Fertilizing, humidity trays and pruning - January 20th, 2007 at 07:25 PM
Hi Everyone....I posted a pic of my Hawaiian Umbrella tree so I guess you have all seen it. I've only owned it for a little over a month and I never had one before so I am full of questions.
Upon the advice of some bonsai experts I added aquarium gravel to my humidity tray and kept it moist on a daily basis. The tree itself only seems to need watering on a more weekly basis. When the leaves developed a white looking powder I went to my local nursery and the girl in the bonsai dept. told me it was too moist and I should stop using the wet humidity tray. I cleaned off the tray and put dry stones there...but I wonder if it should just have NO stones. I also inquired about fertilizing and the bonsai people at the nursery told me not to fertilize it as it is not supposed to be encouraged to grow alot! I also inquired about pruning some long stems from the top and she said I could do that....so I did. Now my questions are: how do you feel about the humidity tray? what about the white powderlike substance on some of the leaves? and should i be fertilizing and pruning at this time of year? Thanks again for any advice you can give me. I do NOT want to kill this tree....it is way to special to me!
Liz
Upon the advice of some bonsai experts I added aquarium gravel to my humidity tray and kept it moist on a daily basis. The tree itself only seems to need watering on a more weekly basis. When the leaves developed a white looking powder I went to my local nursery and the girl in the bonsai dept. told me it was too moist and I should stop using the wet humidity tray. I cleaned off the tray and put dry stones there...but I wonder if it should just have NO stones. I also inquired about fertilizing and the bonsai people at the nursery told me not to fertilize it as it is not supposed to be encouraged to grow alot! I also inquired about pruning some long stems from the top and she said I could do that....so I did. Now my questions are: how do you feel about the humidity tray? what about the white powderlike substance on some of the leaves? and should i be fertilizing and pruning at this time of year? Thanks again for any advice you can give me. I do NOT want to kill this tree....it is way to special to me!
Liz