Blueberry growth habit

[badatusernames]

I have a blueberry with a pretty decent base that was growing in my yard for six years.

I was originally going to do the paint-by-numbers I tend to do of bringing the branches down and making a standard tree looking tree as though it were a trident, but a lot of the bonsai I’ve seen go for something much different like the below photos.

While the base would make for a beefy Shohin, I’m wondering if my mind should be more attuned to these examples…. Would love the input. It’s not really ready to mess with yet, but figured I could get ahead of it mentally…

These aren’t mine, just examples, though the second may be something similar to what I could pursue

 

[Gabler]

It’s your tree. Grow what you enjoy. If you’re stuck on the fence about trying something new, go for it. As they say, variety is the spice of life. If you’re very attached to this material, wait another year or two to style it, and first mess around with plants you value less.

 

[badatusernames]

It’s your tree. Grow what you enjoy. If you’re stuck on the fence about trying something new, go for it. As they say, variety is the spice of life. If you’re very attached to this material, wait another year or two to style it, and first mess around with plants you value less.

Good call. I wouldn’t say it’s my most precious, but it’s a good excuse to try something new and learn more.

 

[badatusernames]

Figure I should share what I’m starting with

Basically just a base, now all I have to do is literally everything else. Easy! >_>

 

[JackHammer]

There is a porquepine style. Maybe also called a turtle? Might give you some inspiration.

turtle style bonsai at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

Edit: I think most people would bucket the style as clump but I think there is a specific type of clump. Maybe someone else will know more about the style.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

First, one needs to get the blueberry healthy. If leaves continue to have discolored margins, burn at edges and new growth withers, switch from APL potting media to a fine fir bark-peat moss blend with a small amount of perlite to aerate. Blueberries generally need very low pH soils, pH 5.0 to 6.0 is a working range. They will tolerate even lower pH. Though I am not certain their absolute low limit. This is much lower than azalea.

 

[badatusernames]

First, one needs to get the blueberry healthy. If leaves continue to have discolored margins, burn at edges and new growth withers, switch from APL potting media to a fine fir bark-peat moss blend with a small amount of perlite to aerate. Blueberries generally need very low pH soils, pH 5.0 to 6.0 is a working range. They will tolerate even lower pH. Though I am not certain their absolute low limit. This is much lower than azalea.

Thank you! Yeah I haven’t been doing much with it - it leafed out beautifully but once more got brown like that and is currently leafless. I’ll give that a shot if it survives. I took another out of the ground this year too so even if it doesn’t it’s valuable information.