My new victims buahahaha

[TinRoses]

Went out today in search of the fabled box store epic Azalea. Turns out they got them in 2 days ago and were completely sold out aside from one poor little pot of three cuttings... I took pity and brought them home. Not sure what they are, any signage was long gone and of course the ever helpful garden center personnel at Lowes knew nothing. Sorry for the crappy pics, will try for better in the morning.

They appears to have bloomed already, which makes me suspicious as to what species they may be, and has something going on with their blossoms as even the buttons appear brown and sad. Their leaves are gorgeous and there's tons of new growth all over everyone so i have hope of splitting them and leaving them to grow for a couple years. No pics of the trunks, but I took some of leaves and blossoms (what's left of them) to hopefully ID. They are definitely not "Encore", were grown in Florida at a farm in Apopka. They also seem to really want to cluster bloom.



The next item on my list was a weird one. Hubby fell in love with a blueberry bush. That's right... A blueberry bush. I have to admit... This little bush is showing some serious potential! I cleaned it up a bit as there was one dead branch and a couple injured leaves. Going to let her finish producing fruit and will then trim her back and put her in a new pot with all kinds of goodies. I kind of see her as a potential semi-cascade... Food for thought, har har.



Next... Bougainvillea. Couldn't stay away from this one, and I'm not sure why... I think it's lack of sleep. Honestly. This little tree is all kinds of beautiful and in full bloom with TONS of color, which gives me hope for the future after I butcher her down. I thought about taking shears to her tonight, but just said "no" and have left it for a different day and to let her finish blooming.



Last but not least? Hubby's eye spied this rather lovely little Boxwood with a TON of nebari!!! Really liking this tree and the potential! I haven['t done much but trim and pluck some low set leaves.




Seriously looking forward to working on all of them! Always open to ideas and thoughts!

 

[edprocoat]

Bougainvillea are great, you cant kill them wwith a blowtorch. They can take being defoliated and cut back at the same time and just keep on keeping on ! You will have fun with this one in So Fl. Azalea are a little bit more picky. I have looked at Blueberries for years, some seem to have some neat little trunks on them, aged looking but not really thick. I wonder how they would take to being trimmed? Have fun.

ed

 

[TinRoses]

Only thing to worry about down here is rot. I've heard about using wood sealant on them as protection, but I'm not sure how that works or IF it would work. This Bougie is going to be awesome, she probably won't think so for a bit, though!! Looking forward to next year and beyond.

The blue berries apparently handle it real well... i can see where they removed a third branch from the bottom split and it's grown back with a vengeance. Plus... As a kid i remember hacking them back in the wild just to have them attack the next season with some serious vigor. I imagine with the right fertilizer, this will grow like gangbusters! You should get one. We can start a blueberry army.

 

[sorce]

The box is awesome, so is the rooster!

Sorce

 

[JoeR]

I have two wild blueberrys on my property, one massive one 6'×6' and one smaller one. They seem perfect for bonsai, with very small leaves and berries. However, they have very thin trunks so I am thinking forest style perhaps. Oh and they have a very deep red fall color too. Please do let me know how yours goes, and I will let you know what I do with mine. I CANT wait till spring...

 

[Bunjeh]

Bougainvillea are great, you cant kill them wwith a blowtorch. They can take being defoliated and cut back at the same time and just keep on keeping on ! You will have fun with this one in So Fl. Azalea are a little bit more picky. I have looked at Blueberries for years, some seem to have some neat little trunks on them, aged looking but not really thick. I wonder how they would take to being trimmed? Have fun.

ed

Bougies are good against blowtorches,..but frost kicks their asses. I forgot about one when the weather dropped to 20 degrees. Blueberries? I have two that are doing great. One purchased one rescue. Very sturdy but brittle. Hard to wire anything once it hardens off.

 

[TinRoses]

I have two wild blueberrys on my property, one massive one 6'×6' and one smaller one. They seem perfect for bonsai, with very small leaves and berries. However, they have very thin trunks so I am thinking forest style perhaps. Oh and they have a very deep red fall color too. Please do let me know how yours goes, and I will let you know what I do with mine. I CANT wait till spring...

