Mexican Heather or Cuphea hyssopifolia

[thumblessprimate1]

Nothing too hardcore here, but a little fun. I started this Mexican heather about 2 months ago with plans to have a mame sized bonsai.

It was originally in a 4 inch growing container and very root bound. The whole container was pretty much all roots. I pruned away everything leaving about a dime in diameter of root; that's at least 95% of the roots tossed away. Grew the plant in a 6 inch container with pretty much 100% vermiculite.

Today, I found that the roots had spread and grown downward; it began to circle at the bottom. I decided to get this thing into shape. There were some roots growing again higher up the trunk where I had pruned away before planting it in vermiculite. I decided to keep the roots this time; I wrapped them tightly to the trunk hoping that they will fuse and become part of the trunk.

Pruned the roots and wired with floral wire. Sorted out roots for fun. Potted in a larger pot again in vermiculite just to keep this plant growing.

This should start to look like something by the end of the year.

 

[Neli]

He he he! I have one also...when I have nothing better to do I bonsai the weeds in my garden. This is a weed in my garden...it seeds itself everywhere and I have to pull them out.
I noticed some die back of old trunks/branches if foliage trimmed too much and no leaves left at the end.

 

[thumblessprimate1]

Zelkova are weeds here. I keep telling myself I'll get one started, but something else distracts me.

Would like to see how the false heather look in your area. There have got to be some with good size and character. I've read that in some places they grow up to about 3 cm in thickness.

 

[Neli]

Mine are pulled out all the time so they are not allowed to grow too thick...I just sent the gardener to dig one...told him the biggest trunk...but they are not big.
I have not styled it much... It will need to be trunk chopped eventually.
But I have another type of cuphea with a big trunk...This are old pictures...dont know where I put the recent ones.

 

[Neli]

Found it
It looks terrible at the moment...still growing it up. But ones I trunk chop it hard maybe will look better.
I bonsaied the chilly of my neighbors also.