Digging up a fuchsia!

Larry

I have a large old fuchsia in the front garden(the very common red flowered one with slender flowers,f.magellanica), and I will be moving it to the back garden.(Too large for the small front garden.)
I had a look at it tonight and it looks like there's more than one crown so I might be able to split it to get a nice thick stump for bonsai.
There's some really gnarly old fuchsias around here, some must be donkey's years old!
I think this particular species should make fine bonsai as it has smaller flowers than some showy ones, quite small leaves and it develops lovely flakey orangey-brown bark when mature, which I'm seeing now every time I go out the front door in the morning!

Heres the species I have, in case youre not familiar with this in the states:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plan...ages/3186.shtml

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Attila

I have one, could be exactly the one your link is showing.

I is very rare to see fuchsia bonsai with a trunk thicker than a pencil. So, if you have access to old stumps, they would look awsome as bonsai. It is one of the easiest plants in the world, so don't miss the chance to dig one for yourself. Fuchsias love warm temperatures, so don't dig them too early. It should be right before they are ready to grow in the spring.

Regards,

Attila

Larry

Thanks Attlila, the thing is, tho its only the end of January its started sprouting due to the mild spell we've had. Now normally when these guys are grown as garden plants you wait until they sprout in spring then cut back the branches by about a third, or more depending on how big you want it. Obviously that doesnt apply if used for bonsai, or does it? But then again, if its in a pot it'll be overwintered in the shed so it wont get the full frost it normally gets when grown outdoors (these are very hardy fuchsias, tho they always wilt when the first frosts come and look like theyre suffereing, then come early spring[usually!] they bounce right back! The stump I will have wont be all that thick(they never do seem to get real thick do they!) so it will be best as a shohin or literati I think.

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pootsie

You may want to check out Kath's website.
You know, Fuschia Bonsai Lady!

http://www.bonsaigarden.net/

pootsie

tuckerg

the not all pencil thin .heres a pic off mine in flower

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