Portugal Laurel (Prunus Lusitanica) ???

[micksta9]

As new member to this forum and new to Bonsai despite many years of succulents and shaping, torturing and at times killing Junipers i have officially declared myself a bonsai addict. In my attempt to enter this world of bonsai and without spending $$$ i have come a cross a few treasures hiden far away in the corners of my local nursery and i am wondering if any one has any knowledge of Portugal Laurel's being used for Bonsai. I found 3 but selected the best 2, they were in pots that were so old the price tags had vanished and a solid layer of moss was on one of them. They needed a bit of work but after a month of having the roots trimmed and branches pruned so far so good. Any tips or advise would be good.

[anttal63]

hey micksta giveus a look at it mate?

[micksta9]

Sorry should have posted these pics with the orig.....thanks for the reply!

[anttal63]

Hey mick; just googled some stuff on this tree. Evergreen, Is a cherry, flowers after new spring growth, follwed by purple fruit ripening to black. The foliage and seed is toxic, it contains cyanide. A few things im observing. First and most impotant, you should not have cut any branches off. a) they would have helped you to thicken up the treeespecially down in the base. b) they would have also made great new leaders for the tree in the future to gain better taper.
Second is that this tree should not have been put in a bonsai pot now. It would have been great to pot up into a bigger pot or poly box,to grow on in order to achieve the goals above. Thirdly the growth looks leggy so fertalise well and pinch back to see if it induces back budding.

If this had of been my tree, i would have chopped the trunk back to the 2nd lowest branch if not the first, worked the roots and potted it up in a poly box. you will be able to read plenty of referance to these techniques here at ausbonsai. Instant bonsai can be fun but will probably never make a great tree.

Mate see if you can join a club if not already. John Naka Bonsai technique's 1 & 2 are probably some of the best reading there is to understand the basics and fundamentals. good luck on your journey.

[craigw60]

You Have some excellent advice from Ant. These trees are about to be placed on the serious weed register in Australia and are also said to be one of the most fire resistant plants around. If you follow Ants good instructions and spend a couple of years adding bulk to the trunk you may end up with something nice.
Craig

[micksta9]

Ant your advice is sound and i am on it! Best i not feed it to the missus!

thanks again

[kcpoole]

Ant your advice is sound and i am on it! Best i not feed it to the missus!

thanks again

LOL
They look interesting , I would be surprised if the foliage does not reduce quite well
I quite like the first one for the movement, but the second might make a nice upright or maybe even broom. Nice stright lower trunk on it to work with

ken

[micksta9]

Ken thanks for reply and some ideas on what you see possible. Not too sure if the have long term future but amoungst other cheepies i've found around the place they will be good to practice on. Time will tell?

[Ron]

(I hope no one minds me resurrecting these old threads?)

My local nursery gave me one of these today (sorry no pics as my camera is currently travelling around Vietnam & Cambodia - not on its own of course, but with my beautiful wife). Been there awhile I would say as was yours, Mick. It's great what some of these nurseries will give you free, or very cheap, if you ask nicely.

This is the second plant of mine today (the other is a Boston Ivy) that I've discovered is highly toxic. (If I don't post for a couple of weeks better get someone to see if I'm still alive! )

Did you get anywhere with your two plants, Mick?

Ron ...