Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Bonsai Succulents

I think that lately I have hit a succulent slump! I want to blame it on the heat of summer, or possibly even the weirdness of the Presidental race, or maybe the winds of hurricanes passing by Key West, ..causing a little grief around here. I don't really know why...but up until today, I have felt a little blase in regards to my plants and my blog (since I have sort of steered away from posting about my main subject)!!!

Well, today I went out to my succulent tires, and discovered that my Portulacea afra has grown wildly out of control. I was given a few cuttings from a bonsai master, and he told me to plant them and wait for them to grow and form a thicker main stem (which will be a "trunk"), for a little tree when I would bonsai it. That was about a year ago....and it has happened, the trunk is thicker and ready to go.

Well, as lucky as I am (LOL)...I visited the library this evening, and unbelieveably, I found a book called "Indoor Bonsai", by Paul Lesneiwicz, which discusses tools and techniques to bonsai, and I am ready to try it! I bought the book which was for sale there for 50 cents. No way could I walk away from it! Am I not so lucky to come upon it, after just discovering how large my plant had become? Oh my goodness!!!

Here is a picture I found that is kinda-sorta how mine will look once I start cutting on it! Does anyone out there have any bonsai'd succulents??? I really like this idea...gonna do more research during the remainder of the summer heat, and when it cools down, I hope to be ready to start trimming. Wish me luck! I feel like my my succulent motor is running again!!!
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10 comments:

  1. AnonymousTuesday, September 09, 2008

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  2. CindyTuesday, September 09, 2008

    I think these are really cool. In fact, I have this same plant, and after seeing a bonsai version at a C/S show a couple of years ago, I tried to make mine into a bonsai.

    How did it come out, you ask? Well, I have never posted a picture of it, so that should be your first clue! But your post inspires me to give him a little trim.

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  3. JulieTuesday, September 09, 2008

    Cindy- I would love to see yours after you give him a cutting!!! I need inspiration and assurance I will do the right-ish thing with it! LOL...(ME SCARED)!!! LOL

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  4. AiyanaTuesday, September 09, 2008

    These things can get huge after many years. Bonsai Jade plants sometimes last 100 years, and can be kept about 12 inches high by selective pruning of branches and roots. I have a couple in the yard that don't do well this time of year, but the one in a container now has branches that are about three feet long. I really should put it in a higher plant stand!
    Aiyana

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  5. Green thumbWednesday, September 10, 2008

    This is a great concept, more so b'coz Portulaca Afra is a fast growing plant, so the bonsai is ready in 2-3 years while other plants may taks 7-8 years to become full fledged bonsai. Keep it up and do keep us informed.

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  6. soulbrushWednesday, September 10, 2008

    i have a bonzai, but no idea how and when to trim it...advice please julie....

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  7. TeriWednesday, September 10, 2008

    I once tried making a bonsai....try being the key word here. But I know you will succeed! And you will have fun trying!

    Love the family photos on the side. There is something so special about a new baby.

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  8. Ashraf sharifWednesday, September 10, 2008

    i have many from this plant .
    i thank make Bonsai Succulents ..LOL

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  9. KatThursday, September 11, 2008

    I just started some clippings of african voilets and some spider plants. I am so bad with plants but i'm going to try.

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  10. JulieFriday, September 12, 2008

    Hi Kat- Good luck with your plants...you will really enjoy them!

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