AusBonsai

I wasn't aware they were so common like that, there are in fact a lot in the streets of the suburb I live in, they look like the same species that watto recently posted in flower... Can't collect those unfortunately
Do the propagate easily?

Those street trees are probably the same or closely related to the cherry plums Watto has posted. they are very common street trees and garden trees because thy are hardy and do not need much looking after. The birds eat the plums and spit out the seeds which then start to grow in gardens and along roads, etc. If you look I'm sure there will be some growing in some of the less well kept gardens nearby or along creeks/ drains/ railway and any other untended places. Some have red/purple colored leaves and some types have green leaves.

I think someone already mentioned that plums are quite easy to strike as cuttings or layering.

shibui wrote:

I wasn't aware they were so common like that, there are in fact a lot in the streets of the suburb I live in, they look like the same species that watto recently posted in flower... Can't collect those unfortunately
Do the propagate easily?

Those street trees are probably the same or closely related to the cherry plums Watto has posted. they are very common street trees and garden trees because thy are hardy and do not need much looking after. The birds eat the plums and spit out the seeds which then start to grow in gardens and along roads, etc. If you look I'm sure there will be some growing in some of the less well kept gardens nearby or along creeks/ drains/ railway and any other untended places. Some have red/purple colored leaves and some types have green leaves.

I think someone already mentioned that plums are quite easy to strike as cuttings or layering.

That's great, thanks for the info Neil
The ones I've seen have green leaves, I'll be keeping an eye out for any potentials!

Cheers
Ben

I have a few fruit trees in my back yard: apple, pear, plum, nectarine, peach, fig and olive.

I have tried two different methods of air layering, using seasol soaked sphagnum moss, honey and cling wrap on my plum tree, while opting to use seed raising mix, honey and a wired pot with my apple tree.




I have more hope with the plum tree striking roots than the apple, but time will tell.

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In my experience some apple varieties root really easily while others are reluctant. Hope that one belongs to the former though I'm not sure what value a stick with no taper and no decent shape will be for bonsai
Most plums are quite easy so you should get something from them.

shibui wrote:In my experience some apple varieties root really easily while others are reluctant. I'm not sure what value a stick with no taper and no decent shape will be for bonsai.

This is my first attempt at air layering, so it was more of an exercise in learning and if something came of it, bonus.

While the stick may not have shape and taper [yet], shape and taper could be formed through cutting and wiring branches and deciding on new leaders etc., right?

Again, this is all an exercise in learning.

Cheers.



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I've got 2 3yo mulberry cuttings that tried setting fruit last season. They got through the green stage and tried ripening, then shriveled up and fell off. Oh well, they need to get a lot bigger anyway!

I also have a few crabapple sticks-in-pots that I grew from seeds I got from shibui, they are your best bet for scale size apples

Have anyone tried blueberries? The warm climate ones (high bush or rabbiteyes).
Also, ornamental pomegranate... I have one in a pot grown from a cutting my mum took from her friend's garden, it fruited last year, and the fruit is about the size of a large cumquat... I didn't try eating it because something have eaten a hole into it, but the pulp inside looks normal size and smells nice.

Just thought of a couple more, acerola cherry and cherry guava ~ both of which have small edible fruits and appear to grow well in pots. Especially acerola guava, I thought it died on at least of couple of occasions due to neglect, but it still survived ~ If I remember correctly both of these were in "Bountiful Bonsai" by Richard w. Bender.