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Lonicera on Pelindaba rock http://weetrees.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13743 |
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Author: | Brendan [ 10 Jul 2015, 18:06 ] |
Post subject: | Lonicera on Pelindaba rock |
I brought a piece of rock back from South Africa specifically to plant something onto it. A lonicera seemed a safe bet. L2 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr On the left (tea light for scale) by BrendanR2012, on Flickr |
Author: | Brendan [ 10 Jul 2015, 18:10 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Lonicera on Pelindaba rock |
I wired the lonicera onto the rock and planted it into a mix of cat litter and John Innes. L1 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr IMAG0385 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr |
Author: | Brendan [ 10 Jul 2015, 18:16 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Lonicera on Pelindaba rock |
And here we have one year's growth. The photos maybe don't show but the trunk thickened up amazingly. 20150710_153717 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr The pen is up against the trunk, for scale. Plenty of wire, but some good roots under there. by BrendanR2012, on Flickr |
Author: | Brendan [ 10 Jul 2015, 18:18 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Lonicera on Pelindaba rock |
A year later. by BrendanR2012, on Flickr |
Author: | Brendan [ 10 Jul 2015, 18:19 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Lonicera on Pelindaba rock |
A good year for growth. by BrendanR2012, on Flickr |
Author: | Keith.W [ 10 Jul 2015, 21:43 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Lonicera on Pelindaba rock |
Looking good Brendan, I would probably have used something a bit softer like raffia to tie in the roots though. Just thinking that the wire is a bit heavy duty for the finer roots and may bite in as they grow. Just my thoughts though. Keep us updated |
Author: | Brendan [ 08 Apr 2017, 00:34 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Lonicera on Pelindaba rock |
Update a bit overdue here. There were too many thick roots growing over the part of the rock that actually had the best character. I kept trying to get a root or 2 to grow into the groove that ran down the face of the rock. In 2015 I ended up with a bushy root mass but the much needed root in the groove just never appeared. Undeterred I trimmed away the fibrous root mass and clamped the rest in place and popped it into the ground. I was hoping the effect of ground growing on the roots would achieve my plan. I dug it up in August 2016, and found that the root in the grooves had almost all rotted and died. A couple remained, but they were wispy and came from a side and crossing root. The rest of it was looking pretty healthy. 20160811_185453 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr 20160811_185556 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr 20160811_190138 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr You can see from this pic above that my initial idea was for the tree to grow straight up from the rock with the roots down the sloping face. The tree does point up from the top of the flat part of the triangular rock, and that was the angle at which it grew in the ground initially. But it was ultimately planted on its side and hence the angle you see in the pic. I was worried it might not work out. I potted it into a training pot and decided to wait until spring to see what emerged. Today I pulled it out of the pot. I was deeply disappointed to find that there were no roots growing in the grooves that had attracted me to the rock in the first place. 20170407_174123 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr But then I looked again. And I was delighted that no roots had grown in the amazing grooves that made this rock so special. So I went about cleaning up the roots so that they flowed all around the rock except down the face. It is now back in the training pot for the last time. I am pretty sure that when I lift it next it will be ready to go into a carefully chosen pot. 20170407_173955 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr 20170407_174129 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr 20170407_174137 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr 20170407_174323 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr 20170407_174326 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr 20170407_174339 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr 20170407_174129 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr 20170407_174003 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr 20170407_174008 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr I am happy with the roots. I am happy with the trunk. So the next few weeks will be spent geting the foliage to grow. This is a lonicer, so I can expect a result by teh beginning of summer that would take years with any other material. I acknowledge that it is cheating to call this shrub "bonsai material". But what a forgiving and rewarding little treat it is to play with. |
Author: | Gary Jones [ 08 Apr 2017, 00:55 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Lonicera on Pelindaba rock |
Looks good. Methinks you love your lonicera! You've got a few like this haven't you? |
Author: | roger m [ 08 Apr 2017, 17:04 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Lonicera on Pelindaba rock |
Love that rock! The whole thing is starting to look really natural, can't wait to see it in a few years time. Roger. |
Author: | Brendan [ 13 Aug 2018, 17:08 ] |
Post subject: | Re: Lonicera on Pelindaba rock |
Update. I bought this one a lovely matt black pot: 20180813_163103 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr Here's a (not great) video showing it all around: https://youtu.be/yHFyvoPclYM , |
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