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| Hi! I recently picked up a 5" rooted cutting of Arp Rosemary--it is bent along the ground and is sending out tiny roots at a second point, where the tip turns upward again. I also started seeds for greek oregano and thyme in May. I'd like to use these in a bonsai (bonkei?) scene.
I've a piece of limestone that is flat on the bottom, forms a ridge on top, and extends into an overhanging ledge at one end. It's too smooth and tall and narrow for a on-the-rock planting, so I intend to plant the rosemary close to one side, so that it appears to have sprouted in the shadow of the rock and crept along the ground looking for light before turning upward again. Eventually I hope to have it grow upward to just over the level of the rock, then curve a bit to overhang the spine of the rock as tho' turned toward the light it has sought for so long. The other herbs would be 'shrubs' also trained to display their 'struggle to grow' beside the domineering rock. (My daughter was startled/delighted when she discovered the tiny petroglyphs carefully pencilled under the overhang.) My questions: How do you go about training rosemary? Is it mostly judicious pinching with just a touch of wire, or is it tolerant of heavy pruning when older? How do you get thyme to grow up rather than sprawl? Any other suggestions, hints or tips would be appreciated. TIA Kitty |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| I can't speak to the other herbs, but I have had a couple of rosemary trees as bonsai for several years. They seem to like well-drained soil & to stay evenly moist, or a little dry. I put mine outdoors in summer in partial sunlight & bring them inside in winter (zone 4). I shape them by clipping & pinching. One of the satisfying things about rosemary as bonsai is that they grow fast, so you get to play around with them a lot. With the added advantage that you can use the clippings on chicken & fish as a culinary herb. Your planting sounds ambitious but lovely. I haven't ever used wire on my rosemary, but you might need to in order to achieve what you're after. I'm linking to a blog post I wrote recently after repotting the larger of my two trees. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Rosemary Bonsai / 12 in. tall
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| There are up right varieties of Thyme that naturally grow like a bush and can be trained quite dramatically as a tree.
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