Identification: Unidentified Specie + method check

Discussion in 'Indoor and Greenhouse Plants' started by Cinnamonator, Feb 18, 2008.

  1. Cinnamonator

    Cinnamonator Member

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    I recently acquired this tree (see attachments)


    I have no idea whatsoever as to its specie! First of all, I'd love to get an idea of what sort of tree I have. I thought at first it might be a Ficus variety, but I'm not so sure.

    Secondly, I got it watered to the point where water freely flowed out of the bottom of the pot when I first brought it home. I'm waiting with a wary eye to see when the soil dries to give me an idea of how often I need to water it.

    It gets about 3-5 hours of direct sunlight each morning, and a good 4 hours of high, indirect-light the rest of the day. I have great south-facing windows. Is this too much light?

    It sits near a window that remains open most of the day. At night I close the window, but during the day we're dealing with 45-55 degree temperatures. I'm on the 7th floor of my apartment building so the inside temperature remains in the mid 70's. Would the draft be a too much for the plant to handle? I know some bonsai varieties are particularly hardy, while some are exceedingly fragile. It would be easy for me to move the plant a couple feet so it was out of the draft, but still near the window to get the light.

    Also, I read about so many different watering methods, tips, and "tricks." How do I weed out what is really necessary and what is just people sharing "secrets" for the hell of it?
     

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  2. chimera

    chimera Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Euonymus alatus ?
     
  3. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Neither figs nor spindles (Euonymus) have the divided leaves of this plant.
     
  4. joclyn

    joclyn Rising Contributor

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  5. Cinnamonator

    Cinnamonator Member

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    If it helps at all...the leaves close together like a book at night time. Just noticed this...>_>...

    They reopen in the daylight obviously to trap more sunlight. I'm sure I remember hearing somewhere the name of the tree that does this...but my memory is failing me.

    Edit:

    It's either Albizia Julibrissin or Grewia Caffra.

    I'm leaning towards Albizia Julibrissin...any ideas?
     
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2008
  6. joclyn

    joclyn Rising Contributor

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    no, it's not albizia julibrissin - aka mimosa.

    it could be what's sometimes called grewia caffra. g caffra has yellow flowers. g occidentalis has lavendar flowers and is also called the lavendar star.
     
  7. Cinnamonator

    Cinnamonator Member

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    How were you able to tell the difference?
     
  8. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Silk tree has more divisions in the leaf resulting in more leaflets (after the seedling stage), borne on a (young) plant with more slender green stems. Even on older parts of the adult plant there is never winged bark, and the shoots are green.
     
  9. joclyn

    joclyn Rising Contributor

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    the albizia name was ringing a bell and i couldn't place it so i googled. ahh, mimosa tree! that's it!

    that's clearly not what your plant is though.

    the pics i found for the different grewias focused more on the flowers rather than the leaves. so, i'm not quite sure what you have IS grewia. pretty sure, just not positive. has it ever flowered? that'll be the definitive answer. to whether it's a grewia as well as which variety.
     
  10. Cinnamonator

    Cinnamonator Member

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    Not flowered yet. It's a recent acquisition.

    I'll resurrect this thread or start a new one when it does though! Should be pretty.

    Any suggestions or answers to some of my other questions?
     
  11. joclyn

    joclyn Rising Contributor

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    since it's a bonsai, you should have gotten directions on how to water and for how often that should be done.

    generally, bonsai plants are placed in a sink or large bucket that is already filled with water that is at room temp and then left in the water for about an hour so that the water is absorbed into the soil in the pot (and then left to sit for an hour so excess water can drain off). the water level needs to be high enough so that the base of the trunk is just covered with water. this treatment is done weekly to 10 days, if i remember correctly.

    i've only ever had some type of evergreen tree as bonsai - this tree may require more frequent or less frequent water and/or it may require misting daily.

    if you weren't given instructions, go back to where you got it and request them.
     
  12. maveriiick

    maveriiick Member

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