Hi jim
I was looking at my variegated plant of this thinking the same thing.
succulent bonsai
Forum rules
For the discussion of topics related to the conservation, cultivation, propagation, exhibition & science of cacti & other succulents only.
Please respect all forum members opinions and if you can't make a civil reply, don't reply!
For the discussion of topics related to the conservation, cultivation, propagation, exhibition & science of cacti & other succulents only.
Please respect all forum members opinions and if you can't make a civil reply, don't reply!
- Tina
- BCSS Member
- Posts: 7038
- https://www.behance.net/kuchnie-warszawa
- Joined: 11 Jan 2007
- Branch: NORTHAMPTON & MILTON KEYNES
- Country: England
- Role within the BCSS: Member
- Location: BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
Re: succulent bonsai
Tina
varied collection of succulents and cacti but I especially like Euphorbia's, Ariocarpus and variegated agaves.
Bucks, UK
Branch co-ordinator, Northants & MK BCSS https://northants.bcss.org.uk
BCSS Talk team member, contact me- BCSS.Talk@Gmail.com if you want to volunteer or suggest a speaker plz.
varied collection of succulents and cacti but I especially like Euphorbia's, Ariocarpus and variegated agaves.
Bucks, UK
Branch co-ordinator, Northants & MK BCSS https://northants.bcss.org.uk
BCSS Talk team member, contact me- BCSS.Talk@Gmail.com if you want to volunteer or suggest a speaker plz.
- Jim_Mercer
- BCSS Member
- Posts: 2240
- Joined: 24 Feb 2011
- Branch: LIVERPOOL
- Country: UK
- Role within the BCSS: Member
- Location: Liverpool
- Contact:
Re: succulent bonsai
The pot I am going to use did contain a variegated one but it insisted in growing down which isn't what I want so I am doing a bit of a swap. It may just be the variegated clone that I have but my other plants of it all show the same growth pattern.Tina wrote:I was looking at my variegated plant of this thinking the same thing.
- Jim_Mercer
- BCSS Member
- Posts: 2240
- Joined: 24 Feb 2011
- Branch: LIVERPOOL
- Country: UK
- Role within the BCSS: Member
- Location: Liverpool
- Contact:
Re: succulent bonsai
Sorry about the plastic pot but this is how my variegated portulacaria afra seem to want to grow
My green plants all seem to grow upright so this one is going to get the bonsai pot
Removing the plant from its pot and giving it a bit of a shake to remove some of the existing soil resulted in a rootball that would fit in the bonsai pot,
I did trim the roots a bit before putting the pant into the pot with some fresh compost - my usual mix of B&Q multi-purpose compost, Tesco cat litter and chick grit. Next job is to trim unwanted branches to reveal a bit of the trunk.
Got a few more tools for cutting/trimming and removing soil from roots - none of them true bonsai tools
I wouldn't call this a finished plant but this is as far as I took the pruning today
My green plants all seem to grow upright so this one is going to get the bonsai pot
Removing the plant from its pot and giving it a bit of a shake to remove some of the existing soil resulted in a rootball that would fit in the bonsai pot,
I did trim the roots a bit before putting the pant into the pot with some fresh compost - my usual mix of B&Q multi-purpose compost, Tesco cat litter and chick grit. Next job is to trim unwanted branches to reveal a bit of the trunk.
Got a few more tools for cutting/trimming and removing soil from roots - none of them true bonsai tools
I wouldn't call this a finished plant but this is as far as I took the pruning today
-
- Posts: 3147
- Joined: 11 Jan 2007
- Branch: None
- Country: Scotland
- Role within the BCSS: Member
Re: succulent bonsai
Excellent tutorial on bonsai technique - many thanks for that.Jim_Mercer wrote:Sorry about the plastic pot but this is how my variegated portulacaria afra seem to want to grow
My green plants all seem to grow upright so this one is going to get the bonsai pot
Removing the plant from its pot and giving it a bit of a shake to remove some of the existing soil resulted in a rootball that would fit in the bonsai pot,
I did trim the roots a bit before putting the pant into the pot with some fresh compost - my usual mix of B&Q multi-purpose compost, Tesco cat litter and chick grit. Next job is to trim unwanted branches to reveal a bit of the trunk.
