cuttings

I usually try and take some cuttings at different times of the year but have never had much luck, especially with softwood shoots. However I took some hardwood cuttings in August last year and with extra winter protection they’ve pretty much all taken – I’m well pleased with the success – there’s bound to be at least one potential bonsai out of this lot in a few years time!

Hinoki Cypress

Can’t quite remember but judging by the natural shape of the shoot it’s possibly Fuji Cherry.

Satsuki Azaelea

Deshojo Japanese Maple

The one I’m really chuffed about – Euonymus Alatus – winged spindle. Taken from a shrub in my Dad’s garden.

Trident Maple

I’ll maybe let them grow in the containers this year and when roots are stronger and better developed, plant them in the ground. Think I’ll play it by ear.

I took this (rather poor) picture of a special item in my grandmother’s garden 2 years ago. She lives in England and it was one of the (sadly) rare times that I managed to visit for a short break and in that time I offered to help tidy up their garden by hedge cutting and doing a lot of pruning. Anyway I noticed this aged Juniper and asked her about it. She said that it was grown from a cutting over fifty years ago! She went on to say that she had grown a lot of her plants and shrubs this way when they first got married and because they had no money, they just relied on cuttings striking and leaving them to grow on in pots. I wish I had taken more detailed photos but I really liked this Juniper (Squamata Meyeri I think) because of its bark, tape, gnarled branches and sparse foliage – all the signs of age and having survived in the same pot of many, many years probably without the care it needed at times.

I do admire the patience that my grandparents had in taking this approach and waiting for many years before something grew into a ‘showpiece’ or stalwart of their garden. It encourages me to try and do the same, especially with my bonsai material. Anyway, my father went over earlier in the year and came back with some cuttings for me and I hope they have taken. As you can see below, they have retained some of their colour but some needles have browned and there is little extension growth yet. I’ll wait for that to happen before I separate them into individual pots.