Coprosma
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HELP!!!! Does anybody own a Coprosma Kirkii

I have just Bought a Mini Bonsai from my local Garden centre. Its a Corprosma Kirkii. Its not a breed ive heard of before as I researched which bonsai was ideal for me I wanted a indoor one that was relatively easy to look after as I'm new and never owned a bonsai before unfortuantley the garden cetre did not have the 3 bonsai I had shortlisted the sales assistant pointed this one out to me on the label it said. "keep indoors in shade Max temp 7*c.

However when I came to researching this unknown breed all I found out was that its a evergreenand is sumtimes known as a mirror plant. I need to know wheres best to put it in my house as it says on the label to leave in the shade but it must need light surely. and how often to water it. its 4 inches tall approx is leafed some of the leaves are a little brown in places with a silver shine around the edge of the leaves.I'm guessing its only young having worked for garden centres before I know that they plant them days before they sell them.

so if anybody owns one on here or knows some helpfull websites that would be very appreciated to help me in my quest to keep this tree happy and alive any other information that I havent mentioned that could be usefull in future as my tree grows.
Thank you

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bonsaiboy
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I have no idea on how to care for such a plant. However, I can give you a link to growing indoor bonsai in general. https://www.bonsaihunk.us/cultural.html Hope this link helps, and if you have any more questions regarding indoor bonsai, feel free to ask.

chrisp1
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I have recently bought one and was advised to water when soil was DRY, also told it needed or liked full sun :
Last edited by chrisp1 on Mon Aug 04, 2014 9:09 am, edited 1 time in total.

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rainbowgardener
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If you meant to post a picture, no picture is showing, try again.

I never heard of this tree/shrub before, but I looked it up. It does sound like a good choice for an indoor bonsai (meaning indoors in winter, all trees benefit from some "summer vacation" outdoors): tropical evergreen from New Zealand (meaning it does not expect to have a cold dormancy period), with tiny glossy leaves.


Here's an article about coprosma bonsai: https://www.bonsaiforbeginners.com/coprosma.html

It is one of those drought tolerant plants that is used in xeriscaping, so you are right about letting it dry out between waterings.

I don't know anything about this plant or much about bonsai pruning, but looking at the pictures, I would think shaping it would be the challenge. It naturally grows as a prostrate ground cover, very twiggy and with twigs radiating out in all directions:

Image
https://www.savewater.com.au/uploads/pla ... detail.JPG

Image
https://www.totaragrovenurseries.co.nz/w ... kirkii.jpg


Looking at pictures of coprosma bonsai, I didn't find many that I felt were completely successful. It apparently doesn't thicken up a trunk well, so most of the best ones looked about like this:

Image
https://www.bonsaiforbeginners.com/image ... 655714.jpg

It is often recommended to do it in informal upright style. HOWEVER, personally I would think its prostrate growing habit would lend itself to cascade style and the best coprosma bonsai picture I found was a cascade:

Image
https://www.bomo-bonsai.de/images/28NOV09%20072.jpg

PS my impression from reading about it was not that it is a full sun plant. Maybe the best sunny spot you have indoors, but that is very different from full sun outdoors. I would think light shade or bright indirect sun.

steveo
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The tree in the red pot is very young and is not a ground cover variety coprosma. It's more of a shrub shape.

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rainbowgardener
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Hi steveo and welcome to the Forum! :)

Do you have a particular interest in coprosma? In bonsai?



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