Serissa Bonsai Trees

Serissa Foetida

Serissa get their name from to smell which is produced when the tree is pruned. There are a few varieties which have been cultivated from a single genus found in the wild. Notable is a variegated version, which we sell a lot of.

Serissa is more difficult to keep than the Chinese Elm. Variegated Serissa tends to do better than the more commonly found, non-variegated variety.

The species does flower, giving rise to the name “Tree Of A Thousand Stars” as it is sometimes known. Variegated Serissa seems to flower more readily than the non-variegated varieties.

Locations for your Serissa Bonsai Trees

Serissa bonsai can be kept indoors but will benefit from spending time outside. Temperatures below eight degrees should be avoided.

Suitable locations in the home are the usuals with indoor bonsai – A well-lit spot but not in full sun all day. Window sills are good so long as there isn’t a radiator below the window and you don’t close the curtains at night as this makes the temperature fluctuate rapidly. Kitchen and bathroom windows can be very suitable for these reasons.

Serissa takes a little time to adapt to new locations and can drop some leaves in the process, which should grow back after a few weeks. Again, with Variegated Serissa this seems to be less of a problem.

Watering your Serissa Bonsai Trees

Serissa needs an even level of watering. Their roots can rot if they are left waterlogged so don’t be tempted to drown them every day. Having said that if they become bone dry you may experience yellowing and leaf loss. Get used to feeling the surface of the soil, when it feels dry it’s probably time to water.

As the Serissa is a sub-tropical species, creating a humid environment, using a drip tray and gravel for example, will help the success of the bonsai.

Pruning your Serissa Bonsai Trees

Prune new shoots back to a couple of sets of leaves in order to maintain the design of the bonsai.

Repotting your Serissa Bonsai Trees

Serissa grow quite slowly and don’t like having their roots messed with particularly. Repotting can therefore be done every three or four years depending on the size of the pot. use a standard soil mix.

Feeding your Serissa Bonsai Trees

Feed every couple of weeks using a low-strength food.

If you’d like to keep up to date, please follow our Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube channels. If you’d like to know more about us or our products, please visit our contact page or email sales@allthingsbonsai.co.uk.