Wee Trees Bonsai Help Forum Advice for all
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Introducing...
http://weetrees.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=17981
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Author:  SteveP [ 31 Aug 2018, 11:55 ]
Post subject:  Introducing...

Hello everyone :-)

My name is Steve and I live in Stroud, Glos.
Became interested in bonsai last year. I visited the Swindon bonsai club and wanted to continue, but had some health problems which set me back a bit.
I have spent the summer taking various cuttings of common plants, from what was available in the garden, such as Rosemary, Forstythia, Hyrangea, Jasmine etc.
I also purchased some JBP seeds which germinated well after two weeks in the fridge, so I have 23 still going. Also collected a lot of seeds from Rowan, Cotoneaster etc which will be stored for the spring.
I do realise I will be an old man before those pines are juvenile but, I have enjoyed nursing them and have learnt a lot of useful experience with regards to soil, drainage etc.
I have found this craft requires patience which so far has not been in abundance :200unsure: so if a cutting hasn't rooted in a week it get's wrenched out and thrown on the pile in disgust :bully:
All the best
Steve

Author:  Gary Jones [ 31 Aug 2018, 12:32 ]
Post subject:  Re: Introducing...

Welcome Steve. Enjoy the hobby and I think you'll enjoy it more is you get some trees to play with while your seeds grow (quite a few years before you can do much with them).

Author:  SteveP [ 31 Aug 2018, 12:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Introducing...

Hi Gary
Thank you for the welcome.
A tree would help wouldn't it.

Author:  Penny Ann [ 31 Aug 2018, 13:38 ]
Post subject:  Re: Introducing...

Welcome to Weetrees. See if can get something from a garden centre/plant nursery. Ask if the have anything tucked away which perhaps has been damaged. Tell them you want to practice your bonsai skills. If not look out for anybody throwing out shrubs or getting rid of hedges. They take a while to recover but you can still practice on them and it's not the end if they don't survive. Have a look in your own garden and see if there is anything with a nice low trunk and nebari(old surface roots) Once neighbours know you are interested they will offer you anything they don't want. Keep an eye open for people having garden work done, and have a poke around in skips!

Author:  Paul B [Swindon] [ 31 Aug 2018, 13:42 ]
Post subject:  Re: Introducing...

Hi Steve

Hope that you are in better health now

Author:  Sizzla [ 31 Aug 2018, 19:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Introducing...

Welcome along, there are some wonderful shrubs you can buy at garden centres that will make rewarding play things. I can recommend the following:


Lonicera nitida
Cotoneaster
Any type of juniper
Pyracantha
Berberis
Buxus

All of these are forgiving and develop quickly, look for small leaved cultivars with thick trunks and preferably some movement and branches low down.

there's not many things I'd rather do than take a trip to a garden centre with a £10 note, dig around to find that hidden gem and then spend the afternoon snipping and wiring.

Author:  Ben M [ 31 Aug 2018, 20:56 ]
Post subject:  Re: Introducing...

Hey Steve - welcome to the forum.

Not so long back, I've been in a similar situation to you in terms of collecting free stuff, and found that - of the species mentioned above - Lonicera nitida and Cotoneaster will both take really easily from cuttings and it can save you years compared to growing from seed. Others will be able to give better advice on what's possible, but I've rooted cuttings with 8mm trunks quite easily, then just let them grow out and thicken for 2+ years, which is about where I'm at now. Good luck :)

Author:  SteveP [ 03 Sep 2018, 11:44 ]
Post subject:  Re: Introducing...

Great ideas, thanks Penny, I am doing some of those already, as well as scaling local quarries, but I slipped and found myself hanging by the spindly root of an Ash tree seedling ....never again!

Ben, I will try that, Cotoneaster is in the garden and I am making a cold frame. There is Plenty of Lonicera growing wild in local wood.

Thanks and Hi Paul.

Sizzla, you have inspired me, I will visit the garden centre again...looking for thick trunks...with movement.

Author:  SteveP [ 04 Sep 2018, 11:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: Introducing...

Some great suggestions there Penny, I have been doing many of these, I will renew my efforts thank you.

Hi Paul, yes, thank you.

Sizzla,
I will take a tenner to the garden centre and see what I can find. I really need a Juniper badly.


Ben,
Any tips on best time for those bigger cuttings.....end of this month....leaves on or off? I stuffed an 7mm buxus with leaves, in the open ground last October and it survived and has bushed out. I will go for 10mm in the cold frame this year. I really want to get a Pyracantha going as well.

Author:  Ben M [ 26 Nov 2018, 10:15 ]
Post subject:  Re: Introducing...

SteveP wrote:
Ben,
Any tips on best time for those bigger cuttings.....end of this month....leaves on or off? I stuffed an 7mm buxus with leaves, in the open ground last October and it survived and has bushed out. I will go for 10mm in the cold frame this year. I really want to get a Pyracantha going as well.

Just seen this reply - sorry Steve - been very busy recently.

Most of mine have been hardwood cuttings taken in Autumn. Should be fine now, though:

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=387
https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/g ... -cuttings/

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