Tangerine Bonsai

I almost killed this plant this summer. I am in Texas, and had to keep it indoors whilst it was burning hot. It did not like the air conditioning.

Anyway, I put it ouside and it has sprung to life (as have my hibiscus plants) - temps of 79 eve - 90 day and some precip - humid 80%ish.

Winter is coming. What do I do with this thing? I am an outdoor planter and this was a father's day gift. Never do indoor plants. Need help.

Thanks
W J

P.S. here is a picture - what do I do with the upper tendrils? (sorry - as it is posted sideways)

It's a tropical, it has to come in if you go below 70°. If you are getting at least 75° during the day give it one feeding of a very, very low nitrogen plant food before winter. If you can find 0-10-10 that's the best. Cut down on the watering, they are not getting the same hours of daylight anymore. If you have to bring it in immediately don't give it any food, keep the soil moist but not wet. Let it dry out just a tiny bit between waterings so that all roots can take a breath.

When you bring it indoors keep it in the kitchen or bathroom near a window. Keep it away from anything that produces dry air, they like at least 70% humidity. Once you find a spot for it don't move it. It will need time to acclimate to where the sun is coming from.

Cut it at the x(s) in the photo, it needs more work but this will do for now. What you are calling tendrils are really the stems of the tree. Cutting them back will save the plant moisture and force it to fill up. Hopefully what is left of those stems will develop buds further back but you'll have to wait until spring when you put it back out to find out.

If you really want to give the stems a good chance you'll have to seal the wounds with 'Bonsai Wound Sealant', (the white cap), *melted candle wax will substitute in a pinch. Melt a little wax in a small container and roll some into a tiny ball roughly the diameter of the stem, then press the wax on the wound. If you leave them alone and don't cut them the drying process will continue down the stem, especially since you have to bring it indoors where it's much drier.

ps. Don't forget the humidity tray, it's standard for Bonsai, (a tray with small pebbles wet with water) to place the plant on.



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Hello,

Last night - 80 degrees.
Today - 57, with no increase in sight.
Pulled plant in and put it on a humidity tray.
It is in a room with a window pointed south. The room actually gets fairly warm in the winter due to the direct light and the fact that the A/C sensor is in the hallway, not the room.

anyway, need help in maintaining this plant. I am wonderfully adept at outdoor greenery, but am a trained killer once we have moved indoors.

Thanks

W J

It looks fine, though I would turn it around with the leaves facing the window. Don't worry, ...so far so good!

Tangerines are hardy to zones 8A/8B (depending on the variety), which means they can take temps down to 15 to 20 degrees. A smaller bonsai in a pot, I would think it would be a less hardy, so to err on the side of caution, say 30 degrees (or if you really want to be on the safe side, say 35 to 40 degrees). You can leave this baby outside (much to it's benefit) unless you are going to have a freeze. Even if it's only outside during the day, it will be better for it in the long run. Indoors, you are going to face additional pest problems as well as those from the stress of low light (a bright window is no substitute for outdoor light) and low humidity (a pebble/humidity tray certainly helps, but it's not a solution considering how much humidity these guys like).

Carter,

So Set it outside unless it freezes? I have no problem with that, but want to make sure I dont cause permanent harm.

W J

It's a small bonsai, in small pot with a limited root system, it's not in the soil with a foot deep root system, water freezes in a small container quickly, hence my advise; frozen roots = a dead plant, windchill has to be taken into account also. It's your present... only you [Sublimaze] knows the severity/ mildness of the weather in your specific locale and it's avg duration. If it was an evergreen I'd say leave it outside but it's not. The limited sun indoors is enough to maintain it for awhile & yes it may require misting as any plant does during the drier months indoors, (we do grow tropicals indoors up here too).

* Sincere Best Wishes in whatever you choose to do. ☺

Here where I'm, rarely the cold will get to freezing point. But, to my surprizes. I've noticed pots left unattended outdoor, freeze easily....I'm new to Bonsai, and glue myself here for more learning experience. Even with flowering Azaleas in tiny pot. I'm contemplating burry the pot and all into the ground to protect the root zone.
Kim