Huge project!

17 years ago

I need some help and suggestions on this Huge project, I'm not sure if this is the right area, but I think this best suites my problem. My dad brought home a bunch of plants from Alabama, Trees and bushes, In Alabama trees and stuff are all leafed out, and they are already selling plants outdoors, Here in Wisconsin, very few trees are just starting to show early signs of life, anyway now I have all these trees, some not hardy to this area, How is the best way to get these to survive Indoors, They would go outdoors in summer, I was hoping to be able to find someone with Experience but any suggestions are very helpful at this point. All of the types of plants I got are listed below.

Japanese Maple

Azalea bush appears to be evergreen

Loblally Pine Which really looks like a red pine to me from up here.

Flaming Maple

Oak

Camellia

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Comments (4)

amccour
17 years ago
You might want to ask on the bonsai forum. Or ask Al.

Generally these all need dormancy (except for the azalea, possibly. I think you can grow those indoors year round. I have one. It's... actually doing pretty well) in the winter.

So if you have a garage, you could try moving them into that. You... probably need to keep them between 30-40 degrees, maybe? Again, ask the bonsai forum for specifics about that and watering. When they're dormant, I don't imagine light is much of an issue. Humidity could be a problem with the evergreens. My cryptomeria has some mild tip burn on it, which I'm assuming is from humidity

That's what I did this year with a ginkgo (Hardy to my area, but too small to actually plant out) and a cryptomeria (very, very borderline here. Only species trees are hardy, really, and this is a dwarf cultivar). Both broke dormancy recently, so it should work okay. So, it worked but there are probably better ways.

I don't think these could ever be house plants in any real capacity though.
maidinmontana
17 years ago
Hi, I would try posting on the tree forum if I were you. You'll probably get better answers. Good luck with your new project.
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nanw_4wi
17 years ago
I grow a few plants/trees on my unheated (but very sunny) porch during the winter....if you have such a place to put them now, they'll be much happier than they would be indoors.
birdsnblooms
17 years ago
I grow Camellia and Azaleas. Both prefer slightly acidic soil. 6.0-6.5 pH.
Since you're in z4, in winter, place both in a sunny window. Summer, Cammelia needs bright indirect light, Azalea prefers some shade.
Camellia soil needs to dry a bit between waterings, more, when in bud and flower.
Azaleas are thirsty plants, especially in heat.
If you summer plants outdoors, leave Azalea out until temps are in the 40's. Mine does well in east window, but a south or west will do, as long as sun isn't scorching. Within a month, you should see buds on Azalea.
Camellias prefer cool temps too, but type makes a difference. Azaleas will thrive in temps as low as 50F.
Withhold fertilizer in winter..Start their diet in spring, using acidic fertilizer.
After Azalea flowers fade, (usually in early spring) deadhead flowers and seeds, repot in a little larger pot using acidic soil. Toni