Serving the Pikes Peak Area since 1987


Home Page

About Us

President's Message

Meetings

Shows

Care Information

Newsletter

Library Holdings

Links

Webmaster
     CARE  INFORMATION

Serissa ( Serissa foetida ), Tree of a Thousand Stars, Snow Rose

likes humidity of 65%+, but don't overwater; don't water until one leaf turns yellow or dull; signs of overwatering include a sudden loss of leaves, wilting leaves and flowers, and lack of growth; over-watering rescue might take place by putting damaged tree in a nursery container with 50% horticultural sand or poultry grit, 30% Perlite, and 20% compost, watering and then putting in a corner: good results should start in a couple of weeks if the tree is not dead; high humidity when flowering said to discolor petals; indoors keep cool; give as much light as possible, but not too much direct sun; similar care and feeding as African violets; can be difficult to shape; remove suckers from base, or train them as smaller members of a grove planting; bugs can become a major problem without excellent air circulation around; leaves turn black and fall off with stunted growth if winter temps go below 55°F; strong Nitrogen fertilizer said to cause black leaves also; very prone to drop leaves when stressed, including getting a change in lighting or temperature; continuous pruning seems to weaken the plant; similarly, only allow one flowering per year and remove emerging blossoms after first flowering is past; wire before watering; wire marks said to grow/fill out O.K.; will bud back on old wood; hold off root pruning as long as possible (and then be aware that cut roots normally emit a rank odor), repot into larger container if necessary; if tree drops its leaves in autumn or winter, cut back watering and carefully continue limited watering -- has been known to bud again as late as May and be healthy; softwood cuttings said to root easily in spring or summer




                           © 2011  Pikes Peak Bonsai Society