I decided this morning that I'm going to very gently wire a little bit to help set her in better motion while the areas that bug me are still green wood. I agree with a lot of people that say the hardwood is very brittle, as its thin, but TOUGH given the dexterity. Gonna toss down a little fertilizer also and let her finish the season. Blueberry muffins AND a Bonsai?! Sounds like heaven to me. Dying to see what you do with yours!

BlueberryArmy2015!!!

 

[TinRoses]

Bougies are good against blowtorches,..but frost kicks their asses. I forgot about one when the weather dropped to 20 degrees. Blueberries? I have two that are doing great. One purchased one rescue. Very sturdy but brittle. Hard to wire anything once it hardens off.

Would LOVE to see pics. I'm tempted to go get another one while they're still there and I'm hearing tales of Pommegranite treea on sale for $3. As far as my Bougies? It very seldom freezes here, but threat of harsh weather will result in everyone coming in the house over night. More worried about hurricanes and monsoons tbh.

 

[TinRoses]

The box is awesome, so is the rooster!

Sorce

LOL! The rooster is older than I am and was a Yardmadori my grandmother found as a hunt and pick sale. 3 generations later, he's now overseeing my kitchen.

 

[JoeR]

I decided this morning that I'm going to very gently wire a little bit to help set her in better motion while the areas that bug me are still green wood. I agree with a lot of people that say the hardwood is very brittle, as its thin, but TOUGH given the dexterity. Gonna toss down a little fertilizer also and let her finish the season. Blueberry muffins AND a Bonsai?! Sounds like heaven to me. Dying to see what you do with yours!

BlueberryArmy2015!!!

Yes their branches are quite brittle. Its in their nature to grow very tall and thin, so no sense in trying to force them into any other style except group plantings, bunjin, etc. I have to warn you, I bought a lowe's blueberry last spring and it quickly produced a nice crop of huge berries and then proceeded to die, no reason. They aren't meant to last, just be payed for. Hope yours doesn't do the same!

Also, it turned out I lied. I just went out and had a look at the plants, and it turns out I have roughly 20-30ish different plants from six inches to seven feet tall. Most of the trunks are from 1.5" to 3" thick. There are so many in different sizes they are just begging to be a group planting! Another thing I noticed is how well ramified they are naturally. Below are pics of the ramification, pictures don't do it justice and are a bit confusing so I outlined one in red.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Bougainvillea are my <3... They hold a sentimental value along with their beauty they behold when loaded with bracts! I've five total in my care...one though I have plans on mentoring a youth so it's actually hers. Sooooo only technically 4 are mine.

I must say...I am puzzled with the statements I always read of their not taking to root pruning when you can cut a thick piece off and grow roots from it. Unless the root pruning can cause dieback. That is what I need to find out with it.


But...they are very hardy (though must be treated as a tropical and brought indoors during cold spells). In my honest opinion...one can't go wrong adding one to their bonsai collection.

As for blueberries...sometimes to produce fruit you need two to have them cross pollinate I was told...not sure if it's a variety that it applies to...or all blueberry.

 

[TinRoses]

Yes their branches are quite brittle. Its in their nature to grow very tall and thin, so no sense in trying to force them into any other style except group plantings, bunjin, etc. I have to warn you, I bought a lowe's blueberry last spring and it quickly produced a nice crop of huge berries and then proceeded to die, no reason. They aren't meant to last, just be payed for. Hope yours doesn't do the same!

Also, it turned out I lied. I just went out and had a look at the plants, and it turns out I have roughly 20-30ish different plants from six inches to seven feet tall. Most of the trunks are from 1.5" to 3" thick. There are so many in different sizes they are just begging to be a group planting! Another thing I noticed is how well ramified they are naturally. Below are pics of the ramification, pictures don't do it justice and are a bit confusing so I outlined one in red.

It really is insane how well ramified they are just by being left alone! I can't wait to see your group planting, they're going to be intense and just divine!

I'm hoping this Lowe's blueberry decides to stick around for awhile. I have noticed it's producing a bumper crop of berries, but there's also a 1 year guarantee sticker on the little placard that came with it. Here's hoping we can keep it going for the one year and beyond. I also noticed that after a bit of pruning last night, this morning in full sunlight we went from blossoms to nearly full berries and the plant is showing extreme signs of new growth. Pretty intense for a new plant. I think as soon as this crop of berries is done with, we'll be repotting and fast with good soil and fertilizer. Lord knows I have a ton of it. I have hope because of the new growth on it and the large amount of green wood. Definitely a well maturing little plant. Gonna wire very very gently tonight to try and start training the one branch that's doing the weirdest thing.

