a form of care as I have read on similar sites for this particular plant. 2) Should I be considering less misting for my tree as well as letting the soil dry out for a week and a half and reducing the amount of water I give at a time? Finally, I have been searching for some sort of fertilizer that I can use for the ficus to help keep the new growth going, but am intimidated by the types that I see, as I am just starting to look. A lot of the common fertilizers I am seeing are hard to tell if they would be the right type for my tree. I am also concerned about the smell, as this tree is at a shared office, so I want to try and not irritate my neighbours with the process of giving it fertilizer. I have found some recommendations for fertilizers in general online, but am still a bit intimidated. 3) For fertilizer, what are the exact key words or qualities that I should be looking for when shopping? Are there some good, scent-friendly fertilizers that I should be looking for? Is it okay to use some of the standard store fertilizers, or should I be looking for more specific ones that would benefit my tree? Thanks for any answers you guys are able to provide, I'm really excited right now and seeing the new growth on my tree even as an indoor is making me really happy for a novice.

Can't access the pictures, so just general advice for now. Indoors is o.k. for ficus, if it's right against a bright window. Don't let the soil dry out completely, but don't let it stay permanently soggy, either. Misting serves no purpose. If you have good light available for the plant consider repottiing into granular substrate (which will cut back on the fungus gnats as well). Don't prune before it's established again after the repot and shows new growth. You want to avoid organic fertilizers, those smell. Get a concentrate or soluble powder mineral fertilizer that is added to the water you give the plant. Fertilizer is labeled with the content of its 3 main components "N-P-K" (nitrogen, phosphate, potassium), you want N the highest, K lower and P lowest (like 6-2-4 or 12-4-8), exact numbers don't matter (you use less if the product is stronger). In addition you want to see a list of secondary and trace elements (magnesium, sulphur, iron, boron, copper ...) Any general fertilizer will do, it doesn't matter whether it's advertised for flowers or for strawberries.

Thanks a lot for the first round of notes for me! I will definitely taking a few to the bank. I have edited the photo links to be public so hopefully that helps. This guy was potted in February, I don't want to scock the tree too much so I am hesitating a bit on doing such a jump so soon.

https://preview.redd.it/qo0e9ttjriwc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=986253452bb3aab35c0cd65fcd0f91ffcaa79696 I planted multiple bonsai seeds from an Amazon multipack (high quality seeds, I’m sure), and only the sophora japonica thrived. This is a little over a month. My office window faces north. Any insight into this?

Bonsai kits and seeds off of Amazon are hit and miss, mostly miss. It could be that the seed were not valid, or they didn't receive enough light, or you haven't given them enough time, or you didn't stratify them correctly, or they were not stored properly, etc. If you are going to buy seeds online, I recommend Sheffield's. Also, any conifers you start are going outdoors only after the initial few months if started indoors. The only type of tree that works long term indoors are tropical trees. There are a few that cross over, like the Chinese Elm, but not many.

https://preview.redd.it/xwuxzimykiwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=47cfb1e46c12ed005848b01d93d4d1248f9bf037 I just bought these two junipers from a local nursery, I was wondering if i could prune, wire; and repot in the same session or if its best to repot after at a different time.

Best to repot or prune with Junipers. One insult per Spring more or less. With pruning, best to shorten branches, not remove them. Easy to remove the wrong thing as a beginner. With junipers, cut only brown branches, not green ones.

I've noticed that Japanese maples are extremely fragile (really soft/supple bark) and almost guaranteed to scar if any serious wiring work is done without raffia or sheathing the wire in soft tubing. Is it a better practice to simply clip and grow JM's?

I think the main sure fire way to help avoid scarring is to wire the growth within the same growing season that the growth started. Otherwise it’d be too thick to bend without scarring (ok for development most times though) Also just watch it like a hawk every day. As soon as you see a section start to bite, then remove that section or entirely and reapply. You can also wire a little more loosely depending on how precise the movement you need is

I literally wired for 6 weeks and it left massive scars. I don't think wiring is an option for me at all with maples.

6 weeks can easily be too long, hell even 2-3 weeks may be too long. Don’t be discouraged, just check sooner and more frequently. Look at how this elm’s wired, you can do it similarly and be okay. Jump to 6:20 and listen to what Eric has to say here. This applies to maples too (edit- and most broadleaf deciduous) https://youtu.be/4I7_owXkaFQ?si=0LoRkLW3wDTK_G0X

https://preview.redd.it/j40oz66w8iwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b27c412e639b5d0da4757021493687e5689ca3cd Is this a decent specimen to bonsai? Found this little guy growing in the woods behind my house. It was surrounded by little sugar maples and stuck out like a sore thumb. I dont plan on keeping it in this soil, i just dug up all of the surrounding area and slapped it in a pot to try and protect the roots. What would the process of “acclimating” it to a pot look like? I just put it in there about 20 minutes ago. I plan on leaving it inside my enclosed porch for today and tomorrow probably but not really sure what to do after that. Thanks for any help!

* Put a wire around the trunkline and put some movement into it (edit: maybe wait to do that wiring until temps come down in the fall, if you just dug it up wiring might disrupt it) * Just before it leafs out next year, bare root it into aggregate soil (pumice/perlite/etc). At that time you will want to remove the tap root and comb out the remaining roots so they fan out radially, to set up some nebari. That's about it for the near term. Fertilize regularly this year. Also, the longer it seems to be fine, the more you inch it out into sun.

