[ID] Succulents as bonsai

[lackhand]

While visiting a bonsai nursery this weekend, I mentioned wanting to get some starters for my kids, something easy like a portalucaria afra that they would have to work hard to kill as they learn. She brought these out and gave them to me free for that purpose.

ID might be rough as these are not traditional bonsai material, but I saw a few there that looked alright, and I've seen some pretty nice jades and such lately, so hopefully they can be good enough to get the girls hooked on growing miniature trees.

IMG_2740.jpg

IMG_2741.jpg

My best guess is sedum ochroleucum, but that doesn't look quite right.

http://succulentguide.com/cactus/?genus ... chroleucum


My older daughter would like to grow a broom, which I think will work, and the youngest one wants to do a double trunk, which will be trickier. Hopefully I can get that done! Work starts this weekend, and they will get to help with every step (and mis-step too).

[Jason]

The missus loves succulents, probably because of their hardiness and I beleive she has one of these... unfortunatley without a name tag lol

I know I've seen the name before though, either at the green shed or somewhere similar....

Pretty sure its not Sedum, I'm actually sure it's a Crassula. Most likely a Tetragona

[lackhand]

The missus loves succulents, probably because of their hardiness and I beleive she has one of these... unfortunatley without a name tag lol

I know I've seen the name before though, either at the green shed or somewhere similar....

Pretty sure its not Sedum, I'm actually sure it's a Crassula. Most likely a Tetragona

I think you got it Jason, that looks more like it. And I see some bonsai pics of them, not that it confirms much, but much more likely that she would have had something that had been done. Thanks mate!

[Jason]

The missus loves succulents, probably because of their hardiness and I beleive she has one of these... unfortunatley without a name tag lol

I know I've seen the name before though, either at the green shed or somewhere similar....

Pretty sure its not Sedum, I'm actually sure it's a Crassula. Most likely a Tetragona

I think you got it Jason, that looks more like it. And I see some bonsai pics of them, not that it confirms much, but much more likely that she would have had something that had been done. Thanks mate!

No worries at all I did see a few of them done as bonsai too, so they must go alright

[Justin Hervey]

Karl, good idea with the Portulcaria Afra to learn on. Clip and grow works really well, good for illustrating how to grow the branches out to thicken and then cut way back and start again as you would on say a trident maple for taper - it just happens in a quarter of the time.