 

[TinRoses]

Bougainvillea are my <3... They hold a sentimental value along with their beauty they behold when loaded with bracts! I've five total in my care...one though I have plans on mentoring a youth so it's actually hers. Sooooo only technically 4 are mine.

I must say...I am puzzled with the statements I always read of their not taking to root pruning when you can cut a thick piece off and grow roots from it. Unless the root pruning can cause dieback. That is what I need to find out with it.


But...they are very hardy (though must be treated as a tropical and brought indoors during cold spells). In my honest opinion...one can't go wrong adding one to their bonsai collection.

As for blueberries...sometimes to produce fruit you need two to have them cross pollinate I was told...not sure if it's a variety that it applies to...or all blueberry.

I can't NOT have Bougies. I saw WHITE Bougies last night and I almost snatched them up. I think I might, if only for cuttings to grow much bigger ones at a later date, or to do graftings for a multi-colored tree. When I lived in Arizona, I hated watching them take hit after hit outside. Luckily some of our neighbors were wise and would cover them in plastic and provide a heat lamp for nights that went below freezing. It's amazing how hardy they really are.

As for the blueberries... I'm not sure. I know this plant is producing a bumper crop this year and I'm not against getting another plant for a group planting so cross pollination shouldn't be an issue.

 

[TinRoses]

Here's the Blueberry tonight after some pruning loose wiring and shaping of the one branch that had me irked. After that was said and done I went ahead and fed her with a decent helping of osmocote and watered her through and through. She's back outside and rotated a bit to try and help sway her directional habits a wee bit. I did NOT wire the very tip of that green wood branch as we're pretty determined to let her continue blooming and producing fruit for this season before we hammer her hard.

I think she has a TON of potential! Probably going to start a thread for her progress in the appropriate part of the forum. Here's hoping that branch lives... If not? Well... We still get Blueberry muffins! If it DOES survive... I'm thinking I can go one of several ways with her. I'd love to hear what you guys think!

 

[edprocoat]

Bougainvillea are my <3... They hold a sentimental value along with their beauty they behold when loaded with bracts! I've five total in my care...one though I have plans on mentoring a youth so it's actually hers. Sooooo only technically 4 are mine.

I must say...I am puzzled with the statements I always read of their not taking to root pruning when you can cut a thick piece off and grow roots from it. Unless the root pruning can cause dieback. That is what I need to find out with it.


But...they are very hardy (though must be treated as a tropical and brought indoors during cold spells). In my honest opinion...one can't go wrong adding one to their bonsai collection.

As for blueberries...sometimes to produce fruit you need two to have them cross pollinate I was told...not sure if it's a variety that it applies to...or all blueberry.

Darlene you can root prune the heck out of a Bougie. Any plant that you can take a 3/4 inch cut off branch and stick it in the ground and it will produce roots has no problem with root pruning. If you don't believe me look up the posts by Sam, he has many he has collected in Hawaii with trunks you could pack for the weekend with and he took them with very little roots. These things are maybe a foot wide and doing great. Worth a search here to see them.

ed

 

[Cadillactaste]

Darlene you can root prune the heck out of a Bougie. Any plant that you can take a 3/4 inch cut off branch and stick it in the ground and it will produce roots has no problem with root pruning. If you don't believe me look up the posts by Sam, he has many he has collected in Hawaii with trunks you could pack for the weekend with and he took them with very little roots. These things are maybe a foot wide and doing great. Worth a search here to see them.

ed

Thanks Ed...I just wasn't sure if it would produce dieback...yes, I have a cutting that is even larger than 3/4"...my largest bougainvillea cutting. I knew they could grow roots from cuttings...was just not sure of dieback with a hard root prune. But, sort of thought they might not be as sensitive as the bougainvillea book I own states about root pruning...as well as what I've gathered on searching everything states to not prune hard. Which did make me ponder why so many felt that way. Yes...Sam is the bougainvillea KING! I could just get lost in his backyard...and pray I wasn't found for a good long time.