From: dinsmm@rs6411.ecs.rpi.edu (Michael Dinsmore)
Subject: How To Grow A Grapefruit Bonsai Tree
Date: Thu, 25 Feb 1993 23:32:21 GMT


	         How To Grow A Grapefruit Bonsai Tree
                          By Michael Dinsmore
                            Copyrighted 1993

        While it may not be a traditional bonsai, the grapefruit tree
can be a challenging, artistic and learning experience when trying to
make it into a bonsai tree.  I will try to explain all the key
elements of the process and give hints on what you might try to do
differently, than I did on my first grapefruit bonsai.
	The first thing one must do is acquire a seed.  This isn't a
bad task (if you like grapefruit) and after purchasing a grapefruit
from your local supermarket, you're set.  Eat the grapefruit, and save
a couple of seeds from it.  I have always used the standard grapefruit
and have never tried red/pink grapefruit yet, although I don't think
that there will be a great difference.  If you keep the soil a little
moist for the first few days then water it only when it gets dry, the
seed should germinate.  It really isn't hard to grow it from a seed.
Its rather inexpensive as well (and you get the delicious fruit) but I
suppose you can always go to your local greenhouse and buy one.  I
have always grown mine from seeds so I don't know how much they cost
or if they are even available.
	Once the seed sprouts from the earth, water it only when the
soil gets dry, like most plants.  Do not underwater the plant in this
stage. Use a big pot and let the tree grow as much and as big as it
can.  Don't worry - it won't get out of hand.  Give it plenty of
sunlight and when watering it, spray the leaves with some water too -
but only in the morning.  You do not want the water to sit in the
leaves for a long time and the heat from the sun during the day will
take care of the excess water quick enough.  If you spray water on the
leaves at night, the water will sit and you run the risk of having a
fungus attack your tree.  Don't let this happen.  Since I live in a
northern area (Vermont), I usually keep the tree indoors except for a
couple of months during the summer.
	After about a year and a half of letting the tree grow, you
will start to have a woody stem and a tree that stands about twelve to
fourteen inches high.  At this point you have an option, the stem of
the tree is long and there won't be any leaves for the first five to
six inches, so what I usually do is repot the tree and bury some of
the previously exposed stem underground.  Also, try replanting it at
an angle, for where the tree meets the soil, new roots will usually
sprout, and this produces some artistic value to the bonsai.  The
steeper the angle you replant it the better the results you can get,
but remember, if it is too steep you can also risk having to do
serious pruning to the root system when you finally put in in a
standard bonsai pot.  This is risky, since it will be the major root
that you will have to cut off (partially remove) and I've killed one
this way before.  Usually they are pretty hardy though.  Don't cut off
any of the root system when you are repotting it this time though.  It
still is a small tree and needs all its roots for growing.  You can
also use standard soil for the tree, but just add a little sand to it
to get some better drainage.  You don't want the water to be sitting
on the roots.
	Let it grow for another two years.  You really shouldn't have
to cut it down too much during this period, but you might depending on
how much sun the grapefruit tree gets.  A lot of the energy at this
stage seems to be growing leaves (leave them all on) and thickening of
the trunk of the tree. 
	Okay, so now you have had a grapefruit bonsai tree growing for
approximately three - three and a half years.  At this point you can
start pruning some of the leaves/branches that you want removed, but
do so gradually.  Only take off a little at a time and give it some
time before you take some more off.  You can almost do whatever you
want, but keep in mind what type of tree it is before you begin
sculpting it.  I prefer to make the tree seem as close to "natural" in
appearance to give it an identity.  Also, it seems that every winter
some leaves fall off the tree.  I think it is due to the shorter
sunlight hours.  However, this really isn't anything to be really
worried about, but just keep it in mind when you start pruning the
bonsai.  Ugly open holes won't be very attractive.
	I don't want to tell you what to do too much from here
...experiment, try out new ideas.  I have done this about a half dozen
times, but so far my oldest tree is only nine years old (I'm a junior
in college right now).  I haven't ever tried to get fruit from the
tree.  It's not what I'm interested in.  However, if you plan on doing
that there is a lot of work involved, and some research.
	The grapefruit bonsai tree makes a welcome and enjoyable part
in your home.  It looks attractive, has a pleasant smell, and gets
peoples attention.  One only drawback is that the tree produces thorns
on its smaller branches that are pretty long - up to a half inch.  You
can have a lot of fun growing your own grapefruit bonsai tree and I
suggest doing more than one at a time, and keep one of the best trees
at the end of the first year and start again on new ones.  They make
wonderful gifts for the novice bonsai learner.


Michael Dinsmore                    Computer and Systems Engineering
dinsmm@rpi.edu                      Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute