Indoor Fukien Tea 'Carmona' Bonsai Tree

The Carmona or Fukien Tea is originally from China and it was named after the province Fukien, in Chinese Fuijan. It is also endemic in parts of Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan and Australia. The Fukien Tea is still very popular for Penjing in China and in Western countries it is a common indoor Bonsai tree.

Its small dark-green shiny leaves have tiny white dots on the upper side and are covered with hairs underneath. Small white flowers can appear all year round and sometimes produce small yellow-red to dark berries.

Location

If grown indoors they like natural daylight but not direct sunlight. If you place the tree outside during the summer make sure that it has a partially shaded spot to avoid leaf scorching. 

Temperature 

Fukien trees prefer warmth and humidity which can be difficult to create outdoors. A windowsill in a warm, bright kitchen or lounge may be suitable. They do not like fluctucations in temperature. 

Watering

When watering be careful that the soil never gets waterlogged. Keep moist at all times, but in winter allow the surface to dry a little before watering. If the leaves turn yellow and drop this can be a sign of over watering (though there may be other reasons)

Pruning

You can prune this tree to shape and regular trimming with encourage the tree to grow dense branch structures. Young twigs are easy to trim but larger branches can be brittle. 

Repotting

Repot when needed. Possibly every couple of years. 

Feeding

The Fukien Tea has sensitive roots so a solid organic fertilizer is often best. Feed in Spring and Autumn (always read the label).

Please Note: The picture is for guidance only. It is not generally possible to send the tree in the picture. Please note that measurements given are approximate not exact. Measurements given are from the bottom of the pot to the top of the tree, the pot colour may also vary from the picture. Due to their nature trees grow and whilst in our care may need pruning, this means the tree that you receive may differ in size to that given in the description. The appearance of the tree may vary depending on the season.