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Bonsai Problem

Difficult to tell for sure, but it could be the result of being indoors, or if recently transplanted, suffering from transplant shock, or allowed to dry out. Bonsai specimen are outdoor plants and cannot tolerate the low light conditions indoors for very long. Even with bright indoor light, it is not the same as being out doors. Most bonsai are grown in lath houses. Fertilize with a slow release food recommended for bonsai plants and find a nice outdoor area with filtered light and then be ready to water---they dry out so fast. We are concerned that the problem seems to be from the interior of the plant and this could also indicate a disease, but very difficult to ascertain from a photograph. It would be best if the problem could be confirmed in hand.

By | 2016-03-20T07:34:29-07:00 March 20th, 2016|Trees|0 Comments
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Ginseng Ficus Bonsai

Your plant likely belongs to the Ficus genus, possibly F. microcarpa also known as F. retusa. Ficus are known for their dramatic roots that survive above ground resembling bulbous structures. It makes an ideal houseplant/bonsai provided there is bright indirect light, regular water, and a slow release fertilizer. Make sure the plant does not sit in water because this may lead to root rot. Out in the patio where winters are mild and where there is filtered light is also fine. Feed with a water soluble organic or slow-release fertilizer formulated for container plants at 1/2 the recommended dilution rate during its growth cycle. Again, make sure you water in the sink and allow to drain out completely before returning to the decorative outer pot.

By | 2016-03-18T23:21:08-07:00 March 18th, 2016|Trees|0 Comments
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Floss Silk Tree

This appears a C. speciosa tree (genus has recently changed from Chorisia to Cebia) that produces big pods, cottony fluff and beautiful hibiscus-looking pink flowers. Flowers are followed by pear-shaped capsules (fruit pods) filled with seed embedded in silky white floss (hence the common name of silk floss tree). In its native territory, floss has been harvested for a number of uses including stuffing pillows. Capsules split open in spring when ripe releasing the seeds into the wind. Fruit is not edible. The trunk is studded with spines and is native to South America, but does well in parts of Florida and California. Leaves are divided into leaflets similar to fingers of a hand. Will go deciduous. Needs full sun and moderate water once established.

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:18-07:00 March 18th, 2016|Trees|1 Comment
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Floss Silk Tree

This appears to be a C. speciosa tree (genus has recently changed from Chorisia to Cebia) that produces big pods, cottony fluff and beautiful hibiscus-looking pink flowers. Flowers are followed by pear-shaped capsules (fruit pods) filled with seed embedded in silky white floss (hence the common name of silk floss tree). In its native territory, floss has been harvested for a number of uses including stuffing pillows. Capsules split open in spring when ripe releasing the seeds into the wind. Fruit is not edible. The trunk is studded with spines and is native to South America, but does well in parts of Florida and California. Leaves are divided into leaflets similar to fingers of a hand. Will go deciduous. Needs full sun and moderate water once established.

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:18-07:00 March 18th, 2016|Trees|0 Comments
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Snowinsummer Tree

One of these tough Australian natives which are so well adapted to the California climate. Many were introduced by the University of California, Santa Cruz Botanic Gardens. Melaleuca linariifolia, popularly known as Snow-in-Summer, is a plant native to eastern Australia. Other names include Narrow-leaved Paperbark, Flax-leaved Paperbark and the Gadigal Budjur. The taxonomy of Melaleuca linariifolia has recently undergone revision and another species, Melaleuca trichostachya has been split out. Melaleuca linariifolia is cultivated as an ornamental tree for parks and gardens. It is popular as a nature strip tree in Melbourne. It is also used as a screen or windbreak. It tolerates both dry and boggy conditions and is frost hardy. The tree attracts a wide variety of insects and birds

By | 2016-03-17T15:31:44-07:00 March 17th, 2016|Trees|0 Comments
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Prunus Need More Info

From this photo it's hard to identify what you have. Because of the leaf shape, edges of leaves and arrangement on the stem this could be in the Prunus family, such as a chokecherry tree. It's impossible to know from your photo if this is a shrub or a young tree, or the shoots coming up from an older trunk. Since there are many trees and shrubs that have similar leaves and leaf arrangements, any other information you could supply would be helpful. For example: is this a plant in the wild or in a garden? Is this one plant or shoots coming from a stump or cut tree? Is this stem pictured coming out of the ground or from a trunk or larger stem? Is there any sign of old fruit or flowers? Please send more information so we can better help!

