Hi Bob,
Yes, I agree. I mentioned in my earlier emal to you that a picture will be coming. It is very overcast here today, so I hope to take a photo tomorrow. Thanks again. Rudy
Not a problem at all. I appreciate your willingness to help. I can see from your profile that you are an active member of the forum, and I am always eager to learn more.
I've not had great success with Fuchsia bonsai, probably in part to the climate in North East England, but I've grown them as garden & container plants for many years. No reason why they can't be wired but as they grow strongly you will need to watch for wires cutting in to the bark and bark protection is a good idea. They like to be well fed and kept in moisture retentive soil, so more organic component than a 'normal' bonsai mix would be a good idea. I only have one bonsai Fuchsia right now, variety is 'Ariel' which one of the tiny leaf/flower variety although quite hardy, I think this might develop well in time.
This will be my first attempt working on a Fuchsia bonsai, but I am looking forward to the challenge. It has a lot of character - a nice knurled trunk and older branches. I've had good luck with my Fuchsia plants as well, so it seems like a natural to take the next step and develop a bonsai. Thanks for the tip regarding the new branches and the wiring. I have a couple of Shimpaku Junipers that I am keeping an eye on for the same reason. So, you don't recommend using Akadama. All the trees I have are in Akadama, even my rose bonsai. That said, I undrestand the rational and think I might try a mixture of organic and Akadama when I repot it. It is growing in organic now. What do you think of using Kanuma? I use it for my Azaleas and they are doing great. Thanks again for the infomation.
In some cases yes, depending on the species and/or the stage of bonsai development. In this case the flower buds were pinched to force the plant's energy to the foliage and away from the flowers. It is true the leaves would have continued to grow without pinching the flowers, but at the expense of lush, fuller foliage. Pictures to follow over the weekend. Rudy
Another question, Dave. At what stage do you begin to wire the branches of your Fuchsia bonsai? Do you wait for them to harded off, or do you begin early on while they are still supple? Thanks. Rudy
My little one hasn't needed much shaping, only one established branch needed to be moved, it's easier to shape them while they are soft but I think there is actually more risk of damage at that stage - bear in mind however, my poor track record with Fuchsia as bonsai...
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