Schinus Molle..Peppercorn as Bonsai.

[bodhidharma]

Schinus Molle ,Peruvian pepper tree is a native to South America and is classified a weed in Australia. It is thought that Australia has the sub species Areira (source..Wikipedia) As per normal, when you stick a weed in a pot they become fussy and the Peppercorn tree is no exception. Fussy, hard to get going, branches take ages to set. The roots are spaghetti like and break easy and the thing bleeds red, like blood at the roots. It took me a while to get the hang of this tree and great advice from Ron Povey in South Australia helped me along. To get good backbudding (which i couldnt) You have to let the upright foliage exist and not cut it off like we would in a normal Bonsai situation, otherwise the foliage gets sparse. it loves a lot of organic fertiliser and water, and you could say that about most Bonsai. It has yet to fruit for me as you are always trying to make the foliage more compact. It loves full, and i mean, full sun and does not suffer from insect attack. it does however get fungal problems and you can treat that with a normal fungicide. You must seal the cuts otherwise it weeps white sap forever. This specimen went through a bushfire so the Shari is natural and was collected in August 2007. it has a long way to go but five years have turned it into something to look at and it was in our show for the first time this year.

[Dario]

Bodhi I love this species and I have been meaning to try one for a while, so thanks for the information
Yours is looking great, well done!
It doesn't look like you have had any real dramas getting reduction of the pinnate leaves. How do you go about this?
Cheers, Dario.

[bodhidharma]

Bodhi I love this species and I have been meaning to try one for a while, so thanks for the information
Yours is looking great, well done!
It doesn't look like you have had any real dramas getting reduction of the pinnate leaves. How do you go about this?
Cheers, Dario.

I treat the foliage like an ash Dario as i have no experience or info to go on. Defoliate once a year, and then cut the foliage back to two sets of leaves. They have about 8-9 sets. This year i will let it grow.

[Gerard]

I saw this tree at the Goldfields show on the weekend, although it is early in its development I was very impressed.
That trunk is sensational

[MattA]

Hey Bodhi,
Outstanding trunk & effort you have gone to to learn what these guys need. I love that about some weed species, grow in the worst environments & go crazy but get them in a pot & sulk sulk sulk (camphor is another like that).

Thanks for posting your experience with this species, I am really keen to have another crack and have access to plenty of material... Did you give it any special care after collecting? Timing? Would you do anything differently the next time?
Matt

[Josh]

Thanks for sharing this. I have 2 at home. I cut them off as stumps, I just noticed buds starting to form on them so heres hoping. Your tree was inspirational. There were some really big stumps were I got these so maybe another trip on the go. What time of year did you collect yours??? Congrats on a great show.

Josh

[thoglette]

Thanks for sharing this. I have 2 at home. I cut them off as stumps, I just noticed buds starting to form on them so heres hoping. Your tree was inspirational. There were some really big stumps were I got these so maybe another trip on the go. What time of year did you collect yours??? Congrats on a great show.

Josh

Got a few - my mame died on my last trip away but the shohin is fine. Early stick in pot stuff

[Dario]

Thanks for the info bodhi it will come in handy!
Cheers, Dario.

[anttal63]

My favourite tree of all times !!! I have had a crack at growing them and gave them up a couple of years ago...

This is a gorgeous trunk to use as a bonsai how ever it will be very difficult if ever to get a great canopy of foliage happening. Some years will have better windows than others due to its micro climatic conditions but the nature of this beast as bodhi has pointed out, it doesnt like to be confined...

[Josh]

Thanks for sharing this. I have 2 at home. I cut them off as stumps, I just noticed buds starting to form on them so heres hoping. Your tree was inspirational. There were some really big stumps were I got these so maybe another trip on the go. What time of year did you collect yours??? Congrats on a great show.

Josh

Got a few - my mame died on my last trip away but the shohin is fine. Early stick in pot stuff

Show us a picture if you can. I would have thought this tree would suit a bigger tree rather than smaller

Josh

[bodhidharma]

although it is early in its development I was very impressed.

It seems to be my nature, getting large trunks.

. Did you give it any special care after collecting? Timing? Would you do anything differently the next time?

Standard procedure of a collected tree Matt, I think the collection time was perfect (Last 2 weeks in August) and having a small excavator on hand was in my favour. I had two but one died.

What time of year did you collect yours??? Congrats on a great show.

Read above Josh and again, sorry i missed you. I think, for a small club like ours, it was our best show ever. Only a few of my piccys worked but i will post soon.

This is a gorgeous trunk to use as a bonsai how ever it will be very difficult if ever to get a great canopy of foliage happening.

Hi Ant, i think the tree would be best displayed if it flowers and then strip all the leaves off. Imagine all those beautiful hanging peppercorns on bare wood. Delightful.

[Steven]

G'day Bodhidharma,

What an awesome trunk! You've got the structure there and I'm sure under your care it will just get better and better.

Is the current pot you have it in the final choice?

Regards,
Steven

[thoglette]

Got a few - my mame died on my last trip away but the shohin is fine. Early stick in pot stuff

Think mine was Schinus terebinthifolius

[anttal63]

This is a gorgeous trunk to use as a bonsai how ever it will be very difficult if ever to get a great canopy of foliage happening.

Hi Ant, i think the tree would be best displayed if it flowers and then strip all the leaves off. Imagine all those beautiful hanging peppercorns on bare wood. Delightful.

Yes your right mate that alone is worth it all !!! My young ones used to fruit.

[bodhidharma]

Is the current pot you have it in the final choice?

Hi Steven, it does well in this pot but i think the pot is to chunky? for it. The look of it is to heavy and thick and i would like something finer, thickness wise. The walls of this pot are to thick and that makes the combination way to heavy. Something will present itself.

Yes your right mate that alone is worth it all !!!

Lets hope we can make that happen.