Return to the Bonsai Forum | Post a Follow-Up

o
Marigolds as bonsai?

clip this post email this post what is this?
see most clipped and recent clippings
Posted by countrykitty (My Page) on
Wed, Jul 4, 07 at 9:34

Has anyone ever tried marigolds as bonsai? I noticed last year when I grew them in the garden that they develop woody stems quickly, and have nice ferny leaves. I would expect that the smaller flowered ones would make quite nice 'trees'...especially if they, like coleus and pepper, could make nice perennial houseplants for the winter months.

Also, they send out tons of adventitious roots (the aerial roots found on banyan trees and many ivies). I would think they would make excellent raft plantings, or could be convinced to send a few roots over a rock they were leaned against.

I suddenly have the desire to order a packet of seed for the edible flowered kind to grow as an herbal bonsai...

Kitty

Follow-Up Postings:

o
RE: Marigolds as bonsai?

clip this post email this post what is this?
see most clipped and recent clippings
  • Posted by tapla z5b-6a MI (My Page) on
    Mon, Jul 9, 07 at 15:55

I predict frustration as a result of your endeavors unless you're willing to give up the annual marigold as it completes its growth cycle & dies each year. May I suggest you try dwarf snapdragon, dwarf geranium, any number of Coleus with small leaves - Impatiens repens is excellent as are several of the doubles, artillery fern (snip & grow - excellent as a clump), or calibrachoa. I have several of these plants that are 5 years old or older. They develop quickly & make neat conversation pieces, companion plants or excellent palm-sized bonsai after about 3 years.

Geranium and snapdragon young starts:





Photos are 4 years old & I still have the plants. These were taken at the beginning of the second growth cycle.

Al

o Post a Follow-Up

Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum.

    If you are a member, please log in.

    If you aren't yet a member, join now!

Return to the Bonsai Forum

Instructions

  • You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
  • Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
  • After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
  • It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
  • HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
  • No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
  • If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
  • If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.



 
Click here to learn more about in-text links on this page.