Re: Avocado Tree as Indoor Bonsai?
The redened leaves in the last photo make me wonder if your teacup has any drains drilled into it. If not then those red leaves are symptoms of drowning.
Thanks for the words of encouragement, applestar! I am having a lot of fun with this project, but it is nice to know that someone is following along.
Here is my latest photo. I tied her down yesterday. Now she looks like an angry dragon.
P.S. Yes, there is a drainage hole. So far I have been removing the leaves before they mature and turn green.
Here is my latest photo. I tied her down yesterday. Now she looks like an angry dragon.
P.S. Yes, there is a drainage hole. So far I have been removing the leaves before they mature and turn green.
Any copper wire can be used. Buy the largest gauge wire that will work for you. Ignore plastic insulation (more on that later). I look for mine at my local 'Ace' hardware store.I've been eyeing a couple of spools of "Bonsai" wires that to my inexperienced sense of wire pricing seem expensive for the amount, but have not purchased them yet. I wonder if there is ANY household wire that can be substituted?
When it comes time to prep some build a small charcoal fire in the BBQ burn off the insulation, bingo annealed wire ready to use. Do it about as you need it.
Interesting thread. I never thought of an avocado as an understory tree. They get to be 50 ft tall here and are for the most part poor candidates for pots because we don't have a lot of dwarfs and most people want avocadoes, lots of them especially if you have to wait 9 months for the fruit to mature.
Trees with big leaves and long internodes are hard to turn into bonsai. Potting avocado will keep it smaller for a while but usually it is not going to be in a bonsai pot.
Trees with big leaves and long internodes are hard to turn into bonsai. Potting avocado will keep it smaller for a while but usually it is not going to be in a bonsai pot.
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I think the term I was looking for here is "Kusamono" and although mostly non-woody/grassy plants are used, seedling trees seem to be also allowed for this kind of form.applestar wrote:This is SO CUTE!
-- definitely worthy of showcasing and a fun project.
Even if it turns out to be short lived in terms of decorative value due to issues previously mentioned, it really looks like you could enjoy the baby tree in the seedling stages -- I believe there is a name for that kind of "bonsai" -- it looks like you can play with the process for a good while.
Good work -- keep posting progress updates, I'm really enjoying this
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- applestar
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I feel like the multi trunk should work well with avocados since they seem to take grafting pretty easily. Maybe at some point during active growth, you could shave the outer cambium and match them up, then tape together. Probably hood it with vented plastic bag to increase humidity, just like for grafted branches.
Updates:
1st project: The leaves are getting bigger since adding soil on the bottom and giving the roots more room to grow in. But I'm OK with that for now. There is still a defoliage in the future, maybe the fall. The tree overall is vigorous but I haven't been cutting her back lately, just letting her grow.
2nd project: Recovering from a cat taste testing.
3rd project: Instead of ROR, I am growing the avocado in a reenforced paper towel tube filled with rocks and soil. I am hoping the tap root will wind it's way around the rocks, then I will slowly expose the roots from the top down.
1st project: The leaves are getting bigger since adding soil on the bottom and giving the roots more room to grow in. But I'm OK with that for now. There is still a defoliage in the future, maybe the fall. The tree overall is vigorous but I haven't been cutting her back lately, just letting her grow.
2nd project: Recovering from a cat taste testing.
3rd project: Instead of ROR, I am growing the avocado in a reenforced paper towel tube filled with rocks and soil. I am hoping the tap root will wind it's way around the rocks, then I will slowly expose the roots from the top down.
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I had to do an emergency re-pot on the twisted trunk avocado. The original pot did not have a flat bottom and water was able to pool in the low spots. I believe that caused one of the three to die. But that might be a good thing. I will stick a new sprouted seed in place of the dead one, and leave the dead trunk as a feature.
I started a Root Over Rock a month or so ago. There is a big quartz and granite stone under all that foil and soil.
I started a Root Over Rock a month or so ago. There is a big quartz and granite stone under all that foil and soil.
Hi Annalkona,AnnaIkona wrote:
what soil did you use? I'm guessing potting soil (or maybe Bonsai Soil)?
Also, what are you watering it with? Plain tap water? Or dechlorinated water?
I mostly use potting soil mixed with perlite. And for water I fill a bucket of tap water and let it sit over night, then add 1/2 strength miracle grow.
sjors wrote:How is your avocado bonsai in the tea cup right now? I am trying te create a avocado bonsai aswell, I'll post a picture of it tonight!
Hi sjors,
Here is how she looks now. Just quietly doing her thing..
Yeah, I'd love to see a picture of how your avocado bonsai project is coming!
Cheers!
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Garmy Yo - your avocado is adorable. I am not a Bonsai expert. I have just played around with it. I would not leave the wire on. The look is not at all pleasing. That is the purpose of Bonsai - pleasing to look at and contemplate.
Knowing the very basics of Bonsai and the growth habits of an Avocado I wish you well. I look forward to progress reports.
Good luck!
e
Knowing the very basics of Bonsai and the growth habits of an Avocado I wish you well. I look forward to progress reports.
Good luck!
e
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