Help needed with Bonsai

Lyn, Looking at your pic, I tend to think your bonsai is not an Elm, in fact it dont look hardy to me.
Anyone think it might be a ficus.

I wish Scarborough was in zone 9 John. :D

 

Only because that would put you close to zone 10a.

 

You read my mind. :D

 

So do I treat a ficus the same as an Elm?
Can I leave it out through the winter or will it have to be protected from frost?
:confused:

 

Lyn, to be on the safe side I would take it in because if Pete is right, and I am inclined to agree with him, then what you have is an evergreen, tender fig. Normally used as a houseplant. John for you to convince a Jacaranda that Scarborough is zone 9 you will have to lag it. David.

 

I can be very persuasive David. You should have heard me when I was on the pub debating team. (i.e. the Parish council). :D My grandfather was Welsh.

 

You are in with a shout then John. On a serious note, if you are going to attempt to bonsai your Jacaranda ( or anything else for that matter ), there is a very good book called " The Bonsai School " by Craig Coussins. David.

 

There's also the School of Victoria Bonsai, hope-to-be specialist in Mediterranean bonsai. :rolleyes:

 

The only one I've got was in my last year's Christmas stocking (can't think why). It's just called 'Bonsai' by Christine Stewart.

I started to read it last year thinking it was an eastern theatre 2nd world war story. Sorry, my SOH does run away with me. Seriously, have you heard of it? Has anybody heard of it?

 

No. David.

 

No John.

Lyn, I have seen quite a few "tender" plants sold as bonsai in garden centres, so unless you are sure as to what plant you have, I would keep it frost free or warmer, just to be on the safe side.
I have a feeling that its done because many people like to grow them as house plants,(not something you can do with an average hardy tree), so they tend to use tropical plants that like house conditions better.

 

Thank you, I'll get it in and find a nice bright place for it.