Fukien Tea (Carmona Retusa) Care Sheet

FUKIEN TEA
(Carmona Retusa)
PLANT CARE SHEET

 Tips and Tricks for Caring for Your Fukien Tea Tree

The Fukien Tea is a tropical evergreen shrub originating from Southern China. It works well as a mini bonsai and an indoor houseplant. It produces beautiful, small white flowers almost all year-round.

PLACEMENT
Fukien Teas are traditionally indoor but can be kept outside in very warm climates. They require a lot of natural light but can dry out easily in direct midday sun. They prefer to be kept indoors year-round in temperatures between 50° and 75°F. In the winter, place your Fukien Tea in a southern-facing windowsill.
Fukien Teas do best in zones 10 and 11.


TEMPERATURE/HUMIDITY
Fukien Teas thrive in temperatures around 70°F and must be kept in temperatures between 50°-75°F. In the winter and colder months, provide extra humidity for your tree. These trees require a large amount of humidity, so we recommend utilizing a humidity tray and misting daily.


WATERING
Keep the soil moist but do not overwater it; too wet of soil can harm your tree. It must be always kept moderately damp. The Fukien Tea shrivels easily and will simply stop growing if the root ball dries out completely. Watering is very tricky with the Fukien Tea: overwatering can lead to root rot and underwatering will cause leaves to blacken and fall off.


SOIL/FERTILIZER
Solid organic fertilizer works well due to the Fukien Tea's sensitive roots. Liquid fertilizer can be used in carefully measured dosages and only on moist soil. Feed your tree well from spring to fall. During the spring and summer, fertilize using liquid fertilizer every two weeks. During winter, if in a warmer location, feed every six weeks. Make sure to water well first to prevent the roots from burning. I n the spring, use a high phosphorous fertilizer weekly at half the recommended strength. In late fall, use a high potassium fertilizer twice a month at half the recommended strength.


REPOTTING
Repotting is recommended every two years in the early springtime. Because of the Fukien Tea's sensitive root system, root pruning must be done with care. No more than 10-20% for root cutting.


PROPAGATION
Use seeds or cuttings in the summer. Take cuttings with clean, sharp scissors in spring or early summer. Place your propagated tree in a shady spot to encourage root development.


PRUNING
The Fukien Tea handles pruning well. Regular trimming will make the tree grow dense branches. Cut back new shoots to 2-3 leaves once they've developed 6-8 leaves. Pruning can be done anytime throughout the year.


WIRING
Young shoots are tender and flexible, so that makes them easy to trim and wire. Do not wire new shoots until they have become lignified. Also, Fukien Tea's should not be wired for more than three consecutive months, as the wire will dig into the tree and scar the trunk. Informal Upright is a popular style for this tree, where the tree is curved and becomes narrow at the top.


PESTS/DISEASES
The Fukien Tea tree may get spider mites, scale, and whiteflies. Specific pesticides can be used for each problem. Watering with hard water can cause chlorosis. In the case of chlorosis, treat with an iron fertilizer.

PRODUCTS

Tropical Bonsai Soil Mix
KIKU™ Gold 8" Bonsai Root Scissors
KIKU™ Aluminum Training Wire
Fertilizer Pellets

ABOUT US

   

After years of enjoying the hobby of Bonsai, Superfly Bonsai was born. It started with a single bonsai soil mix, known as Pro Mix, and quickly gained popularity. This led Superfly to add more mixes to meet the needs of different trees, climates, and personal preferences. After merging with Meco Bonsai and KIKU™ Tools, Superfly Bonsai now offers over 1,000 bonsai-related products to both the wholesale and retail market.

One of the best ways to learn about bonsai is to join a local bonsai club. Look for clubs and classes in your area to further your bonsai knowledge!