Zanthoxylum, Chinese pepper?

SteveS · Yellow Belt Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 75

Hey just bought a small one, was wondering if anyone had any good styling ideas. as i dont know what to do with it, theres lots a branchs.
I cant really find anything on this tree, not many pictures to give me ideas. they all seem to be like mine..

heres some pics:

http://www.uploadgeek.com/?batch=153350

Stymie · Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2008 8:39 pm Post subject: Re: Zanthoxylum, Chinese pepper?

That looks healthy to start with Steve. Quite a lot of them are finding their way into supermarkets and such. Could you take photos at eye level with a plain, light background for styling suggestions?

SteveS · Yellow Belt Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 75

yes seems to be healthy, there were about 20 to pick from and i choose this one.

hope these are better?
http://www.uploadgeek.com/?batch=153357
not sure what you ment my eye level.

SteveS · Yellow Belt Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 75

anyone?

Stymie · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:41 am Post subject: Re: Zanthoxylum, Chinese pepper?

Your picture link isn't working for me at the moment. Sorry for the delay, I'll keep coming back to try again.

SteveS · Yellow Belt Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 75

well thats just great, the host is not working!
I will upload somewhere else!

Carol · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 3:40 pm Post subject: Zanthoxylum, Chinese pepper?

Try www.photobucket.com Steve. It's free.

Cheers
Carol

SteveS · Yellow Belt Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 75

Here you go. used my own space. no thumbnails tho :p
http://sjssites.co.uk/Pix/PepperTree/

daryl · Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 9:01 pm Post subject: Re: Zanthoxylum, Chinese pepper?

the upload geek pictures worked fine for me but the sjssites one doesn't work at all.

Unfortunately its not much use them working for me because I don't know enough about the tree to offer advice! Just wanted to let you know that your link works OK

Daryl

SteveS · Yellow Belt Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 75

ok, what do you need to know? it seems uploadgeek has come back to life!

SteveS · Yellow Belt Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 75

anyone

emorrin · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 2:09 am Post subject: Re: Zanthoxylum, Chinese pepper?

I have only seen this species stylized as an informal upright. You are right, there is very little info on it. I have found through trial and error that it needs bright light. If using fluorescent lighting, place it only an inch or two from the fluorescent light. I had it about 8 inches away at first and it had constant yellowing thin foliage. Also, always keep the soil moist but not real wet. This is done by having a fast draining soil. I am using a mainly inorganic coarse mix that dries rather quickly. I have found that you can not over water with a real fast coarse inorganic draining soil.

It seems to bud back a bit on dead wood when pruned but I have not done a hard prune on it yet. I have just been trying to keep it alive up to this point. By the time I changed the lighting conditions and re potted into a better soil mix, it only have a few leaves left on it. I thought it was going to be a goner. Flash forward two month later, it now looks rather healthy. I am going to let it grow out a bit before doing any styling on it.

There was a post on the Zanthoxylum a while back on this site but not many responses. I don't think too many people have this particular species.

SteveS · Yellow Belt Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 75

thanks for the reply.

yes when i saw it i thought it was an interesting one, leaves are quit different.

i like these first two, think i can only do the 2nd one tho, has the first hasnt had the "chop"

http://www.bonsai-paradies-schwalbe.de/images/shop/pic_1_22.jpg

http://www.info-bonsai.com/images/fichas_bonsai/zanthoxylum_bonsai/Z25 0205.JPG

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/8110/caisse8zm.jpg

imholte · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:22 pm Post subject: Re: Zanthoxylum, Chinese pepper?

I am not a great fan of trees with compound leaves, makes it quite hard to get distinction in the pads foliage, and they seem to go every which way.

Not sure what to do with this one, might cut it back and let it bud out from down lower and let that bud be the new apex to get some movement into it. Or even cut it back to the first branch and use the first branch as a new leader, then repeat this just a little higher up after it has thickened up some.

SteveS · Yellow Belt Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 75

not sure i understand what you mean?

imholte · Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:30 pm Post subject: Re: Zanthoxylum, Chinese pepper?

Chop the tree back to the first branch and let the first branch be the new leader. This will create a bit of movement.

SteveS · Yellow Belt Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 75

ah i get you.

gawd, cutting all the top off!.. gosh, drastic for noob me!