By | 2016-03-17T03:20:35-07:00 March 17th, 2016|Trees|0 Comments
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Tree Trunk Damage

This type of damage can be caused by many things including cold, sunburn, borers or bark beetles, animals, lawn mowers and weed eaters. If the damage is too extensive, it can jeopardize the trees structure, weaken its stability and make it a future liability. Removing the dead bark may give you some info on what caused the damage ( for example-insect galleries-patterns where beetles feed under the bark) but it really requires a bit of expertise. Here's some info that may help: http://essmextension.tamu.edu/treecarekit/index.php/after-the-storm/tree-damage-and-hazard-assessment/tree-wounds/. This damage looks pretty extensive, Depending on where the tree is located and how valuable it is, you may want to consult a certified arborist on what to do.

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:19-07:00 March 16th, 2016|Trees|1 Comment
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Moreton Bay Chestnut Bean Tree

This appears to be Castanospermum australe, a medium to large tree 10-30m (30-90') found growing in rainforests and coastal scrubs from Cape York in Queensland to central NSW. It has a grey smooth bark, green pinnate leaves and red and yellow large pea flowers. The seed pods are quite large containing 2-5 large chestnut like seeds/pod. The large trees have a beautiful canopy but are slow growing when young. The seed germinates readily and they make great indoor house plants for many years.The seeds are eaten by various native marsupials and rodents and the Aborigines have been known to eat them at times. The are regarded as being poisonous and are known to kill cattle. The can make humans sick with severe stomach cramps and diarrhoea.

By | 2016-03-14T02:49:39-07:00 March 14th, 2016|Trees|0 Comments
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Maple Bark With Lichen

This does look like the bark of a maple tree, and perhaps it's a swamp maple Acer rubrum, but without seeing leaves and stems it's impossible to be sure. Are you concerned about the green on the trunk? This is lichen, and isn't hurting the plant. Lichen grows on shrubs and trees but takes nothing from them. Lichen is an epiphyte, not a parasite, meaning that it lives on other plants but doesn't draw it's nutrients from them. The tree might have lost leaves early this year because much of the northeast has been drier and cooler than normal. Trees in Massachusetts have had fall color for over three weeks this year! To keep any mature tree healthier, water it deeply with a sprinkler every ten days to two weeks if Mother Nature hasn't supplied an inch of rain recently.

By | 2017-09-11T15:49:20-07:00 March 13th, 2016|Trees|0 Comments
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Bonsai Problem

Difficult to tell for sure, but it could be the result of being indoors, or if recently transplanted, suffering from transplant shock, or allowed to dry out. Bonsai specimen are outdoor plants and cannot tolerate the low light conditions indoors for very long. Even with bright indoor light, it is not the same as being out doors. Most bonsai are grown in lath houses. Fertilize with a slow release food recommended for bonsai plants and find a nice outdoor area with filtered light and then be ready to water---they dry out so fast. For more information and confirmation of the problem, consult a bonsai society in your area such as : Bonsai clubs in the United Kingdom (UK) - Bonsai Empire
www.bonsaiempire.com/origin/bonsai-clubs/uk
or local garden centre that specializes in bonsai.We are concerned that the problem seems to be from the interior of the plant and this could also indicate a disease, but very difficult to ascertain from a photograph. It would be best if the problem could be confirmed in hand.

By | 2016-03-11T03:02:15-08:00 March 11th, 2016|Trees|0 Comments
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