Bonsai - a pet that will outlive you

"Wrightias are very tropical plants and love the heat. When they are growing keep the soil moist and fertilize well. Wrightias bloom for a long time beginning in the spring and are fragrant." http://www.rareflora.com/wrightiarelsin.html

Mature plant Wrightia religiosa at an industry lot nearby in Ara Damansara. Business sells automatic watering system - their plants flourish without care 24/7.

We bought a small plant after falling in love with the overpowering sweet scent of Wrightia bonsai tree (3' high) in a nursery along Jalan Hicom. Our new plant is a starter kit as compared to the matured bonsai which, informed by the caretaker, is 4 years old! Difference is its leaves now seen as the original size, will grow new dwarfs leaves after frequent pruning and twigging.

Almost 2 weeks since, new shoots emerged after being pruned by the caretaker. We twigged using 2 thin wires on young branches so it'll take shape.



Although 4 years is a long way to go but nothing beats growing and nurturing your own compared to a ready-made bonsai. Will post its pic when it starts to flower - cluster of small drooping single white flowers that differs from the double-flower white Wrightia A. (Winter Cherry).

Water Jasmine (Sui Mui) - Wrightia religiosa most often used for bonsai in Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and in other Southeast Asian countries. Evergreen can grow up to 20' high and has medicinal qualities, tolerate moisture, and prefer as much direct sun as much as possible.

Propagation is easy since Wrightias sprout readily from seed contained inside a green bean-like pod. It is also easily grown from both branch and root cuttings. Flowers develop after the 3rd new leaf forms. The blooming period then lasts about two weeks. The flowers are white, pendulous, and fill a room with a very lovely fragrance. Long, green bean-like seed pods follow flowering if insects pollinate the flowers. http://www.bonsaihunk.us/Wrightia.html , http://www.bonsaimalaysia.com/html/wrightia.html

While surfing to research, there's a bonsai club organised in Kelantan. The guys' skills are awesome, working on cutting/growing from local trees. This hobby a favourite amongst Malay and Chinese.

Look! Young shoots grew an inch longer in 2 days!

"It is the slowest sculpture in the world, and there is, at times, doubt as to which is being sculpted, man or tree."--Theodore Sturgeon
More on bonsai quotes at http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/archive/index.php/f-84.html