Playing around with Rosemary
- Thread starter Carol 83
- Start date
I have no aspirations for this straggly thing, just thought I needed to jump in the water and try something. It would just have frozen and died in a month anyway! Once I saw the flower, I wanted to save it, lol.
Never thought of using it on brisket, which is my absolute favorite smoked meat, fatty part is the best, the hell with calories! Also excellent on roasted potatoes.
Yikes, to big for my indoor space anyway. All filled up after joining this forum, lol.
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GrimLore
Bonsai Nut alumnus... we miss you
Honest if I were you I would try keeping it alive indoors now. They can be very interesting potted and good experience... Here are some basic guidelines - http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/rosemary/grow-rosemary-indoors.htm. Also, I have seen far worse initial attempts, even on my own so keep at it and above all enjoy!
Grimmy
JoeR
Masterpiece
Now just twist the poop out of it! Make it crazy with tight twists and bends.
Vin
Imperial Masterpiece
@Stickroot Thanks! You're probably talking about this one:
It has lost some vigor this year near the bottom of the cascade (this photo is from last year). I have two in the ground that will eventually be used for bonsai as well. My advice for @Carol 83 would be to plant hers in the ground until the trunk thickens a bit more. My plan for the two in the ground is exactly that. My understanding of Rosemary for bonsai is to plant them in the ground to bulk them up. Dig them up every Spring and do a "little" root work and replant them for another year. Once you put them in a bonsai pot they simply just don't grow much anymore. Also, be very careful with wiring older wood. Old wood on Rosemary is not very forgiving.
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I thought that sounded like fun, but the branches are very brittle. Try to bend too much, and snap. I don't think it broke all of the way but if so, not too much damage done. But I really liked the idea.
Vin
Imperial Masterpiece
The issue I have with this tree is the fact that it is still in a nursery pot. Hopefully, the new owner is able to get it into a bonsai pot without killing it. It's a beautiful example of Rosemary in a tree form but only half the battle has been won. I'm inclined to treat them like Azaleas and keep them in a deeper pot. That's my plan anyway.
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
Vin
Imperial Masterpiece
The other possible controversy among those that grow them is watering. I water mine every single day in the summer and every other day in the winter. I gave one to my daughter who is not as regimented and it almost died until I got it back. Maybe the sharing of experiences on sites like this will educate more of us and result in successful growing as bonsai?
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
The one I just trimmed is getting twice a day watering (because weather is still in the upper 70's), but I have already backed off the duration by 25% and am about to drop to daily watering as soon as we get our first rain / humidity (which may be as early as this evening if you believe the forecast). I did not repot - I just reduced the rootball by maybe 25%. In the nursery pot it is in 100% organic mix and I was surprised the bottom 50% of the pot was waterlogged.
Vin
Imperial Masterpiece
Here is the cascade today:
Very impressive. I appreciate your advice about leaving in the ground to thicken up, but I don't think it would make it through the winter in my climate. I know @Stickroot said his mother's does alright in the ground, and we live fairly close, but mine is a small first year from the nursery plant. Thank you for showing what is possible.
