bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - High bush Blueberry Yamadori

Blueberries are excellent bonsai material, but they are quirky. They require very acidic soil, sucker profusely from the lower trunk, drop branches constantly, etc. I gave up on them because I found them too frustrating.

The best source of blueberry bonsai info is, indeed, Nick Lenz's book.

In collecting one, you basically have to look for a substantial lower trunk to begin and use it as a "base" of sorts for an ever-changing cast of branches that come and go.

Dont' start with spindly cuttings. Substantial trunks with some character in the lower third, offer the best possibilities and capabilities. Older blueberry trunks are full of character. Young ones are pretty uninteresting and will test your patience since they have nothing really to keep you interested.

Oh, once a branch flowers and fruits--Forest it right--it usually dies...The autumn foliage is spectacular though.

19-Dec-2006	#4
rockm bonsaiTALK ArchMaster Join Date: Oct-2003 Location: Fairfax, Va Country: USA USDA Zone: 7 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 4,561	Blueberries are excellent bonsai material, but they are quirky. They require very acidic soil, sucker profusely from the lower trunk, drop branches constantly, etc. I gave up on them because I found them too frustrating. The best source of blueberry bonsai info is, indeed, Nick Lenz's book. In collecting one, you basically have to look for a substantial lower trunk to begin and use it as a "base" of sorts for an ever-changing cast of branches that come and go. Dont' start with spindly cuttings. Substantial trunks with some character in the lower third, offer the best possibilities and capabilities. Older blueberry trunks are full of character. Young ones are pretty uninteresting and will test your patience since they have nothing really to keep you interested. Oh, once a branch flowers and fruits--Forest it right--it usually dies...The autumn foliage is spectacular though.