All the time. Very popular. Be glad to help with anything.

Thanks for the information. I bought a small Dwarf Yaupon this afternoon at the local nursery. I figured it would be a good beginnerÂs plant to learn Bonsai.
Any insight you might have would be appreciated.
Helmut

Hi, don't know how much experience you have growing anything, or bonsai, but in general hollies don't like to dry out, which means watering when the top of the soil is dry, but if the rest is still sodden from the previous time, you might need to repot into soil with more grit in it, to drain faster, or you'll end up with root rot (those 'mall-sai' are usually in cheap soil that ends up all compacted so the roots drown, and is concrete when dry). You can feed it Miracid every 10 days at half strength (starting in late March) because hollies love acid. Right now and for a season or 2, you just want to concentrate on keeping it alive and well, and the bonsai part (styling, etc.) will come later, and give you time to read up on things and/or find a local club to join. Good luck.

Thanks again, but this Dwarf Yaupon is not a "mall-0sai". It is in a one gallon container. I have already pruned it and I am in the process of doing more research before I attempt to prune the roots. Any advice you can give me in that area would be appreciated.
Helmut

Hi Helmut,
You might have already done your root pruning by this time, but even in Houston with a Yaupon it might be a good idea to wait until spring (early-mid March). Once the little guy starts budding, nothing short of a lawn mower will hurt it beyond repair (the one I got from a neighbor had been mowed down 3 times and had a great trunk taper :o). Just remember to not let the soil in your training pot go completely dry. The Yaupons I've had could survive being overwatered every so often and with our high humidity they don't need weekly floods like maples, but they'll die quick if they dry out completely. Good luck.
Stephen

Thanks Stephen for your comments. I have not root pruned yet. I will take you advice and wait until next month. I have notice a very small fruit on this plant. From what I have read, this means it is a female plant. I though I would wait until the tiny berries are gone before I attempt to root prune.
Thanks again for you advice.
Helmut