Moke's Cork Bark Portulacaria 1 Progression

[moke]

Thought I would post the progression of this Cork Bark Portulacaria.

Here's after I received it as a cutting that I purchased from eBay in 2021.
This is right after placing it into bonsai soil and waiting for roots to develop.




Here is year 2, placed in a fabric pot with bonsai soil. I have been taking them outside in the summer and under lights in the winter 2023




And here it is currently 2026.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Thats great progress for such a short time! Well done!

 

[leatherback]

Very nice!

I just receives one last summer, and would be curious to hear your care & pruning practices. Could you share a bit more on how you develop this?

 

[moke]

Very nice!

I just receives one last summer, and would be curious to hear your care & pruning practices. Could you share a bit more on how you develop this?

I grew several out from cuttings, and a fabric pot with bonsai soil definitely gave me the best results. I prune them quite often to achieve tight, compact pads, constantly cutting back to two leaves to cause bifurcation. If you don't, they grow long leggy shoots.
I fertilize them with 20 20 20 about once a month, all season long. I also keep them in the fabric pot until the tree is basically to a finished state, then move them to a bonsai pot. I see many times where people put them into a bonsai pot way too early and then wonder why they don't develop nice trees with compact pads. I grow mine outdoors during the summer months and indoors under light through the winter temps in my indoor grow area stay around 78 F to 83 F. I see better compact growth while under lights through the winter months. I water them nearly every day sometime every other day. The leaves will wrinkle slightly when they need water. I have read many times don't water them too much, I can't seem to overwater mine; they need watering pretty much daily, most likely due to the bonsai soil with very little organic matter.
Hope this helps,

 

[Eckhoffw]

I grew several out from cuttings, and a fabric pot with bonsai soil definitely gave me the best results. I prune them quite often to achieve tight, compact pads, constantly cutting back to two leaves to cause bifurcation. If you don't, they grow long leggy shoots.
I fertilize them with 20 20 20 about once a month, all season long. I also keep them in the fabric pot until the tree is basically to a finished state, then move them to a bonsai pot. I see many times where people put them into a bonsai pot way too early and then wonder why they don't develop nice trees with compact pads. I grow mine outdoors during the summer months and indoors under light through the winter temps in my indoor grow area stay around 78 F to 83 F. I see better compact growth while under lights through the winter months. I water them nearly every day sometime every other day. The leaves will wrinkle slightly when they need water. I have read many times don't water them too much, I can't seem to overwater mine; they need watering pretty much daily, most likely due to the bonsai soil with very little organic matter.
Hope this helps,

Thanks for the additional input. Especially the notion of regular watering.
Like you noted, -that in bonsai soil, the advice of letting them to be dry all the time, is problematic. I’ve also found that they enjoy pretty regular watering. I will try the fabric pot in the future.

 

[Joelshack2362]

Very nice!

 

[hemmy]

I can't seem to overwater mine; they need watering pretty much daily, most likely due to the bonsai soil with very little organic matter.

Firstly, well done, looks great. I’ve also never lost one to overwatering, including in SoCal when they lived outside in 42deg low and winter rain. The key being free draining soil. But in prebonsai containers, I’d often use 1:1 pine bark and pumice (or 1:2). But never any peat or potting soil. But I also wouldn’t do any rootwork unless they were actively growing. I bet you could repot in the winter with no issues with that warm of a lighted setup.

Have you ever defoliated? It can also speed ramification.

Cheers!

 

[moke]

Firstly, well done, looks great. I’ve also never lost one to overwatering, including in SoCal when they lived outside in 42deg low and winter rain. The key being free draining soil. But in prebonsai containers, I’d often use 1:1 pine bark and pumice (or 1:2). But never any peat or potting soil. But I also wouldn’t do any rootwork unless they were actively growing. I bet you could repot in the winter with no issues with that warm of a lighted setup.

Have you ever defoliated? It can also speed ramification.

Cheers!

I have not tried defoliating them before, so I may try it out on one. I have cut them back to a trunk stump and regrown them for better branching.
You're correct, I always repot these during the winter under lights because they are growing like crazy. I've got one ready for a pot that I plan on repotting very soon.

 

[Russ1]

I grew several out from cuttings, and a fabric pot with bonsai soil definitely gave me the best results.

Very nice! What is your mix for "Bonsai" soil?

 

[moke]

Very nice! What is your mix for "Bonsai" soil?

Pumice, Lava and diatomaceous earth "Napa 8822" pretty much equal parts. When I repot to a bonsai pot, I add pine bark and Akadama to help retain some water.