It's a Fukien tea (Carmona (or Ehretia) microphylla), and one of the reasons people shouldn't give bonsai as presents (except to experienced growers), but if you have an indoor place with really bright light for at least 14 hrs/day, high humidity (

I forgot - you MUST absolutely pry off that layer of glued on rocks (and replace any soil on top that gets lost) because it will not let you water properly, not let the soil air or dry properly and was only stuck on to keep the soil in the pot for shipping. Big no-no!

I'm under the impression Fukien Tea has alternating leaves, not opposing.

randy

It's a tea... or if not, I'd love someone to tell me what else it is.

Lucy

Does your Fukien Tea have opposing leaves? I'm pretty sure the FT's I've owned over the years have had alternating leaves.

I did a web search earlier on images. The ones with a closeup shows alternating leaves. Leaf shape is also wrong for it to be FT. Although some leaves can be pointed, most are rounded. They have a single and sometimes double rounded tip (like the top of a hand drawn heart).

I won't guess as to what it is. I wish individuals would show more thought in gifts and supply new owners with vital information to allow some degree of success. If the seller can't even provide a name with the purchase, they should be avoided like the plague.

randy

Here is a link that might be useful: FT, click on top photo

Something else came to mind. The FT's I grew had a very dark glossy leaf covered with fine hairs.

randy

Well, you know what? The leaves look as much like fuchsia leaves as anything too, so I don't know what it is.

It looks like a privet (Ligustrum) to me.

Olivier.

Okay, I THINK I have a juniperus, and I'm wondering, is this an absolute outside tree? Could I keep it indoors all year round? If so, how, and if not, it's the middle of winter, what do I do until I can plant it outside?

Where are you in Canada? That matters a lot, because in southern BC, for instance, you could put it out in LATE spring this year, and then don't bring it back in in the fall, but depending where you are (otherwise), you would do something different.

Thanks for your help everyone! Lucy, I'm in the UK.
I'm now certain that it's a Chinese Privet.
Not too sure if it's very healthy as it's losing leaves and some have black bits on them.

I too received BONSAI as a gift about 6 months ago - I am glad I am finally seeking some advice. I have tons aof plants and really didn't realize how different they are - Mine has alternating leaves with are smooth and glossy. Oval shaped. The only thing I know from the tag is BONSAI Keep moist; and in filtered or little sunlight only. Before coming on this forum, I didn't even know I was to remove the rocks. The only struggles I have had is that it loses alot of leaves. Does anyone know what type this is and deeper care instuctions-i do not have a pic. but if need be i could get one.

thanks

Definitely a picture please, with a good, but not tooo close leaf image. Losing leaves (without their having gone either yellow first, or brown and crispy) can mean it needs more light - try it in a better window. Also how often and how much do you water? Bonsai on the tag obviously means just about nothing :-). Where do you keep it?

Biotron - Sorry! The black bits mean it's either too cold (highly unlikely where you live even outdoors), but more likely it's in crummy soil - i.e. even tho' the top feels dry (and so you water), it's probably staying wet at the bottom - you don't have it in a wet saucer or a pot with no holes, do you? You need to remove any leaves with black on them, then let it dry for a couple of days at least til when you take it all out of the pot and let the soil fall off, you can see if roots are black and slimy. Cut those back to cleaner lighter places, repot in the same soil BUT first mix it well with quite a lot of that tiny irregular aquarium gravel - not the larger round pieces, and some perlite. That will help it to drain faster when you do water. And keep it in better light.

Hi,
Thanks for all your advice! It's not in a tray of water and the holes in the bottom of the pot are just big enough to feel the soil....it feels damp but not wet. I think the leaf blackening has slowed down a bit now maybe cos I've been putting in the window during the day to get the most of the light. I've on average been watering every 2 days or so but only about an egg cup full of water (is this enough?). Despite the leaf blackening the seems to be some fresh growth which I find encouraging.

LUCY: I took some pics, but I am brand new to this and trying to figure out how to post them - I could email them to you OR if you could tell me how to post them?

Thanks a million!
GreenThumb77

Water less often, but more at a time - enough to reach the drain holes. Egg cups won't do it. Good luck.

I live in central Alberta. I have a cold room, you know, for storing tomatoes and such. Could I keep it in this with a grow light + misting every week? I currently have to keep it by a window, as the cold room is not lit, yet.

Jaqal - it's way too late to be putting it in a cold place this year, and grow lites are incompatible with dormancy, plus misting is a bad idea for something in a cold place and doing it weekly is absolutely useless (for the record). You really should have started your own 'thread' here BTW, it's very confusing trying to answer one person's post with other one's in between and no one knows who you're answering after a while.

I have the same tree like in the picture posted in the first message and it's been losing leaves like mad. It started about a week ago and now my tree has been reduced to half its size. I have been pruning the empty branches hoping to give it a boost but it's not working.
I keep it in a well-light place, I water it regularly and I have been using an iron-rich fertilizer that the locak florist gave me. Another thing is that I repotted it about a month ago and it was getting along fine. I did not use a compost meant for bonzai plants but a high quality one for indoor plants -bonzai are not that big in my country and I have not been able to find anyone to give me any proper advice.
What can I do to save it? Oh, the leaves have not turned yellow or anything. Some (5 or 6) look a bit crumbled and blackish at the edge but the majority looks okay. What is more, the fallen leaves look pretty healthy; they are nice and green and they don't look off at all.

Please help me!

Thank you all in advance!

Aleka