A New Day to Grow Bonsai - New Cuttings
Filed under: Grow Bonsai and How to Grow Bonsai

Day 4 for my olive cuttings. Here’s a shot of them so you can see them at the start:

Olive Cuttings Day 4

They are in coarse gravel and I’ve been changing water every morning. Cutting still seem like they’re happy though I may have still cut them a little too woody.

I know I had some pussy willows a few years ago and those a really woody. They all rooted with no problems so we’ll see with the olive tree cuttings.

The experts all seem to agree that any tree can be cultivated for bonsai so I decided to branch out (no pun intended) and start two more sets of cutting today. My pomegranate is on the left and the right picture is a second try with the pineapple guava.

Pomegranate and Pineapple Guava Cuttings Day 1

I cut both of these closer to the new growth and have started them in fine gravel. I love the fruit from both these trees and the flowers are bright and pretty. Don’t know if they’ll blossom as bonsai, or bear fruit. We’ll find out in due time. First step is to get the cuttings rooted.

To grow bonsai is a lesson in patience (whether you start from seed, from cutting, or buy a bonsai tree) and is cetainly a form of meditation in motion.

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Leann @ 12:49 pm
Starting Over to Grow Bonsai From a Cutting
Filed under: Grow Bonsai

Well, trip is over and my cuttings didn’t make it.  Sad to come home and see the leaves on the counter.  At least I found out what kind of tree I was trying to root - pineapple guava.  Bottom line is that it means my first effort to grow bonsai from a cutting didn’t work, and, as Edison said, “It’s just one more thing I know not to do again.”

In our neighborhood we have lots of olive trees, too.  None on our property but 4 of the 6 people on our block have them.  Asked my neighbor for permission to take a few cuttings and this weekend I put olive tree cutting in gravel to root.  Today is day 2.

In fact, I think I will go out and take a couple fo sutting of the pineaple guava again.  It’s a  lovely tree when it’s big so a bonsai would be delightful.  This time, though, I am going to take newer growth and see if it makes a difference to have less wood on the cutting.

I’m ready for the rroted cuttings, too.  When I was out at the nursery over the weekend I bought soil and such.  Am I being optimistic?  Yes and no.  One way or another, I’m going to be using it!

More tomorrow.

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Leann @ 4:33 pm
Grow Bonsai With Me from Day One
Filed under: Grow Bonsai

Never being one to do things in a small way, learning to grow bonsai has proved to be no different. 

It all started innocently enough - I overheard two people talking in the bookstore about how much fun they were having with their bonsai hobbies.  (I am an eavesdropper - I like to hear what people are thinking and doing.)  I listened until those people left the store then went right to the books about bonsai.

I found many but didn’t buy one. Instead, when I got home, I turned to the internet.  Spent the afternoon doing some reasearch, and decided to try my hand at bonsai.  I’m good in the garden.  I figured I could do this.

Also, since I’m into instant gratification, I couldn’t wait to order a bonsai tree so I went out to my backyard and chose one of the trees I like best, took a clipping, and am starting to sprout it.

I don’t know what the name of the tree is. I’ll find out and let you know.  Maybe this isn’t the best time to start this hobby - I leave for a 2-week vacation tomorrow.  By the time I get home I hope to see roots started and getting close to being ready to pot. 

Meanwhile, I’ll have my computer with me while I travel so I’ll share some of what I learned in my research.  When I get back, there will be more pictures and I’ll update you about the condition of my new bonsai tree - the beginning of my adventure in learning to grow bonsai!

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Leann @ 12:12 pm
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