Got a few more tools for cutting/trimming and removing soil from roots - none of them true bonsai tools
I wouldn't call this a finished plant but this is as far as I took the pruning today
BTW, in my experience, P. afra is an erect growing shrub.
Cheers,
Colin
FBCSS
FCSSA
Fellow of the Linnean Society (FLS)
Member of the IOS
Honorary Research Associate, The Open University
Colin
FBCSS
FCSSA
Fellow of the Linnean Society (FLS)
Member of the IOS
Honorary Research Associate, The Open University
- Tony R
- Moderator
- Posts: 4013
- Joined: 20 Apr 2009
- Branch: CAMBRIDGE
- Country: UK
- Role within the BCSS: Member
- Location: Hartley, LONGFIELD, Kent
Re: succulent bonsai
I agree - this specimen, seen NW of Grahamstown, would certainly not fit in a bonsai potColin Walker wrote:BTW, in my experience, P. afra is an erect growing shrub.
Tony Roberts
Treasurer, Haworthia Society
Chairman, Tephrocactus Study Group
Moderator, BCSS Forum
Kent
(Gasteria, Mammillaria, small Opuntia, Cleistocactus and Sempervivum are my current special interests)
Treasurer, Haworthia Society
Chairman, Tephrocactus Study Group
Moderator, BCSS Forum
Kent
(Gasteria, Mammillaria, small Opuntia, Cleistocactus and Sempervivum are my current special interests)
- Tina
- BCSS Member
- Posts: 7038
- Joined: 11 Jan 2007
- Branch: NORTHAMPTON & MILTON KEYNES
- Country: England
- Role within the BCSS: Member
- Location: BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
Re: succulent bonsai
Hi
Here's my plant in a 4" pot, not sure how you would trim it for a bonsai style, I can't see how bonsai growers see the shape even after Graham walker did a very good talk on the subject.
Where is graham ??
Here's my plant in a 4" pot, not sure how you would trim it for a bonsai style, I can't see how bonsai growers see the shape even after Graham walker did a very good talk on the subject.
Where is graham ??
Tina
varied collection of succulents and cacti but I especially like Euphorbia's, Ariocarpus and variegated agaves.
Bucks, UK
Branch co-ordinator, Northants & MK BCSS https://northants.bcss.org.uk
BCSS Talk team member, contact me- BCSS.Talk@Gmail.com if you want to volunteer or suggest a speaker plz.
varied collection of succulents and cacti but I especially like Euphorbia's, Ariocarpus and variegated agaves.
Bucks, UK
Branch co-ordinator, Northants & MK BCSS https://northants.bcss.org.uk
BCSS Talk team member, contact me- BCSS.Talk@Gmail.com if you want to volunteer or suggest a speaker plz.
- Jim_Mercer
- BCSS Member
- Posts: 2240
- Joined: 24 Feb 2011
- Branch: LIVERPOOL
- Country: UK
- Role within the BCSS: Member
- Location: Liverpool
- Contact:
Re: succulent bonsai
Some of them start with bigger plants http://adamaskwhy.wordpress.com/2012/08 ... aria-afra/Tina wrote:I can't see how bonsai growers see the shape even after Graham walker did a very good talk on the subject.
Looks like I will have to find another variegated plant as Jane and Tina have got plants that have "normal" growth but a quick search via google does find that I am not alone in having a plant that prefers to grow down http://lennardsbonsaibeginnings.blogspo ... trate.html
Re: succulent bonsai
Here's my little succulent bonsai... Tylecodon wallichii in a very shallow but super heavy concrete pot a few days ago... middle of its 'bloom glory'.
- Apicra
- BCSS Member
- Posts: 1406
- Joined: 11 Jan 2007
- Branch: HARROW
- Country: UK
- Role within the BCSS: Branch Chair
- Location: London, UK
- Contact:
Re: succulent bonsai
The bright yellow flowers on your glorious Tylecodon, which must be about a metre across, reveal that it is T. cacaloides, rather than T. wallichii.
Best wishes,
Derek Tribble
Best wishes,
Derek Tribble