Pieris japonica Question

Rene_Voortwist

Hi all,

I have dug up a Pieris japonica (guess that's Japanese Andromeda??) from my front garden this summer. I had to take it away because our 15m high oak tree needed work and I was afraid that falling branches would crush the poor thing. Now it is in a pot, I'm thinking of "bonsaing" it. It has a nice form, but the trunk needs thickening. I have been told that you should prune them hard right after blooming. Well it has bloomed now, so I guess I should prune it. My question is : how far should I prune it ? Can you cut it back to stumps without killing it ? (removing all the leaves ?)
I have included a picture.

rgds, René

Advertisement

Rene_Voortwist

And another picture..

TreeBay

Hi Rene,

The links say to treat this plant as you would a Rhodedendron or Azalea. Similar requirements for moisture and acidic soil.

I have yet to meet a shrub that can't be pruned within an inch of the ground while dormant (which means during or shortly after bloom) and not bounce back just as hard.

I thought this plant just might be the exception when I read on a Yahoo search page summary "plant has a limited tolerance to pruning and grows slowly"

When I visited the actual site, however, that note wasn't there! Must have been a different plant.

http://www.msue.msu.edu/msue/imp/mod03/01700710.html

Later I learned, "Pieris takes well to pruning for shape and size control which will probably be necessary in gardens with limited space"

http://www.roddasonswest.com/febbeachplant.htm

Just don't eat the clippings:

http://cal.nbc.upenn.edu/poison/Plantpages/ppstslpieri.htm

Some other info:

http://www.canr.uconn.edu/plsci/mbrand/p/piejap/piejap1.html

and notes from BCI:

http://www.bonsai-bci.com/species/andromeda.html

Regards,

Matt

__________________

Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today!

bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!

Rene_Voortwist

Matt,

WOW ! I didn't expect to get this much information. Thanks a lot ! I like this plant very much. It's new leafs are beautiful red in color, and it's very nice when it blooms. I think I should prune it back hard to get the foliage in perspective with the thin trunk. Next year I will pot it and then try to get the trunk to thicken. I will use a big pot for it to achieve this.

thanks again,

regards, René

TreeBay

Hi Rene,

It will take a big tree to carry those leaves and flowers. Have you thought about enjoying it in the ground or maybe that wine barrel for a few years while it matures?

Regards,

Matt

__________________

Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today!

bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!

Rene_Voortwist

Matt,

I agree the trunk is to thin to have all this foliage. That's why I plan to cut it back and make the canopy much smaller. This plant has another funny habit. It makes new leaves, and when it's done it sheds all of it's old leaves that are underneath. If you don't do anything it will grow bigger and bigger with only foliage on the outside. I guess you should do serious pruning every year to prevent it doing this. I have thought of leaving it in the container it is in now. By the way it's no wine barrel but a container that is used to contain waterplants in a pond. I guess the trunk thickening will go faster in this container, but I'd really like to make it look more attractive.... Another one of this dilemma's....

greetings, René

TreeBay

Hi Rene,

I actually meant the barrel partially visible in the background of your photo, not the current growing container. My parents keep camellias half barrels like that.

Cutting back should force back budding and should help you reinvigorate interior branches.

Regards,

Matt

__________________

Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today!

bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!