InstantForum.NET v4.1.4Bonsai Garden Forumshttp://forums.bonsaigarden.net/forums@instantasp.co.ukWed, 08 Feb 2012 22:22:49 GMT20http://forums.bonsaigarden.net/Topic3060-5-1.aspxOK Daryl, looking forward to seeing a piccy later :)Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:41:18 GMTKathhttp://forums.bonsaigarden.net/Topic3060-5-1.aspxThat's good news. Thank you Kath. I live in Surrey and although it gets cold I think we'll be OK. </P><P>I'll put a picture of the parent plant on here soon. I was hoping to get a single usable stem / trunk out of it but when I started clearing away some of the growth I found a clump of stems that I think might make a nice 'clump' style or group.Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:30:12 GMTdarylhttp://forums.bonsaigarden.net/Topic3060-5-1.aspxHi Daryl,</P><P>Most of the microphylla varieities are hardy especially if you live near the coast (not sure where you are situated ie where you live), and also if your garden is sheltered and not too exposed to cold winds.Mon, 20 Sep 2010 14:06:30 GMTKathhttp://forums.bonsaigarden.net/Topic3060-5-1.aspxAll is well in the garden. :) The first cutting I did is putting out lots of flowers and new growth so I guess that's a success. The ones I did a couple of weeks later also look happy enough. Will they be OK if we have frosts and long, cold, snowy spells like last year? Should I be giving them some frost protection or is this type completely hardy. There was nothing on the plant label to suggest that they needed winter protection. Shall I assume that they will be OK?</P><P>DarylSun, 19 Sep 2010 20:12:58 GMTdarylhttp://forums.bonsaigarden.net/Topic3060-5-1.aspxYou're very welcome Daryl :)Tue, 07 Sep 2010 21:55:34 GMTKathhttp://forums.bonsaigarden.net/Topic3060-5-1.aspxThanks Kath. That makes perfect sense. Thanks for the nice clear explanation.</P><P>Just have to watch, wait and be patient now!Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:03:29 GMTdarylhttp://forums.bonsaigarden.net/Topic3060-5-1.aspxHi Daryl,<P>Usually, the first sign of roots do appear at the bottom, followed by more roots further up the stem, coming around an old node which would have previously been a lateral stem.</P><P>When ready, I usually pot them up into an ordinary flower pot and keep "potting them up" until in at least a 5 inch pot for a couple of years, this gives them chance to produce a nice compact root system and thickening of the stem/trunk. After that I gradually "pot them down", lightly root pruning each time until I think they are ready for a bonsai pot/dish, hope this helps :)<P>ps. I have also had success with grafting 'rooted stems' together :)Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:39:10 GMTKathhttp://forums.bonsaigarden.net/Topic3060-5-1.aspxI did a first prune of the microphyllia bush today and took about 20 hardwood cuttings which are now in a bed in the garden. Hopefully I'll get a few successes out of them.</P><P>My next question is ...</P><P>If they are 5" into the ground and the roots grow at the bottom of the 5", won't it then be diificult to get the tree into a shallow bonsai training pot. What stages in between do you have to use? Or do the new roots grow at the top of the 5" under the ground?Mon, 06 Sep 2010 22:30:06 GMTdarylhttp://forums.bonsaigarden.net/Topic3060-5-1.aspxOK. Thanks. I'll let you know how I get on.:)Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:01:31 GMTdarylhttp://forums.bonsaigarden.net/Topic3060-5-1.aspxHi Daryl</P><P>Most advice is to take hardwood cuttings from Autumn through to late winter, but I have only been successful with fuchsia through to late Autumn, that is planting into the garden, of course if you have a cold frame this gives extra protection if planting later in the yearTue, 24 Aug 2010 07:32:58 GMTKathhttp://forums.bonsaigarden.net/Topic3060-5-1.aspxWell, I did the 10" cutting and still had a long piece left over so I did another one and tucked it in the side of an existing bonsai pot (mixture of grit, CL and compost). They have both survived a night of heavy rain and strong winds so I guess it's just wait and see now. </P><P>What's the latest in the year to take this kind of cutting? I'd like to thin out the parent plant and it seems a waste to throw all the long offcuts on the compost. Maybe I'll just tuck all of them in the ground somewhere and see what success rate I get.Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:23:35 GMTdarylhttp://forums.bonsaigarden.net/Topic3060-5-1.aspxWell, it keeps it alive :), enjoy your Sunday.Sun, 22 Aug 2010 14:10:04 GMTKathhttp://forums.bonsaigarden.net/Topic3060-5-1.aspxThanks for the quick reply Kath. I'll go and do it now - I don't suppose sitting in a glass of water is helping it much :)Sun, 22 Aug 2010 10:57:57 GMTdarylhttp://forums.bonsaigarden.net/Topic3060-5-1.aspxYour welcome Daryl,</P><P>I always cut straight across the stem/branch, and I use a John Innes type compost for hardwood cuttings, but if you only have 'cuttings compost' it doesn't matter, just add some sand and grit :)Sun, 22 Aug 2010 10:55:46 GMTKathhttp://forums.bonsaigarden.net/Topic3060-5-1.aspxThanks Kath, I'll go and try that. Two more little questions before I do it...</P><P>Does it matter if the cut is straight or angled?