Frogman wrote:I've been searching for some good bonsai material and came across some Elephant Bush in a pot today at a hardware store.
I have 6 little plants all around 4-5" tall. Not very thick or hard at all of course, but I was wondering how I should thicken and train them as bonsai.
Your
(succulent, not bonsai) likes its soil to dry some between watering. "Full" sun is also recommended. So growing this tender plant indoors is going to need a significant amount of supplimental light, until you put it outdoors again in the spring.
frogman wrote:First question being what should I plant them in? Right now they're in 2" shallow pots. Will that be enough to thicken and develop them in for awhile?
The pots are probably big enough to hold your
portulacaria afra till a spring repotting when they go back outdoors.
I would use a cactus (or bonsai) mix, of primarily inorganic sand-gravel to repot.
Here or on just about any other bonsai forum there is a FAQ, which will among other things describe how to use a chop-stick to check your soil for wetness.
Soil made of primarily loess or peat, holds too much water, and too little air, leading to root rot.
Please refrain from using bargain potting soil made of loess or peat. Either blend your own, or buy cactus mix...