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| Hi all,
I'm stuck here in Iowa where it hasn't been above freezing for over a month now - air temps this morning were -11F. Conditions for bonsai inside my tiny house aren't much better as small windows, no place for grow lights and an acrobatic cat who thinks she's an herbivore preclude the normal tropical bonsai candidates as well. Herbs seem like a nice, tho non-traditional, compromise - the cat apparently doesn't like italian food. I've got a 3 year rosemary in a pot that I'm ready to start playing with when we get closer to spring and I'm wondering if anyone can point me in the direction of more information, great websites, photos, etc.
My little rosemary (an upright var. Arp?) is still very much in the pre-bonsai stage - it has a nice trunk, lovely shredding bark, healthy looking leaves, but weak winter growth. My immediate plan is to repot just before I can start putting it outside this spring, improve the soil and mildly fertilize - I have a couple branches I know I'll take off, but beyond that I'm looking for the visual inspiration I didn't find in Bender's book. Any suggestions? I'm also planning on picking up a few lavenders and thymes to start 'pre-training', just potting up and getting their tiny trunks as nice as possible, and getting them acclimated to a life spent inside 6 months of the year. Again inspirational pics would be a huge help. Many thanks in advance! |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Hi, you'll probably have gotten more advice on the other forum than you'll see here, but good luck. |
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- Posted by lucygreenthumb (My Page) on Mon, Feb 18, 08 at 10:21
| Hi Lucy, Which other forum are you referring to? I appreciate reading all the advice you've given others. The "other" Lucy |
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| Didn't you post on a diff. website a few days before this one? If not, it certainly sounded like the same letter... and if not, I'm sorry! |
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- Posted by lucygreenthumb (My Page) on Mon, Feb 18, 08 at 12:53
| No apology needed, I'm grateful for the reply, and again, I've learned so much just hanging out here and reading. I'd love to do more traditional bonsai - but burying temperate trees outside during the time of year I'm most in need of green things to mess with isn't appealing. |
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- Posted by brooklyn_boy (My Page) on Tue, Feb 19, 08 at 10:50
| "I'd love to do more traditional bonsai" Try pretty much any type of Juniper - hard to kill, and will withstand outdoor winter temps most anywhere. Personally, I'm not so certain I'd repot the Rosemary. As tough as they look on the outside, they really do not like having their roots messed with. Good luck with it. |
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| No bonsai help I'm afraid though I do salute you for succeeding in keep the rosemary alive indoors through the winter -- they are notoriously easy to kill indoors. |
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| I say take the guy outdoors on sunny days, no matter how cold. (remember to bring him in!) Your "poor winter growth" is most likely due to inadequate light. Personally, and I do not really know what your seasons are like, I would plant it outdoors in the ground each spring after the threat of frost. This will fatten it up quickly, as well as give it ample time to use and store nutrients for winter. I've never really had a problem shifting rosemary, or any other tree with the exception of leptospermum. I believe the secret lies in the use of bonemeal, as well as nice humid conditions after the transplant. With regards to your feline, maybe you could consider companioning the rosemary with Ruta graveolens. My cat's stay well away from rue. Best of luck! |
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