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| Berberis - a few questions http://weetrees.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=17348 |
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| Author: | darreng [ 09 Feb 2018, 23:48 ] |
| Post subject: | Berberis - a few questions |
Hello, Picked up a fairly interesting berberis - thunbergii atropurpurea nana. I have read that they don't thicken very quickly and being a dwarf variety I'm not expecting either quick results or any prizes. Fancied a long term project, something a little different. In the meantime, further to the notes on bonsai4me, can anyone advise on a couple of queries: - Are they particularly thirsty? - How do they respond to root work? - I'm guessing a good few years in the ground is the best way to gain thickness, but I don't have room even for this tiddler, would a pond basket and fairly heavy feeding/watering regime be a good idea, or better in a nursery pot and more conservative feeding? Thanks, |
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| Author: | paulpash [ 10 Feb 2018, 11:50 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Berberis - a few questions |
Not particularly thirsty, well drained bonsai soil and watered every day during the growing season is fine. A few species produce fibrous root systems quite readily, eg Lonicera, juniper, Euonymus and berberis so for these I'd go with a normal nursery pot. They respond well to root work - fairly easy - just make sure it's done as the buds get their glow and start to swell - in the next few weeks would be ideal - mine is starting to push now. They bud prolifically even on old wood - make sure you select the keepers early and rub off any buds you don't want, especially the ones at the bases of branches. I use the spare space in my dad's garden to grow my ever expanding stock of propagated material. Maybe you could sweet talk a local relative into temporarily 'adopting' it. Lay a stem down and on collection you'll have another plant to give as a thank you present :) |
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| Author: | Paul B [Swindon] [ 10 Feb 2018, 12:07 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Berberis - a few questions |
As Paul says............ Instead of one main trunk, they can also throw up quite a few others, so it needs regular pruning to send all the goodness to what you want as the main one. They can make nice small trees |
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| Author: | darreng [ 10 Feb 2018, 13:51 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Berberis - a few questions |
Much appreciated, thanks both. |
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| Author: | TomB [ 10 Feb 2018, 15:26 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Berberis - a few questions |
I've got a couple of small ones in development. Be careful with trunk chops and major branch removal - wounds don't typically callus over well. Keep that in mind when planning cuts, sacrifice growth etc; make sure your cuts are hidden. Seal all cuts with a proper cut paste (e.g. Kiyonal) to maximise callusing. New shoots are very brittle so be careful when wiring. Watch out for the thorns. To get the purple leaves to colour up, it needs a fair bit of light exposure - not a shady location. |
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| Author: | paulpash [ 10 Feb 2018, 19:42 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Berberis - a few questions |
They are a bitch to wire too - next year I'll cut the thorns off. |
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| Author: | Sizzla [ 10 Feb 2018, 19:48 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Berberis - a few questions |
Lol those thorns don't come out either |
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