-
applestar
- Mod
- Posts: 30541
- Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
- Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)
Re: Avocado Tree as Indoor Bonsai?
I think these are really fun. I’m amazed you got that one to grow a good side branch so low. ...but it’s really trying to escape with the roots! Do you usually root prune them?
Hi,
I just started growing a avocado when I stepped into this thread and decided to grow a bonsai out of it.
After the roots reached to bottom of the glas and the top began to grow, I planted the seed in a mixture of bonsaiearth (I use the same for my carnivores) and seramis clay granules. I tied the roots on a rock and burried it all under the earth. So far it works fine. The roots getting bigger and bigger and the top of the avocado gets a nice shape.
But now the first leaves start growing very fast and I have no clue how to trim or prune a bonsai
When do I trim my avocado?
Which leaves should I cut?
Should I cut all leaves or just a few?
Hope you can help me
Btw: Very nice avocado-bonsais you all grew
I just started growing a avocado when I stepped into this thread and decided to grow a bonsai out of it.
After the roots reached to bottom of the glas and the top began to grow, I planted the seed in a mixture of bonsaiearth (I use the same for my carnivores) and seramis clay granules. I tied the roots on a rock and burried it all under the earth. So far it works fine. The roots getting bigger and bigger and the top of the avocado gets a nice shape.
But now the first leaves start growing very fast and I have no clue how to trim or prune a bonsai
When do I trim my avocado?
Which leaves should I cut?
Should I cut all leaves or just a few?
Hope you can help me
Btw: Very nice avocado-bonsais you all grew
- Attachments
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
It is an unusual choice. Avocado trees grow upwards of 40 ft here and they produce very long young branches. The roots are fine but very expansive and can travel fifty feet or more. My friend found avocado tree roots at the bottom of his "hill" from a neighbor's tree that was upslope 35 ft away. The leaves are very large and it is a semi-deciduous tree by tropical standards.
Traditional bonsai are not just a tree in a pot. They should still be in proportion and a miniature version of their natural form. Most bonsai trees are long lived and grow slowly. They must be able to tolerate root pruning and leaves are usually small.
In training, the leaves will get smaller, and I have seen magnolia bonsai even though they have large leaves.
It would be an interesting experiment to try.
I don't even attempt to keep an avocado as a potted fruit tree because I have never been able to control the growth of the long branches or kept the roots in check from regular avocado trees that we grow for the fruit. There are dwarf avocado from Mexico that are naturally smaller with fruit the size of a tennis ball. Those might have a better chance if you want to control the top growth.
Traditional bonsai are not just a tree in a pot. They should still be in proportion and a miniature version of their natural form. Most bonsai trees are long lived and grow slowly. They must be able to tolerate root pruning and leaves are usually small.
In training, the leaves will get smaller, and I have seen magnolia bonsai even though they have large leaves.
It would be an interesting experiment to try.
I don't even attempt to keep an avocado as a potted fruit tree because I have never been able to control the growth of the long branches or kept the roots in check from regular avocado trees that we grow for the fruit. There are dwarf avocado from Mexico that are naturally smaller with fruit the size of a tennis ball. Those might have a better chance if you want to control the top growth.
Sorry for reviving an old thread but garmy yo has there been any updates on your plants? Extremely intrigued, been wanting to do this as long as I have been growing avocado trees indoors from seeds. I have a few larger plants but a couple that might still be in the early stages where they can be manipulated.
There are dwarf avocado but the best bonsai have a long life, flexible branches and small leaves. Small leaves is a plus, otherwise the leaves will be out of scale to the size of the tree. Stunting will make leaves smaller, but big leaves are not going to shrink that much. To get the leaves smaller, you have to pinch the tips and increase the branching. Avocados like to put out long branches. You can bonsai a deciduous tree, but it is a little harder than an evergreen.
Hello everyone,
I know this thread is so old, but I wanted to add my avocado to this forum and hear everybody’s opinion!
The tree is 7 months old and I pruned it back twice this whole time.
The whole journey is on my insta account for those who are interested:
https://instagram.com/littleplantswoman ... sr52217ezs
I know this thread is so old, but I wanted to add my avocado to this forum and hear everybody’s opinion!
The tree is 7 months old and I pruned it back twice this whole time.
The whole journey is on my insta account for those who are interested:
https://instagram.com/littleplantswoman ... sr52217ezs
- Attachments
-
-
Hi Everyone!
I’m so glad I came across this thread. On a whim I decided to try and bonsai my avocado seedlings even though I have no idea what I’m doing. Most forums say don’t do it, so it was incredibly helpful to see the beautiful plants here.
I’d love to see more updates on everyone’s plants, especially Garmy’s. Here’s where my two plants are. Not sure when to start pruning or how, but I’m sure I’ll figure something out. Did I mention I’ve never bonsai’d before?
I’m so glad I came across this thread. On a whim I decided to try and bonsai my avocado seedlings even though I have no idea what I’m doing. Most forums say don’t do it, so it was incredibly helpful to see the beautiful plants here.
I’d love to see more updates on everyone’s plants, especially Garmy’s. Here’s where my two plants are. Not sure when to start pruning or how, but I’m sure I’ll figure something out. Did I mention I’ve never bonsai’d before?