Fukien Tea Tree (Carmona Bonsai) is great for bonsai because it’s easy to care for and can be shaped in many ways.
The Fukien Tea tree originally comes from Fujian (also called Fukien) in China, even though it also grows in places like Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Australia. In China, it’s a popular choice for Penjing, the ancient art of creating miniature landscapes. In Western countries, people usually grow the Fukien Tea tree as an indoor bonsai. It’s a small tree by nature, so it’s easy to use as a bonsai, and many bonsai lovers choose it for their collection.
It’s also a favorite because it grows pretty flowers in early summer. People enjoy how the tree adds a nice splash of color to their space at the start of the season.
The Fukien Tea tree grows small, white flowers that have a strong, pleasant smell. They usually bloom in early summer and last for one or two weeks. Some lucky bonsai owners may see their tree bloom for a few weeks each year. After the flowers fade, small black berries appear, giving the tree a fresh, new look. This is one reason why the Carmona bonsai is so popular.
You don’t need to do anything special when the tree blooms. The petals will fall off on their own, and the leftover parts turn into small berries—which are actually edible!
Propagating Fukien Tea Tree Bonsai
Use cuttings or seeds in the summer to grow Fukien Tea Tree Bonsai.
Requirements for Growing Fukien Tea Tree Bonsai
Light
Fukien Tea bonsai grow best in warm weather and like lots of sunlight. They can handle some shade, but they won’t grow as many flowers if they don’t get enough light. These trees stay green all year and can be kept outside all the time in places where the winters are not too cold.
Soil
Carmona bonsai trees like soil that is slightly acidic, full of organic material, and drains well. A ready-made potting mix made for bonsai trees is a great choice. It gives the plant the right nutrients and helps it grow strong with healthy roots.
Water
Watering your Fukien Tea bonsai is very important for keeping it healthy and looking good. Since the tree comes from warm, humid places, it likes moisture and high humidity. It needs soil that stays evenly moist, and it may lose leaves if the soil gets too dry.
In the growing season, water it every day or whenever the soil starts to dry out on top. Make sure the soil stays moist but not soaking wet. In winter, water less often—just enough to keep the roots from drying out.
Fukien Tea trees don’t like fluoride, so if your tap water has a lot of it, use filtered or distilled water. You can also boil tap water for 15 minutes and let it cool before using it to help remove fluoride.
Temperature and Humidity
Fukien Tea bonsai are tough and can handle both hot and cold weather, but they can’t survive freezing temperatures for too long. If you live somewhere with very cold winters, it’s best to bring your bonsai indoors or keep it in a greenhouse during that time.
These trees do best in temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit and need a good amount of sunlight. Just be careful not to let the strong afternoon sun burn their leaves. Keep these things in mind if you want to grow your bonsai outside.
Fertilizer
It’s important to use a fertilizer that is low in nitrogen for your Fukien Tea bonsai. Too much nitrogen can make the leaves grow too big and soft. The best choice is a fertilizer made for bonsai trees because it has the right mix of nutrients your tree needs.
Feed your tree every two weeks in spring and summer and once a month in fall and winter. If you use a special bonsai tree food, you don’t have to worry about timing—it gives the right amount of nutrients each time you water.
Re Potting
Repotting your Fukien Tea bonsai is an important part of keeping it healthy. It’s a good idea to repot it every two to three years, or when the roots have filled up the pot.
When you repot, use a well-draining bonsai soil mix and choose a pot that’s just a little bigger than the tree’s roots. Carefully take the tree out of its old pot and gently loosen any tight roots with your fingers.
Place the tree in the new pot and add fresh bonsai soil around it. Press the soil down lightly and keep adding more until it reaches the same level as before. Don’t pile soil up against the trunk. You can finish by adding some mulch or small pebbles on top—just make sure they don’t touch the base of the trunk.
Pruning
Pruning your Fukien Tea Bonsai (Carmona microphylla) is an important part of keeping it healthy. It helps the tree grow better and lets you shape it the way you want. Just be gentle so you don’t hurt the bark or leaves while pruning.
Here are some simple pruning tips: Cut back new shoots to help the tree grow fuller and bushier. Remove any branches that are dead or dying.
Thin out crowded areas so air and sunlight can reach all parts of the tree.
Training
Fukien Tea bonsai trees can be shaped in many styles, like formal upright, informal upright, slanting, cascade, literati, and root-over-rock. You can follow traditional styles or just shape your tree in a way that looks nice to you.
The best way to learn how to train your Fukien Tea bonsai is by trying different methods and seeing what works. Common ways to shape your tree include careful pruning and using wire to hold the branches in place gently.
Wiring
The easiest way to shape your bonsai tree is by using special training wire made for bonsai. To start, get a good-quality wire. You can wrap the branch with something soft like raffia to protect it, but if the branches are flexible, you usually don’t need to.
Wrap the wire gently around the new branches and slowly bend them into the shape you want. The wire will hold the shape, and once the branch gets stronger, it will stay that way. After about a month or two, you can remove the wire.
Keep a close eye on the tree while the wire is on. If the tree starts growing around the wire, it could get damaged. When it’s time to take the wire off, cut it at each bend. Don’t try to unwrap it, because that might hurt the branch.
Pests and diseases
If your Carmona bonsai isn’t kept in the right conditions, it can get pests like spider mites, scale, and whiteflies. Insecticide sticks or sprays can help, but the best way to keep your tree healthy is to give it lots of natural light and the right level of humidity.
Using hard water to water your tree can cause the leaves to turn yellow (this is called chlorosis). You can fix this by using a fertilizer with iron in it.
Sometimes, a fungus can get into the tree through fresh cuts. This can kill a branch—or even the whole tree. To prevent this, always use clean tools and cover any fresh cuts with cut-paste.
