Serissa

Family Rubiaceae. Serissa foetida, or the tree of a thousand stars, is a capricious plant.

Serissa is a small evergreen shrub with small narrowly ovate, opposite, unpleasant-smelling leaves. Native range - tropical Asia. Small white or pink solitary flowers are borne in the axils of the leaves. Even on young plants the bark peels, gray-beige in colour. Young specimens are usually bought for their graceful flowers. However, Serissa is not suitable for a beginner. Even very experienced bonsai enthusiasts rarely succeed in keeping it for a long time.

Location: throughout the year in a bright spot protected from direct sunlight. In summer the plant can be placed outdoors. In winter it does well in an unheated, bright room.

Substrate: almost any well-draining potting mix.

Watering: the soil should be evenly moist. For watering it is preferable to use rainwater or tap water that has been allowed to stand.

Fertilization: from April to October.

It requires increased air humidity and consistent watering; otherwise it will drop its foliage. It sometimes also reacts to repotting and changes of location by dropping leaves, but it recovers quickly. Even when young it already resembles a dwarf bonsai.

It needs regular pinching, which can be done at any time of year, because the plant blooms on shoots of the second and third year. Flowers already at a young age. The star-shaped, numerous flowers give rise to the second name. During flowering, which lasts from early spring to late autumn, the little tree is very ornamental, and variegated varieties are decorative all year round. It requires a bright position but should be protected from scorching sunlight. Propagate by stem cuttings in a greenhouse with elevated soil temperature and using plant hormones.