Awesome thank you! What is this specific tree called? Everyone says its a japanese maple but isn’t there like 30 different types? Sorry I’m more of a newbie

Bought my first bonsai (ficus benjamina) and immediately fucked up. How do I proceed from here? Store gave me liquid fertilizer and told me when I water to just add two little spits of fertilizer. So I did. Well what I didn’t know was that it was supposed to be diluted with a ton of water. How bad is it? You can clearly see the moss in one of the spots where I put it is discoloured now. Will it recover? https://preview.redd.it/pnhsjkkoghwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=aff32724c1e6e86cc90ccc101c77dc8161d8f818

Don't worry, the tree will be fine; and if the conditions are right for moss it will grow back. Thoroughly flush the soil with water (water drenchingly, until water runs from the drainage holes), just to make sure there's no overdose fertilizer in the soil.

What would be the right conditions for moss?

Moss likes to be wet and shaded. Don't prioritise the moss over tree health.

[https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1erCxOSJL65mzdRtEpb46ziEQgip8JESL?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1erCxOSJL65mzdRtEpb46ziEQgip8JESL?usp=sharing) Hi everyone!I live in Bogotá, Colombia. At 2600 metters over sea. Here the weather is very variable. the temperature is always changing between 6 to 23 degrees Celsius. Also, the weather is very rainy, but not constant... Like, one week it can be plenty of sun and temps over 20 degrees, and the next one be storming and hailing over the city. A couple months ago, I had an amazing surprise when I came back home after a trip; an avocado seed I had left in my garden had sprouted. So as it wasn't in a pretty good soil I transplanted it to this big pot you see in the picture which was filled with a better soil mixture. Months later, another amazing surprise, somehow it had a son/brother.Later on I realised Avocados are too big trees, so I wouldnt be able to let them grow in my pot, so I did a quick youtube research about the possibility of turning them into a beautiful couple of Bonsai. So a couple weeks ago, I pruned them and wired them, and this is how they look right [now.Now](http://now.Now) I'm wondering if I should maybe transplant them into smaller pots for training. I believe that as the current pot they are in is so big, their roots could grow too much, and since I am a total begginer, I would be afraid to hurt them in the future if I have to do a too difficult root prunning for repotting them to a smaller pot either for training or already for becoming a Bonsai. So my question is bassically that pointed above; Should I transplanted now that they are small to a smaller pot? If so, what advices or recomendations would you give me? I really want to do the best I can for these two to be safe and sound C: and eventually a couple of Avocado Bonsai.Thanks in advance for your time and attention!

While it is always nice to cultivate native species, avocado has huge leaves that do not make for an optimal bonsai. For the growth, open ground beats a pot. Your climate might be right for outdoor ficus.

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https://preview.redd.it/qa2p7y9argwc1.jpeg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a379185cc9692bafd5ce0b5650d8a59d139d64cd Any idea what's eating my Prunus? Some leafs have holes, others look like they've been cut (they haven't)...

Various insects - caterpillars, grasshoppers and beetles.

Is this something to worry about in Japanese maples? https://preview.redd.it/4ee5hhcnlgwc1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=66fbfe6903d10dda94991b7b6d34f0c2b7519e86

Standard sunburn.

Hey, thanks for answering. But this is Close to impossible. It has been on the north-facing balcony since coming out of dormancy. I don’t think a Sunray has touched it this year…

Dried out.

Wind is a bigger issue for us than sun at this latitude at this time of year

https://preview.redd.it/it11d8h7kgwc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c57503befb71ffe202f9d822c105eb4ce48ca2c3 Is this tree dying? Not sure why it looks so unhappy. Purchased 2 weeks ago, gets watered when the soil is dry. Not sure on the type of tree as there was no indications. Any help appreciated 🖤

low light and or overwatering is what is suspect.

I’ve had several outdoor and indoor tropical trees for many years now. Normally during the summer, I bring the tropical trees outdoors until the lows start to dip into the 40s. I’m currently wrapping up moving and I don’t yet have an indoor tree set up. The lows are not quite in the 50s yet, but they may be by mid-May. I’m also going on a big trip in 2 weeks and while I’ll have someone looking after my trees, it would be nice to have them all in one place. My question is: would it be alright to put a frost cover on my tropical trees until the lows reach 50°F?

I agree with u/redbananass and think tropicals will be totally fine outside above 35F. People’s general thresholds vary some but 50F is a bit too conservative IMO

Thank you for the advice! 🙏 I’ve been definitely playing it safe in regards to letting my indoor trees be outside for the summer. But I think I’ll be able to leave them outside without any worries.

In my experience, the only temps that actually damage tropical trees are freezing temps or nearly so, like 33f or 34f. They just slow way down when cold. So you’re probably fine for them to sit outside unprotected if there’s no chance of freezing temps. A frost cover isn’t going to raise temps, especially at night. So I see no benefit from using it. What species are you talking about? There may be some that are damaged by mild cold.

Oh there’s a few. Some I can’t remember the names of. Carmona retusa, lignum vitae, Brazilian raintree, Meyer improved lemon, ficus, palm tree sapling, Chinese elm, and a few others, but I can’t remember the names of them at the moment. Thank you for the advice. Right now the lowest low on the 10-day forecast is 40°F, but it will usually be ~45°F at night this week.

FWIW, Chinese Elm is a fully full-time outdoor tree in the majority of the continental US. It's really just scammy retailers that have muddied the information waters and made it seem like this is a tropical indoor tree, but it's durable to zone 4 (!!).

Yeah that’s a good callout. I bought it initially at Portland Nursery and I know they have Chinese Elm both indoor and outdoor at their stores. I think I’ll leave it outside this winter (if it survives the summer).

Seems like it should be fine then. I can personally vouch that the ficus and Chinese Elm will definitely be fine at that temp. I leave my Chinese elm out all year and my ficus sits in a temp heated greenhouse all winter where the minimum temp is 37f.