</P><P>What kind of soil - ordinary cutting compost or add some grit / sand / perlite or similar? (I think I have a bit of everything in my shed :) )Sun, 22 Aug 2010 10:37:47 GMTdarylhttp://forums.bonsaigarden.net/Topic3060-5-1.aspxHi Daryl,<P>Next year when you put pots of fuchsia outside, a shady place is best to avoid sun scorching of the leaves. Morning sun is ok, but not hot pm sun, especially if there is not much air circulation, they literally 'cook' in the pots, especially plastic pots.</P><P>In respect of the broken branch, your best option would be:- first make sure you have cut the bottom of the stem with a sharp knife just below a node, then shorten the branch by removing some of the top so you're left with aprrox. 10 inches in total, plant 5 inches deep into the garden in a shady spot and keep soil damp (hardwood cutting) or of course you could plant it into a large flower pot if that's more convenient. :)Sun, 22 Aug 2010 08:02:23 GMTKathhttp://forums.bonsaigarden.net/Topic3060-5-1.aspxWell here I am a couple of months later and the fuchsia I bought in May have made very little progress. They didn't like being outside during the hot weather - their leaves got burnt very easily so I have just kept them inside in a very bright place and left them alone.</P><P>Today when I was out at a garden centre I found a huge microphylla bush about 2' across, masses of long healthy growth so I snapped it up and brought it home. When I was checking it over when I got home I found a broken branch and wondered if it is possible to make it take root at this time of year - ready made tree! Its about 15" long and about 1/4" thick, hardened wood at the broken end. </P><P>I've put it in a glass of water for now but wondered if it could be rooted and what would be the best method.</P><P>Any suggestions?Sat, 21 Aug 2010 18:20:56 GMTdarylhttp://forums.bonsaigarden.net/Topic3060-5-1.aspxThat's a good idea, Kath. I'll have a look on the internet. There was an advert for a show on the notice board where I bought the plants but I didn't take any notice of the details. I feel as if I'm on a mission now - I really want to get hold of a mature microphyllia type that I can develop into a bonsai </P><P>DarylTue, 04 May 2010 18:21:51 GMTdarylhttp://forums.bonsaigarden.net/Topic3060-5-1.aspxYou're very welcome Daryl. If you have chance to visit any Fuchsia Shows in your area, usually between July - September, have a look for the 'Plant Sales' section, you might be lucky and find the plants that you want, usually at give away prices. Also at the end of the season Fuchsia Nurseries are a good bet too. They usually have old plants for sale before closing for the winter.:)Tue, 04 May 2010 07:51:11 GMTKathhttp://forums.bonsaigarden.net/Topic3060-5-1.aspxThanks for the speedy reply Kath.<P>I'm in Surrey and its very cold today so I have kept them in! The plants I have bought are not much more than cuttings themselves at the moment in 3" pots so I'll follow your advice for now and just keep repotting until next year. And in the meantime I'll keep a look out for somewhere that sells more mature plants that I could start training straight away. </P><P>Looking at you photo galleries is very inspiring - they do look so pretty when they are in flower. I must be patient! </P><P>Will keep you posted. </P><P>Thanks again</P><P>DarylMon, 03 May 2010 17:34:49 GMTdarylhttp://forums.bonsaigarden.net/Topic3060-5-1.aspxHi Daryl,</P><P>Some of the microphylla types are hardy and some are not. It really all depends on what part of the country you are (sorry can't remember where you are located), but if I were you I would grow on a cutting into a 5" pot size and then plant it into the garden, this way if it does not survive you won't loose your main plant. If it does survive they grow into quite large bushes.</P><P>In respect of hardening your exisitng plants off, put them outside during the day in a sheltered spot and bring them in at night. You can leave them outside once all risk of night frost has gone.</P><P>I always grow my on as they are for a year or two Daryl as they don't take kindly to being cut back as young plants.</P><P>Wishing you success, they do make nice bonsai as they naturally have small leaves and flowers.Mon, 03 May 2010 17:27:03 GMTKathhttp://forums.bonsaigarden.net/Topic3060-5-1.aspxHello Kath et al</P><P>I haven't been here in a while as I tend to lurk in another well known place but I thought this would be the place to come for some expert fuchsia advice. :)</P><P>For the last couple of years I had the tiniest little fuchsia bonsai (about 4" tall) constantly covered in 1/4" red flowers, often followed by little black fruits. I brought it inside during the long cold winter and kept it happily in our unheated utility room where there is a semi transparent roof so lots of daylight. All was well until a few warm days dried it out without me noticing and now it is well and truly dead. :crying:</P><P>I tracked down a local specialist grower who had some microphyllia varieties and bought a couple of Lottie Hobby and an Oulton Travellers Rest. They are all growing happily indoors at the moment but my question is are they hardy? and if not when / how should I be hardening them? I would like to grow at least one as a bonsai standard (preferably no more than 6" tall) and the other two I'll wait and see what shape they are. They all currently have lots of stems from one centre (like a bush). Should I be selecting one as a trunk now and removing the rest or do they just need to grow on for a year or two?</P><P>Hope you can help</P><P>Thanks</P><P>DarylMon, 03 May 2010 16:30:12 GMTdaryl