Pyracantha in winter

Hprelude · Post by **Hprelude** » June 18th, 2016, 6:38 pm

Hey everyone!

I'm new to the forum and new to the world of bonsai's (well not too knew! About 1 year of practice)

I have a pyracantha bonsai, it's a small tree and I honestly don't know it's age. I purchased it about a year and a few months ago from a bonsai nursery and this is its first winter in my hands.

I've been searching online to see whether it's too cold now in winter to be left permanently outside. I have noticed that it's leaves are turning yellow and falling from the tree. I'm worried my tree won't last though winter!

At what temperatures should I be bringing my pyrantha inside because of the cold?

Any help would be awesome, thanks in advanced.

Craigg · Post by **Craigg** » June 18th, 2016, 7:55 pm

I was up at Guyra a few days ago and saw quite a few growing along the roadside without a problem. I might be wrong but I don't see that the cold will be a problem

Watto · Post by **Watto** » June 18th, 2016, 7:59 pm

Hi, and welcome to the forum.
I have a few pyracantha and I leave them outside all year round, and my climate will probably be colder than yours. Generally they have leaves that turn yellow and drop off, however those leaves are usually followed by new leaves and it is a normal part of the process for this species. The same thing is happening to mine at the moment.
Of course this is only general information and if you can, it is probably worth while joining a local club to get local knowledge.
Good luck with it.

KIRKY · Post by **KIRKY** » June 18th, 2016, 10:20 pm

Hi Hprelude,
I'm in Melbourne too, I leave mine out all year no problems. Leaves drop at this time of year which is normal. They are hardy plants.
Cheers
Kirky

shibui · Post by **shibui** » June 19th, 2016, 7:35 pm

-20C might be getting close to being too cold for pyracantha but there's nowhere in Aus where they would need winter protection. Definitely leave them outside for a winter rest. taking bonsai inside is more likely to cause problems than leaving them outside.

Hprelude · Post by **Hprelude** » July 3rd, 2016, 3:52 pm

Thanks for the awesome reply everyone! and sorry for my late reply,

Glad that this species is fine to leave outside, I was about to bring it inside when a lot of the leaves were dropping but I'm glad i first asked!

This is my Pyracantha, its still a baby and have no idea how old it is. I hope this spring/summer it will produce berries as it didn't last time. It only had a few flowers.

IMG_7748.JPG

Daluke · Post by **Daluke** » July 3rd, 2016, 6:59 pm

These things are pretty vigorous.

Watch out for the thorns when you trim it back.

I keep mine outside (I'm in Melbourne).

I remove the large leaves to push the energy towards other leaves / branches.

Boics · Post by **Boics** » July 3rd, 2016, 7:17 pm

I'm not so sure that is a Pyracantha.
Looks like some sort of cotoneaster to me.
I could be wrong..

shibui · Post by **shibui** » July 3rd, 2016, 7:40 pm

I agree Boics. Certainly looks more like Cotoneaster to me as well.
That won't change the type of care. Both of those genus have similar requirements.

tgward · Post by **tgward** » July 3rd, 2016, 8:11 pm

if you get bad frosts I would be more worried about the rootball freezing--so I would tend to protect the pot rather than the plant

shibui · Post by **shibui** » July 4th, 2016, 7:54 am

Frozen pots are not generally a problem unless they are poor quality pots which can break when frozen. I get down to -5C regularly in winter and all my trees except ficus live out in those temps. Pots are regularly frozen to the benches until 10am.

regwac · Post by **regwac** » July 4th, 2016, 10:08 am

Ditto . We get down to -10 C at times and the trees don't mind , only the low quality pots .

Hprelude · Post by **Hprelude** » July 4th, 2016, 10:43 am

Daluke wrote:These things are pretty vigorous.

Watch out for the thorns when you trim it back.

I keep mine outside (I'm in Melbourne).

I remove the large leaves to push the energy towards other leaves / branches.

i actually have no idea how to prune this tree yet, i had to take it back to the bonsai nursery for them to prune it.
What does your tree look like? Curious to see other pyracantha trees!

Hprelude · Post by **Hprelude** » July 4th, 2016, 10:49 am

Boics wrote:I'm not so sure that is a Pyracantha.
Looks like some sort of cotoneaster to me.
I could be wrong..

Oh really? i did a quick google search on contoneaster and the leaves do look more like the Pyracantha.
I was told by the bonsai nursery that it was a pyracantha, i can take a better photo of the leaves to determine which one it is?

I can say that it does have white flowers in spring.
As for the berries, i cant say what color or if it even makes berries as last spring it didnt produce any having it for my first spring season.

Daluke · Post by **Daluke** » July 4th, 2016, 12:55 pm

Does it have thorns?

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Pyracantha in winter

Pyracantha in winter

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