I'm interested in purchasing a flowering bonsai but would like some advice about which kinds are easier to care for and easier to flower. Any experiences?
Thanks,
K.
Newbie interested in flowering bonsai
There is a wonderful book about flowering bonsai called "The Art of Flowering Bonsai" by Peter Adams. The species would depend partly on the part of country you live in. Crab apples, azaleas, hawthorns, holly, wisteria, cotoneaster and Japanese quince are all good choices for most of the country. In the tropical areas or if you have a greenhouse you could grow pomegranates, serrisa, crepe myrtle. I suggest you look around at local nurseries and see what does well in your area, buy some inexpensive 1 gal. plants with as interesting trunks as you can find and practise on them. I live in Texas and we even create bonsai out of lantana which is like a weed around here but can get a nice trunk if it doesn't freeze back. I have seen fantastic bonsai done with tiny flowered fuscias. I wouldn't try that if I didn't live in an area with cooler weather in summer. Guess maybe in Canada you have things that do well that I wouldn't know about. Join a club and read some books. It's a great hobby.
I have even seen Impatiens as Bonsai!!
This is my first attempt at bonsai
I'll bump this thread up to add; Carisa boxwood beauty, or Natal plum would make a beautiful bonsai. It's tough, it's drought tolerance, it's flexible for training, it makes beautiful plumeria-like flower, white blossoms (or even adenium's flower), it also very fragrant. And you can get these at nursery. Foremost? Its leaves turns color in the Fall. You need to keep it indoor overwinter, but it also makes small size fruits for your enjoyment (I don't know if the fruits are edible), but it's wonderful for the eyes -- provides interests all 4 seasons.
Lily, that's the one I want to try. I hope I can find one. Thanks for sharing your bonsai world with us:) I am off to see if I can find it on the net. Which one is the pic of?
Posyblossom; looks up under Natal plum....I think the same pics. in in pf. Enjoy.
Kim
I found it Kim. Thank You. I love it when I can find all the elements you listed in one plant.
I am having such a good time with everyone here. "Garden People" are the best.
Ah I've found a pic. of my novice attempt of the mentioned Carisa Boxwood beauty for a bonsai. :-)
You did well for a novice Kim. The leaves are quite beautiful with some red and others green,but I must have a Natal Plum. (sigh)..............well one of these days:)
Posy;
Try and look hard, ask you local nursery to order one for you. It's way more affordably, reasonable when you go through your local sources. I don't know about up North. But down South, it's easy for us to find such subtropical/tropical plants. If all else fails. I'll try to do some cuttings and share it with you later.... I tried cuttings as you can see in the above pics. They didn't take roots (1st try and fail, but that doens't mean I've given up, I'll try again).
Kim
I'll do that Kim and let you know how I make out. Bonsai are not that available around this neck of the woods and I have never seen a Flowering Bonsai in real life. I did take a close look at those cuttings and they sure look like they are full of roots that would take. mmmmm....there is more to Bonsai than meets the eye;)