The Serissa “Snow Rose” is a charming, compact shrub often cultivated as a bonsai for its intricate beauty and manageable size. The Serissa 'Snow Rose' is a charming, compact shrub that can add a refined elegance to indoor spaces with its delicate foliage, dainty blooms, and suitability for bonsai artistry. This delightful plant features small, glossy, dark green leaves that are sometimes edged in creamy white variegation, adding to its delicate charm. Its tiny white blooms have a snow-like effect that gives the plant its common name.
Trunk Development for Bonsai Artistry:
This plant is still young and for the first couple of years, the plant focuses on root establishment and foliage growth. The main stem begins to thicken slightly but may still resemble a woody branch rather than a proper trunk. With proper pruning and consistent care, after 3-5 years, the main stem can start to develop into a small trunk with a gnarled, aged appearance. The trunk thickens faster if the plant is allowed to grow without frequent pruning for size control. After about 5 years, the trunk is quite defined, thicker, and woody, giving it that classic bonsai appearance.
CARE:
- Does well in moderate humidity
- Maintain slightly moist soil, not soggy.
- Do not allow the soil to dry out.
- Does well with consistent bright medium-bright indirect light. A couple of hours of morning sun can be beneficial, but avoid exposure to strong mid-day rays as this can burn the foliage
- Prune during the growing season to achieve the desired shape.
- Keep away from areas with fluctuating temperatures as well as drafts and heat- try to maintain a stable environment to avoid stress on this plant.
- Abrupt loss of leaves is usually a sign of stress.