Is my Bonsai tree.... not a Bonsai tree :S

[sammy_jo]

On the packaging, it said it was a 4 year old Bonsai tree.
But the leaves and shape of it is not like any of the bonsai tree types that i have looked up. It looks like a mini apple tree but without the apples - i mean the leaves are like an apple tree leaf and the trunk look is straight and darkish just like an apple tree.
Also, it keeps dying and coming back and dying and coming back but this time it has been dryed up for longer than usual.
I make sure that the soil never goes dry and i dont think i over water it.
Does anyone have any ideas at all. Could it be a different tree in disguise? :O
Sam x

[Count-A-Strong]

Unless you post a picture it's a little difficult to say.

[McMouse]

My local ASDA are doing a cut-price giant bonsai offer.

[Count-A-Strong]

giant bonsai - doesn't that defeat the object?

[McMouse]

Doh.

[Count-A-Strong]

Ah, was that one of your 'jokes' mc mouse?

[McMouse]

Guilty as charged.

[whiskeryron]

C-A-S, McMouse is having you on.

[Count-A-Strong]

ha ha ha

[danchip]

bonsai is growing a tree in a pot, its not specific trees so it could be an apple tree

use rain water to water it as tap water poisons it and will dry it out and kill it

[wildwood]

A Bonsai tree is a normal tree which has it's roots system restricted so only grows very little. The branches are often wound with aluminium wire around them so they grow in the desired shape. Bonsai trees need daily attention to keep the moisture level right.

I really can't see the point of a bonsai apple tree. The evergreen specimens are much preferred. If it is an actually apple tree you can expect normal sized fruit so restrict to two or three and support to prevent breakage. It would be the first time I've heard of a proper fruit tree being grown as a bonsai..... but nothing surprises me anymore.

[RATTER15]

Actually wildwood, you aren't quite right when you say evergreen are much more preferred, many deciduous tree are used and very sought after, I had a very large Bonsai collection years ago, but divorce etc seen to all that :-(

And its "Bonsai" not "Bonsai tree"

[RATTER15]

Read this >> http://www.bonsai-bci.com/whatis.html

[jomifl]

Trees are not indoor plants, they need lots of light and they need to live outdoors, that goes for bonsai too. A window sill is probably not suitable.

[wildwood]

Ratter, as for deciduous trees used for bonsai, we obviously live in different worlds and you're rather picky. I was trying to explain that bonsai is not a form of miniature or dwarf tree as is so often assumed. As for the word tree... what would you then call an Azalea that is grown in that fashion? :-)

[RATTER15]

Wildwood, an azalea grown as a Bonsai is still a Bonsai >>

"The word Bonsai literally means, in both Chinese and in the Japanese language, tree-in- a-pot."

So a "Bonsai tree" would literally mean "tree-in- a-pot tree" sorry to be a touch pedantic, and apple trees are often grown as bonsai, usually crab apple but not always.

:-)

[hammerman]

Another thing wildwood...the roots are generally trimmed on bonsai to remove thicker (anchoring) roots and encourage fiberous (feeding) roots. This does restrict the growth to some extent but the main groth restriction is done by tip and stem pruning.

Indeed, it is often a good thing to grow potential bonsai in open ground for 10 or so years in order to thicken the trunk. The plant is lifted every 2 years and the tap roots removed but the stems and branches are treated just like if they were in a bonsai pot.

Deciduous trees....such as apple trees (some apples such as malus tschonoskii have perfect miniature but inedible, apples) are highly sought after because they have different shapes throughout the year.

Hammerman....Bonsai expert for the past 25 years