Fukien Tea Bonsai Tree – Carmona Microphylla Live Houseplant in 4″ Pot, Indoor

Overview

Introduce a touch of serene beauty to your indoor space with the exquisite Fukien Tea Bonsai Tree. This remarkable live plant, botanically known as Carmona microphylla or Ehretia buxifolia, is a shrub-like, evergreen tropical plant hailing from Southern China. It is ideally suited as an indoor houseplant, thriving in controlled environments where its unique characteristics can be fully appreciated. The Fukien Tea Bonsai Tree is celebrated for its shiny, oval, dark-green leaves that beautifully contrast against a grey-green trunk. Its charm is further enhanced by delicate, slightly perfumed white flowers that can appear throughout the year under optimal conditions, followed by small berries that transition from green to a vibrant red. This bonsai offers a captivating focal point for any room, providing a sense of tranquility and natural artistry.

The Carmona Microphylla live plant is a favorite among bonsai enthusiasts due to its manageable size and attractive features. Its natural growth habit makes it relatively easy to shape without extensive wiring, making it accessible for those new to bonsai cultivation. Whether you’re looking to enrich your home decor or embark on the rewarding journey of bonsai artistry, this Fukien Tea Bonsai Tree in its 4″ pot is a perfect starting point. It’s a living piece of art that continually evolves, offering aesthetic pleasure and a connection to nature.

Key Benefits

The Fukien Tea Bonsai Tree offers numerous benefits, making it an excellent addition to any home or office. Its distinctive appearance and relatively straightforward care requirements contribute to its widespread appeal, providing both aesthetic pleasure and a fulfilling hobby.

• Year-Round Beauty: Enjoy continuous visual appeal with glossy dark-green leaves and the potential for delicate white flowers and colorful berries appearing throughout the year, adding dynamic interest to your indoor space.
• Air Purification: Like many houseplants, the Fukien Tea Bonsai Tree contributes to a healthier indoor environment by naturally filtering and purifying the air, enhancing air quality in your home.
• Stress Reduction: The practice of observing and caring for a bonsai can be a meditative and calming activity, helping to reduce stress and promote mindfulness in daily life.
• Artistic Expression: The Fukien Tea’s natural growth lends itself well to shaping, allowing you to engage in the artistic endeavor of bonsai, pruning it to your desired form and fostering creativity.
• Compact Size: Perfectly sized for indoor settings, this Carmona Microphylla live plant in its 4″ pot fits beautifully on desks, shelves, or windowsills, making it an ideal choice for smaller spaces.
• Beginner-Friendly: With its robust nature and ease of care, this bonsai is an excellent option for those new to bonsai, providing a rewarding introduction to the art without overwhelming complexity.
• Unique Edible Features: Both the leaves, which can be used to make a unique tea, and the berries, which are edible, add an interesting and practical dimension to this ornamental plant.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Fukien Tea Bonsai Tree involves understanding its tropical origins and providing an environment that mimics its natural habitat. This indoor bonsai care guide will help ensure your plant thrives. The Fukien Tea prefers bright, indirect light. Place it near a window where it can receive several hours of light but is protected from harsh, direct afternoon sun, which can scorch its leaves. If natural light is insufficient, a grow light can supplement its needs. Maintain a consistent room temperature, ideally between 65-75°F (18-24°C), and avoid sudden temperature fluctuations or drafts.

Watering is crucial for a healthy Carmona bonsai plant. The soil should be kept consistently moist but never waterlogged. Check the soil moisture daily; water thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels slightly dry to the touch. Ensure the pot has good drainage to prevent root rot. Humidity is also important for this tropical plant. You can increase humidity by misting the foliage regularly, placing the pot on a pebble tray filled with water (making sure the pot isn’t sitting directly in the water), or using a room humidifier. Fertilize your Fukien Tea fortnightly from spring to autumn and monthly in winter using a low-nitrogen liquid bonsai fertilizer to support its growth and flowering.

Pruning is essential for maintaining the bonsai’s shape and encouraging dense foliage. Branches can be pruned all year round. Pinch out new shoots that detract from the overall aesthetic. During the growing season, trim new shoots back to two to three leaves regularly. In winter, continue to trim monthly. While generally resilient, keep an eye out for common pests like spider mites or aphids, especially in dry conditions. Address any infestations promptly with appropriate organic solutions. Following these guidelines will ensure your Fukien Tea Bonsai Tree remains vibrant and healthy for years to come.

Size & Details

This Fukien Tea Bonsai Tree is provided as a young, established live plant, carefully cultivated and ready for your home. It comes planted in a 4-inch nursery pot, offering a stable environment for its initial growth and easy transplanting if desired. At the time of shipment, the plant typically stands approximately 6-8 inches tall from the base of the pot, with a compact, developing canopy. The growth rate of the Fukien Tea is moderate, allowing for regular pruning and shaping to achieve your desired bonsai aesthetic. With proper care, this plant can continue to grow and mature, developing a more intricate trunk and branch structure over time.

The plant is shipped as a rooted specimen in its current pot, ensuring minimal stress during transit and a smooth transition to its new environment. The Carmona Microphylla live plant is a true evergreen, providing lush foliage throughout the year. While it can produce flowers and berries at any time, peak production often occurs in warmer, brighter conditions. This manageable size makes it an ideal choice for windowsills, office desks, or as part of a larger indoor plant collection. Its robust nature makes it a gratifying project for anyone interested in the art of bonsai.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this Fukien Tea Bonsai Tree get? A: This bonsai is provided in a 4-inch pot and typically stands 6-8 inches tall upon arrival. With proper care and pruning, it can be maintained at a compact size, usually not exceeding 12-18 inches indoors, allowing for artistic shaping.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The Fukien Tea Bonsai Tree is ideally an indoor plant, especially in climates where temperatures drop below 60°F (15°C). It can be placed outdoors in warm, humid conditions during summer but should be brought inside for winter.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This Carmona Microphylla live plant thrives in bright, indirect light. Place it near a window with good ambient light, but protect it from harsh, direct afternoon sun which can damage its leaves.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the Fukien Tea is considered a good choice for beginners in bonsai. Its forgiving nature and responsiveness to pruning make indoor bonsai care relatively straightforward, though consistent watering and humidity are key.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your Fukien Tea Bonsai Tree will arrive as a healthy, live plant, carefully packaged in its 4-inch nursery pot with soil, ready to be placed in its new home. We take great care to ensure safe transit.
• Q: How often should I water my Carmona bonsai plant? A: Water regularly, checking the soil daily. Water thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels slightly dry to the touch. Avoid letting the soil dry out completely or become waterlogged.
• Q: Can I use the leaves or berries of the Fukien Tea? A: Yes, the leaves of the Fukien Tea can be used to make a unique and tasty tea, and the small berries are edible. This adds an interesting dimension beyond its ornamental value.
• Q: What is the best soil type for a Fukien Tea Bonsai Tree? A: A well-draining bonsai soil mix is ideal. This typically contains a blend of akadama, pumice, and lava rock, which provides good aeration and drainage while retaining adequate moisture.
• Q: When is the best time to prune my Fukien Tea? A: You can prune your Fukien Tea Bonsai Tree throughout the year. Regular pinching of new shoots and trimming back to 2-3 leaves during the growing season helps maintain its shape and density.
• Q: Will this Carmona bonsai plant produce flowers and berries? A: Under optimal conditions, including sufficient light and consistent care, your Fukien Tea can produce delicate white flowers and subsequently small green berries that ripen to red, potentially all year round.