Alive..Dying..Alive..My old Fuschia and what not to do

Greth · Post by **Greth** » April 1st, 2010, 10:39 am

fuchsiaflowersJan10.jpg

Greth · Post by **Greth** » July 9th, 2010, 10:41 pm

Just spent the evening mulling over the fuchsia with a pencil and paper. Did it really look that bare? Sheesh, its a little jungle now, the main trunk line has good movement, just need to pick out which shoots to keep for the branches and which to lose, there is at least one volunteer in every place I would like a branch, so an embarrassment of choice. Still working on potting up the last batch of cuttings, some of the early ones are now large enough to consider for styling in their own right.
Will take a photo before and after trimming down to what I will keep, then another six months before next styling attack. In one place there is a tiny shoot in exactly the right place, a much bigger branch a bit further away from the ideal spot. Big branch wont bend easily, fuchsias snap, so a big sigh, take off the big one and wait for the little one to be exactly right, prob another year or two minimum. Patience, thats what they tell us..
Probably can reduce the roots a bit further now, its obviously thriving in that trough, might be interesting to look at some photos of the underside too. Not too much reduction yet, I need more rapid growth for the little shoots.

Greth · Post by **Greth** » July 10th, 2010, 5:14 pm

Some pics for Bodhi :

Fuchsia July 10 preprune.jpg

Fuchsia July 10 post prune.jpg

In total, has come down from about a metre high and wide to about 35 cm.
The repotting managed to result in the old trough being free for cuttings, so there was room for the offcuts, and some Baeckia virgata which will one day be headed toward Bonsaidom.

Jester · Post by **Jester** » July 11th, 2010, 2:04 pm

Bodhi, you are a genius!! I wish I had one third of your ability and good taste!! This is an awesome specimen.

Good luck

John

bodhidharma · Post by **bodhidharma** » January 17th, 2012, 10:38 am

My old Fuschia has made a wonderful comeback and what does not kill her only makes her look better. It is looking resplendent in its new pot and is starting to flower. The pot is called a"Boston Brown" and i think the two go well together. I did not make the same mistake as last repot so who says you cant teach an old dog new tricks. The tree has come a long way from its near death experience.

Matthew · Post by **Matthew** » January 17th, 2012, 10:53 am

LOOKING good mate and i like the tones of the pot very much. How you go with the deadwood preserving. does it rot easily? again lovely post a pic when it blooms.

bodhidharma · Post by **bodhidharma** » January 17th, 2012, 6:43 pm

Matthew wrote:LOOKING good mate and i like the tones of the pot very much. How you go with the deadwood preserving. does it rot easily? again lovely post a pic when it blooms.

Hi Matthew, i love this pot. It was given to me by Tom Cochrane and it suits this tree well. Rot is not an issue as yet and i treat it with Lime Sulpher yearly. I hope it flowers well this year as it has been sparse.

miyagiman · Post by **miyagiman** » January 17th, 2012, 7:34 pm

Thats a nice piece of wood Bodhi, my compliments to you. I once had a nice one in memory of my grandmother, but it could not handle being fertilised whilst in flower and died immediately. I didn't know any better at the time, we all learn as we go along. miyagiman.

bodhidharma · Post by **bodhidharma** » January 18th, 2012, 8:35 am

miyagiman wrote: but it could not handle being fertilised whilst in flower and died immediately. I didn't know any better at the time, we all learn as we go along. miyagiman.

Thanks Miyagi, HMMM.. i fertilize lightly with an organic fertiliser continuously and have not experienced any problems.

Stewart_Toowoomba · January 18th, 2012, 9:34 am

bodhidharma wrote:
miyagiman wrote: but it could not handle being fertilised whilst in flower and died immediately. I didn't know any better at the time, we all learn as we go along. miyagiman.
Thanks Miyagi, HMMM.. i fertilize lightly with an organic fertiliser continuously and have not experienced any problems.

Hi Bodhi

I always get such enjoyment from seeing your lovely trees as they are progressively displayed on the forum. Thank you so much for taking the time to post photos and add comments and advice for the benefit and inspiration of Ausbonsai members. I am in awe of your skills, talent, online humility and TREES!

Re: you fertilizing lightly with organic fertilizer continuously - could you elaborate on your routines please? product type (not name necessarily), amount and rate of application would be interesting - do you ever slow down / increase / stop this regime?

Cheers

Stew

kvan64 · Post by **kvan64** » January 18th, 2012, 6:05 pm

Very nice comeback. I love it. Well done bodhi

bodhidharma · Post by **bodhidharma** » January 19th, 2012, 9:55 am

Stewart_Toowoomba wrote: I always get such enjoyment from seeing your lovely trees as they are progressively displayed on the forum

Well..Thanks so much Stew, responses of this nature gives me belief that i am in the right direction

I use an organic better grow product (pelletised) which i have posted here somewhere, and on a tree like this i would apply a small handful every three weeks. I am in the transition stage of going fully fertilised through my watering system. What i mean is that i have set up water tanks which i have my fertiliser in and every second or third water the trees will be fed. I should have this set up today.

I simply pour a bag of fertiliser into a 44gallon drum stirring it until it dissolves and then pour a certain amount into my watering tanks. Ratios to be worked out.

kvan64 wrote:Very nice comeback.

Thanks Kvan, this one was touch and go. I am very happy i have a glass house to hospitalise these guys out in.

Post by **Steven** » January 19th, 2012, 10:04 am

Looking great Diederik

I like the combination of pot too. To be critical, the deadwood looks a bit stark perhaps.

Regards,
Steven

Stewart_Toowoomba wrote:I always get such enjoyment from seeing your lovely trees as they are progressively displayed on the forum. Thank you so much for taking the time to post photos and add comments and advice for the benefit and inspiration of Ausbonsai members. I am in awe of your skills, talent, online humility and TREES!

Well said Stew

bodhidharma · Post by **bodhidharma** » January 19th, 2012, 10:21 am

Steven wrote: the deadwood looks a bit stark perhaps.

In the flesh, i like it this way. We all know that photos do not do our trees justice and their is a market for a portable photo studio. I guess, to get back to the original subject, that this will always be personal and subjective to the viewer. i have subdued the deadwood and the tree did not have the same impact so i have gone out of my way to whiten it. The jury is divided your honor.

bodhidharma · Post by **bodhidharma** » February 3rd, 2012, 9:15 am

About halfway through flowering. Keep you posted.

AusBonsai

Alive..Dying..Alive..My old Fuschia and what not to do

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Re: Alive..Dying..Alive..My old Fuschia and what not to do

Re: Alive..Dying..Alive..My old Fuschia and what not to do

Re: Alive..Dying..Alive..My old Fuschia and what not to do

Re: Alive..Dying..Alive..My old Fuschia and what not to do

Re: Alive..Dying..Alive..My old Fuschia and what not to do

Re: Alive..Dying..Alive..My old Fuschia and what not to do

Re: Alive..Dying..Alive..My old Fuschia and what not to do

Re: Alive..Dying..Alive..My old Fuschia and what not to do

Re: Alive..Dying..Alive..My old Fuschia and what not to do

Re: Alive..Dying..Alive..My old Fuschia and what not to do

Re: Alive..Dying..Alive..My old Fuschia and what not to do

Re: Alive..Dying..Alive..My old Fuschia and what not to do

Re: Alive..Dying..Alive..My old Fuschia and what not to do

Re: Alive..Dying..Alive..My old Fuschia and what not to do