[Watto] Rosemary

[Watto]

This Rosemary was dug because it was in the way of a Juniper I was about to dig. I stuck it in a big pot and let it go. Unfortunately the top died and so I cut it off and was left with this.
It has been sitting around home for a while now and this is the inspiration I needed to get it going. Currently it is 380mm high and 420mm wide.
This cost nothing and I was hoping to find the original photo when it was dug, but that is proving difficult.

[Isitangus]

Love it-bonsai you can eat!!!

[MattA]

Stock envy, look forward to watching this progress over the next 18mths

[Watto]

Got a plan now Matt (don't tell anyone), juniper impersonator complete with jins and shari.

[matlea]

I've seen some good rosemary bonsais in some of the old magazines.... Good luck with it and in the comp!

[Watto]

People tell me this is a difficult species when it comes to re-potting, but I will let you know my opinion after 1 April. Thanks for the encouragement.

[xtolord]

Watto,

You should avoid cutting more than 1/3 of the roots.
I've had one that was getting along nicely, always cutting only 1/3 of the roots.
Then one day I decided to go further and the tree died.

Pinch and wire young green shoots, but be careful with semi-hard to hard wood they splint / snap easily.

Good luck with this one.

[Watto]

I really haven't done a lot with this so far. I dug out a few seedlings from the back of the tree and that's about it. I did see and listen to Ryan Neil on jin creation so I will give that method a go soon.

[Watto]

Here are a couple of photos taken in late August. I have dug out all the seedlings (more than 20 all tolled) and given the foliage a clean up.
Although winter has been mild this year I was still a bit cautious about doing too much work on this too soon.

[Watto]

The last photos were from August, however in September I gave it a more radical trim, and did a bit of wiring.

[Watto]

I have picked a pot for this tree and although it is a bit too big at the moment, it is a lot smaller than the plastic pot it was in. There are a few different sizes of mesh for the drainage holes of bonsai pots, and because I think this will need extra good drainage, I have chosen the large size for this tree.

[Watto]

I should have also said I drilled four holes in the corners of the pot for wire to hold the tree in place, and I think it helps with the drainage just a little as well. I was reluctant to show this photo because I don't want people to think I'm a cheapskate, but I think it is most suitable.

[Drac0]

I have picked a pot for this tree and although it is a bit too big at the moment, it is a lot smaller than the plastic pot it was in. There are a few different sizes of mesh for the drainage holes of bonsai pots, and because I think this will need extra good drainage, I have chosen the large size for this tree.

What's the mesh on the left? I have some similar in brown that I've had for years but can't seem to find anymore of it. The stuff on the right looks like gutter guard, a nice cheap alternative I use in grow pots.

And I don't think you're a cheapskate, I got some cheap diamond tipped hole cutters for converting different containers into pots & 'fixing' cheap bonsai pots.

Cheers

[Boics]

I should have also said I drilled four holes in the corners of the pot for wire to hold the tree in place, and I think it helps with the drainage just a little as well. I was reluctant to show this photo because I don't want people to think I'm a cheapskate, but I think it is most suitable.

$15 - I thought that was expensive!

Ha Ha

[Watto]

Mark - the stuff on the left is a mesh sold for bonsai pots, and it does come in black, brown and white. The stuff on the right is gutterguard but a bit more rigid than the standard and appears to work OK.
Thanks for not thinking I'm a cheapskate, but this pot was made by a local potter who was selling out - so my story, trust me - its quality at a cheap price.
Anyway, all the bull aside, here is a photo of the potting......