The Fukien Tea tree is one of the most popular tropical bonsai. Many people purchase the Fukien Tea bonsai as indoor bonsai, however please be aware that Fukien tea trees need ALOT of light to grow, flower and berry up to most peoples expectations. They, like most trees are better off growing outside in a bright sunny area. If you wish to grow your Fukien Tea bonsai indoors, it will need good sun for 10 - 12 hours a day to be at its peak performance. You can suplement real sunlight with a grow light or flourescent bulb 4 - 6 inches from the trees top for the same length of time. The Fukien tea trees foliage grows quite quickly and needs to be pinched back regularly to keep the shape in check. I always use the clip and grow method on all new foliage. Just let your new sprout grow about 2 inches and then pinch it off. The Fukien Tea will sprout what is referred to as a whirl with their leaves, pinch after the first or second set of leaves on the sprout.  . I also normally pinch off the largest leaf in the whirl.  Most imported trees which have been grown for bonsai have been being trained this way since they were seedlings. 

The Fukien tea is a big lover of humidity.  If you keep your tree indoors or in bright sunlight don't forget to mist ocassionally.  Never water your plants in the heat of the day.  If the pot is hot.... water not. 

Don't forget to fertilize, this also increases the amount of berries that the tree produces, and the berries with their changing colors adds a great amount of pleasure to growing bonsai.  Fertilize weekly or bi-weekly.   I water the tree first, then apply the liquid fertilizer, and then just a tad more water to push the fertilizer down into the soil.  Do not fertilize a newly potted, or sick tree.

Insects love the Fukien Tea trees, so always check your little friends out to be sure that nothing is biting them.  Mealy bugs (small, white fluffy insects) are particularly fond of them.  Check for them on the ends of new branches and at the base of the leaves.  Be extremely careful though, what you use to eradicate pests around your Fukien Tea.  You could almost say that Fukien Teas are deathly allergic to many common pesticides.  I use Safers Brand insecticide and if it is not available, I make my own insecticide using 1 drop of liquid dish liquid to 1 liter of water.  I spray at sundown and rinse off the next morning before the sun hits the trees.  Scale can also be a problem with Fukien Teas, you should try to pick or wash it off with a hard spray of water.  Always test your insecticide on a single leaf or sacrificial branch and observe it for 5 to 7 days to be sure there are no ill effects.  You can also try rubbing alcohol on a q-tip to remove any pests.  NEVER USE DIAZINON OR INSECT DORMANT OIL - This will surely be the end of your friend.  To be safe, always keep new plants isolated from your healthy trees until you are positive that they are pest free. 

Watering your Fukien Tea does not have to be a source of discomfort.  Fukien Teas like for their soil to get a tad on the dry side before watering.  Soil that is wet constantly is not good for the roots of your tree.  Everything happening on the green side of the grass is dependent upon what is happening underneath.  Use a free draining bonsai mix, your Fukien Tea will be perfectly happy in a 100% inorganic soil mix, but you will need to water more often than if it is potted in some organic matter.  I usually add some organic matter to the soil mix just so I don't have to worry about watering everyday.  If your plants leaves look a little droopy, it probably is needing some water.  Collect rain water for your bonsai or if you need to use tap water, fill a container and allow it to sit open for about 24 hours which will allow the chemicals to evaperate.  Your plant will thank you. 

The Fukien tea grows in every different direction, so you can wire your new shoots if you wish, to shape the tree how you desire.  Older woody stems are nearly impossible to retrain, so keep an eye on the new growth and wire while the branch is still green.  Keep an eye on that wire, the new shoots grow quickly and the wire will cut into the branch. 

Propogating from seed is extremely easy.  Just let the seeds fall into the soil, and keep it moist, in 1 to 4 weeks, a small seedling will emerge.  I pick the fallen berries out of the pot and throw them into another pot with organic mix and it never fails, they are everywhere!!

I hope you enjoy your Fukien Tea trees as much as I do mine. 

Lisa                                                                                                  MyBonsaiBuddy.com  http://store.auctiva.com/mybonsaibuddy or http://stores.ebay.com/My-Bonsai-Buddy