Vines as Bonsai

[pbethune]

Does anyone have a collection of vines as bonsai, I would love to start. Their are many types here in the Jersey...wild grapes, night shade and some unknowns. Many are twisted and have been twisting up trees for some very long years.

 

[Anthony]

Pbethune,

You may not know it but one of the most popular Bonsai subjects, the Sageretia t. is a vining shrub.

https://www.google.com/search?q=bon...ABsWpyAT6j4LIBA&ved=0CCEQsAQ&biw=1093&bih=454

Grapes are also very popular out of California.

https://www.google.com/search?q=bon...54#safe=off&hl=en-GB&tbm=isch&q=bonsai+grapes

See if they branch.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Dav4]

Vines of all sorts have been successfully used as bonsai material. In your area, you could potentially find many species of vines growing wild, including but not limited to- Virginia Creeper, Oriental bittersweet, Wisteria, English Ivy...even poison ivy. The key is to find a vine that has a well developed, woody trunk with some character/twists and curves.

 

[jeanluc83]

...even poison ivy.

I've been itching to try that one but I didn't want to make any rash decisions that I would regret later.

Nick Lenz has sections on boston ivy, bittersweet, wild grape and poison ivy in his book.

 

[Jaberwky17]

Grapes

I have a few northern variety of grapes that were harvested last spring and will be made into bonsai. Very nice thick woody trunks with awesome movement. The challenge will be managing leaf size and constant runner growth.

 

[dick benbow]

Don't recommend nighshade. It's poison....
I have grape but most proud with porcellan berry

 

[Giga]

I have a shohin Virginia creeper that has fantastic bark. I'd say go for it if you can did some of those monsters up in spring

 

[pbethune]

Don't recommend nighshade. It's poison....
I have grape but most proud with porcellan berry

Hi Dick, do you have a picture of the porcellan berry please?

 

[Dav4]

This is a picture of a porcelain berry bonsai, I believe by Bill Valavanis

 

[pbethune]

I have a shohin Virginia creeper that has fantastic bark. I'd say go for it if you can did some of those monsters up in spring

Those monsters are oriental bittersweets. I'm doing some research on them now.

 

[pbethune]

This is a picture of a porcelain berry bonsai, I believe by Bill Valavanis
View attachment 65981

Thanks..just gorgeous

 

[Don Blackmond]

Oriental Bittersweet

 

[pbethune]

Bittersweets

Oriental Bittersweet

Hi Don,

Did you find that one out in the woods?

 

[fredtruck]

I dug up this wild grape behind my garage 8 or 9 years ago. It's never fruited, but the foliage is small, and in the fall, it can be spectacular.

 

[Don Blackmond]

Hi Don,

Did you find that one out in the woods?

No. We do have them growing wild and I collect them from time to time, but that one came from a nursery friend.

 

[mcpesq817]

Here's a wisteria I dug up from NY that was probably close to 30-years old at the time. Slightly bigger than shohin

 

[amcoffeegirl]

Ficus pumila(spelling) for indoor or greenhouse.

 

[Bunjeh]

I have planted some virginia creeper seeds, am trying to root some grapes,..but I do have a rather nice honeysuckle. Would love to see you try the nightshade.

 

[Giga]

There's a kiwi that somewhere is getting rid of that just make its way onto my benches.

 

[edprocoat]

I have some Bougainvilleas, nice flowering vines.

ed