Carmona I Shape - Plant

Carmona(Fukien tea tree) is used in bonsai because of its ability to develop a thick and interesting trunk, small white flowers that bloom almost year-round
Carmona is also called Fukien Tea. It is tropical plant native to Southern China, named after Fuijan province. Carmona is a genus of flowering plants in the borage family, Boraginaceae. Members of the genus are commonly known as scorpionbush. The lobed leaves are shiny dark green and maintain their small size. It is preferably kept indoors because it is not very hardy. Leaves are tiny, oval, shiny and dark green. Trunk is of grey-green colour. The plant is difficult to find as well.

Plant Specifications

*above specification are indicative only. actual dimensions may vary by +-10%

• Common Name: Fukien Tea.
• Maximum Reachable Height: upto 2 feet
• Bloom Time: The flowers are inconspicuous and the plants are grown mainly for their foliage
• Difficulty Level: Growing it is a challange even for a bonsai grower.

Planting and care

Over watering can lead to leafs turning yellow and falling off. Best time to prune is late winter early spring before new growth starts - this ensures that new growth is left on for flowering. Cut back shoots with 6-8 leaf nodes to the last 2 nodes. Repot every 2 years in late spring when warmer weather has settled in.

Carmona I Shape care

• Sunlight: Likes a bright position but avoid exposing to direct midday sunlight if possible.
• Watering: Keep soil moist but not water logged.
• Soil: Use a Basic Bonsai Mix 1 part peat or loam, 1 part Grit, 1 part leaf mould or bark
• Temperature: Likes a warm location ideally above 15C and does not like too much temperature fluctuations.
• Fertilizer: Every two weeks during the growing season and every 6 weeks during dormant periods. Use a balanced fertiliser through out the year with a high nitrogen fertiliser in spring - to help with the flush of new growth.

Carmona I Shape special featureMost ficus bonsai trees can produce aerial roots in their natural habitat, which are often presented in appealing bonsai creations with many aerial root pillars or root over rock styles. To enable aerial root growth in our homes a humidity of nearly 100% must be achieved artificially. Carmona I Shape uses
Ornamental Use:
Its compact nature, small leaves, small white flowers, red berries, and gnarled looking trunk all make it a lovely bonsai to grow