Any favorites?

pat2450 · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 4:43 am Post subject: Any favorites?

I have been thinking about getting another bonsai tree. I was wondering what you all like as a flowering or fruiting bonsai and how hardy it is since I am still new at bonsai.

Thanks,
Pat

imholte · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 4:54 am Post subject: Re: Any favorites?

Satsuki - easy to keep and hardy.

corin · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 6:50 am Post subject: Re: Any favorites?

crab apples - flowering and fruiting and easier to grow than satsuki

or cotoneaster, pyracantha, easy to stylr / grow yourself from nusery stock

Stymie · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:20 am Post subject: Re: Any favorites?

Cherry (Prunus), Azalea, Escallonia and Jasminium are all amenable trees. Flowering times are sometimes quite short. I'm very fond of Prunus amanagowa.

pat2450 · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:31 am Post subject: Re: Any favorites?

Thanks everyone, this certainly gives me some options to think about. I looked at them online and really liked the crab apple bonsai. If you have had experience with them would you mind telling me a little bit about the care they need and how hardy they are?

Thanks,
Pat

Stymie · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:17 am Post subject: Re: Any favorites?

The Nagasaki crab apple would be my choice. (Malus cerasifera) It's quite hardy. Daily watering is beneficial with a weekly feed in the growing season but leave the fertilizer off as the fruit sets. Annual re-potting in early spring is good for them and I favour a deeper pot than usual to provide a reservoir of moisture for the fruit to form. There are other varieties of course, some weeping and deeper colours but they may be more difficult to find.

steve · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 3:16 am Post subject: Re: Any favorites?

I like dogwood (which is mysteriously absent on this forum-my self included).

Dick · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 4:07 am Post subject: Re: Any favorites?

I'm partial to satsukis, but I also like fukien teas, crabapples, hawthorns, natal plums, and gardenias.

splendidplumage · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:02 pm Post subject: Re: Any favorites?

I like Pyrocanthas, Cotoneasters and Chinese Quince the most as fruiting varieties.

As for crab apples. They are hardy. The need plenty of water when flowering and trying to produce fruit. It is best to feed with a low nitrogen feed, like tomato fertilizer, to encourage the best flowering and fruiting. They are prone to black spot and woolly aphid so spraying once or twice a month with a fungicide and insecticide is a good idea.

pat2450 · Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 3:19 am Post subject: Re: Any favorites?

Thanks you guys,

I am going to try and find a bonsai nursery nearby and go and look at the ones you guys mentioned.

Pat

Dick · Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 4:26 am Post subject: Re: Any favorites?

The fruit on the natal plum are very nice. Following the beautiful while flowers that have a lovely smell, the fruit begins to form and eventually turns a nice shade of reddish purple.

Quince are also very nice to grow and will produce fruit rather easily. In the fall, when the tree is turning colour, the yellow fruit is wonderful. When all the leaves have fallen the fruit remains for a time with all the yellow that brightens the barren looking tree.