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23-Dec-2004
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#1 |
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bonsaiTALK stick figure.
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Poinsetta accent plant?
Take a good look at a poinsetta, its seems to me the red petals of the flower are simply red leaves, and the flower itself is the little yellow slobbering alien looking things that make up the center. I'm thinking that I could dwarf one and use it as an accent plant for next winter. Caring for them is a royal pain in the christmas stocking, but they are a relative to our friend the ficus. Which leads me to believe they'll backbud well and take to a good root pruning or two. When poinsetta removal begins after christmas at my work I may take one or two home for experimentation. What do you think feliz navidad? or estupido?
jim
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Jimmyrigging is much like jerryrigging, just go a bit lighter on the duct tape and wire coat hangers, and hit said broken item more. Remember: if it isn't broke don't kick it. |
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Poinsetta accent plant? |
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23-Dec-2004
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#2 |
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Archbonsaist in training
 
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Hmmm,
Interesting. I did not know that they were in the ficus family. I did know that their "flowers" were actually leaves, and I do know that they are VERY picky about environmment and hard to keep looking good thorughout the year, since I have tried on several occasions, and ended up trash-heaping them. I am not sure about leaf reduction, though. They have rather HUGE leaves! I would be interested in seeing if you could pull it off, though. Has anyone else tried this? John
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Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement. QUI ME AMAT, AMAT ET CANEM MEAM |
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23-Dec-2004
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#3 | |
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Old Mister Crow
 
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Quote:
http://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Euphorbia.html http://www.absbonsai.org/articles/poinsettia.html (Courtesy of Google) -Carl
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In love with trees |
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23-Dec-2004
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#4 |
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Archbonsaist in training
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Carl,
Thanks for the links. I must admit that I had never considered poinsettia for bonsai and so have not researched them. The sites you pointed to claim that the leaves can be reduced to 1/3 size! Of course, they also state that making them turn thier pretty colors requires a STRICT dark/light regimen for 3 months, which could pose some challenges. At any rate, it is interesting to see that someone has actually tried this species, though. But, according to the info, one might consider making a large bonsai instead of an accent plant out of them, since even leaves reduced 2/3 are still rather large, in my opinion. Heck, I might just go get one tonight and try it myself. John
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Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement. QUI ME AMAT, AMAT ET CANEM MEAM |
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24-Dec-2004
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#5 |
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bonsaiTALK stick figure.
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That's the third bonsai thing I've thought I invented! There are moderatley dwarfed cultivars out there. I'm gonna give it a shot with one from my work, though. Yeah, they're like ficus's cousin, twice removed. Get some of their sap in a cut, you'll think ficus.
 They need about 3 monthes of 12 hours light, 12 hours dark, I've heard that even the light from a zippo, during their dark period, will set the flowering back a few weeks. jim
__________________
Jimmyrigging is much like jerryrigging, just go a bit lighter on the duct tape and wire coat hangers, and hit said broken item more. Remember: if it isn't broke don't kick it. |
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24-Dec-2004
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#6 |
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bonsaiTALK Master
Join Date: Jun-2004
Location: S. California
Country: USA
USDA Zone: 8-10
AHS Heat Zone: 6-7
Posts: 314
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I've read that in order to turn the leaves red, you need to allow only 4 hours of light per day. Some people suggest putting it in a closet. This should begin in mid-November in order to have red leaves by Christmas.
I believe they will work for Bonsai. The leaves on my 3 year old are reduced to about 1/3 their original size, and some are much smaller than that. One setback wich I see in this plant, is that once the green hardens off and becomes woody, it is very very light, dry, brittle, and does not heal well at all. Green branches also snap off very very easily, and scaring occurs from the slightest scratch. ........regaurdless, I still like my Pointsettia...and I think it'll be ready to go in a Bonsai pot next year... Merry Christmas y' all! |
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24-Oct-2006
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#7 |
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Mother nature bats last
Join Date: Aug-2006
Location: Humboldt Co. Calif.
Country: usa
USDA Zone: 9A
AHS Heat Zone: 1-2
Posts: 174
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poinsettia experience
I was reading this thread I have experience with this. here is the plant I have had for 10 years.(didnt know they lasted more than 1 season) my first bonsai in a loose sense. I have never root pruned it or pinched it for that matter. kept it pot bound for 8 years before up potting it. the leaves are reduced by more than half and more so on the cuttings that have broken off it from the cat landing on it very fragile. Both are recovering from a scale invasion that has effected a lot of my plants. Leaves dont tolerate being sprayed with anything. It has been almost dead a couple of times and keeps springing back. Back budding seems to be quite easy. after reading now I know why it has never flowered. The smaller one has 1.5" leaves the large one is over 24" with 2-3" leaves or so.
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