Species suitable to take cuttings from

[harvestmoon]

Hello

I am very new to bonsai (have a ficus and an azalea that I have recently purchased) and am reading the forums and articles etc, and have plans to do a beginner course at a bonsai nursery to learn a bit more in a hands-on way, and will hopefully find some books at the library too. I am also looking for a club close enough to travel to on a semi-regular basis.

I live in QLD, and have a few plants in my garden that I am wondering if I could take cuttings from to create my own bonsai from. They are honeysuckle, bouganvilia, and hibiscus.

Are these able to be trained as bonsai, and what is the best way I can start them off. Should I take cuttings, or will the air layering method work for these.

Any help much appreciated.
Kristy

[Bougy Fan]

Hi Kristy and welcome. Yes all 3 you mentioned are able to be propagated by cuttings. I would get a bit of experience air layering on figs first - they are easy and you get to hone your techniques before tackling the difficult species. Bougys are prone to rot so you need to air layer them with some diatomite so they aren't too wet. The hibicus aren't as popular to bonsai due to the flower size but are still done. I would wait about a month until it warms up to get a better result. Good luck

[kcpoole]

I have airlayered both Hibiscus and Bougy with great success, and Bonsai both
Hibiscus suited to larger trees, but you can keep them small but you have to work them.

viewtopic.php?f=133&t=9917&start=0

I cannot find My thread on my Hibiscus, but here is a Pic of it

Ken

[harvestmoon]

Thanks for your help. I will see if i can strike some cuttings next month It'll be something to practice with anyways.

[BonsaiElmo]

I have had great success with cuttings from a large old Rose of Shannon hibicus.
Every cutting I have taken from it has thrived. My first attempt at 3 air layering 3 large branches only produced a couple of roots but within months of cutting off and potting they were vigorously growing and throwing out loads of flowers.
I pruned the tree back in early July and stuck a couple of interesting branches in a poly box with diatomite and a bit of honey and they are now pushing out new leaves.

2011-10-25 Hibiscus Cuttings (1).jpg

2011-10-25 Hibiscus Cuttings (2).jpg

I have had moderate success 50/50 with ficus out of season, but good results in the warmer months.

Cheers
Elmo