Immediate Care Instructions
Please water immediately upon arrival, and then carefully review this instruction sheet for specific information on how to ensure a healthy Tangerine Bonsai. We highly recommend referencing a bonsai book to supplement this overview.
About Your Tangerine Bonsai
This miniature relative of our beloved orange has a long history in its home continent of Asia. Prized through the centuries for its sweet rind and culinary applications, these citrus jewels can be peeled, showing off miniature “smiles” and used as garnish for cocktails, tossed into stir- fry, to provide a citrusy zing or eaten right off the tree. The white flowers are most notable for their creamy, delicate, tropical fragrance. This small- scale orchard replica will delight for many years to come. Use the general guidelines below as a point of reference.
Light Exposure
As bright as possible but avoid excess heat, which will dry out the soil too quickly. In the landscape they enjoy full sun. A location that provides morning sun or filtered light throughout the day is ideal. When grown indoors the bonsai should be kept a minimum of 24” from windows as they will act as a magnifying glass and burn the leaves.
Water and Fertilizer
Water daily through hot spells and every other day in the spring and fall. As needed in the winter. A well balanced liquid fertilizer should be used with every 2nd or 3rd watering. Citrus in general are heavy feeders, especially iron, manganese and zinc. The local nursery should have an adequate liquid feed available.
Water daily, through hot spells and in the summer heat. Every other day is sufficient in the spring and fall. In the winter you should keep the plant moist, watering only when the soil is dry to the touch. If a few shoots get dry, you can remove them to encourage fresh new growth.
Pruning
Prune to shape as you desire, keeping in mind the small- scale size of the plant and its container. Flowers will appear from small shoots that originate where the leaves meet the stem. Flowers sporadically throughout the year, heaviest in the spring. If too much new growth is produced at the branch tips, don’t be shy about cutting it back to a lower position, even into thicker wood, to shorten the trees height as it begins to re-grow. Remove the tree from its pot every 2-3 years and remove about 1/3 of the roots. Re-pot with a blended potting soil. This will encourage new roots and keep it growing happily.
Winter Period
Keep the tree from cold extreme temperatures in a bright location through the winter. Depending on your location, you could leave it outside in a frost free area, or in a bright, warm room if freezing temperatures occur. As old leaves fall off, fertilize regularly to create new growth and keep the tree productive