COTONEASTER - from 'bonsai' to bonsai starter

[MelaQuin]

I like cotoneasters and I have several:

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But I wanted an informal upright shohin. The little informal upright I have had for 1.5 years and it is developing nicely but there's years to thicken the trunk before it becomes a nice tree. I have looked over stock plants for the last 2 years [which is how I came by the thin one - thin but nice movement] and found nothing. Every plant I saw had a horribly straight trunk and a few scraggly branches before having a head high up.

Then I saw this one in July 2014 at a bonsai nursery selling as a bonsai - and priced as a bonsai - but I looked at the lovely movement in the trunk, the thickness of the trunk and the lower established branches and bought it.

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Once home I started culling it to get rid of the weight on the top and the totally unbalanced look of it. It has just started extending and I have removed heavy growth to give it a light, elegant look. Some surface roots went as well, accentuating the movement of the lower trunk. The trunk is as thick as a thumb, the tree will eventually be about 20 cm tall and I am very pleased with its grace and style that is already showing.

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I was thrilled to stumble across the cork oak in December [Quercus suber article] and that was a fantastic price and half the price of this cotoneaster. But you can't get a bargain all the time and I found the cotoneaster I had been looking for and I am glad that I got it. It had several flowers this year but they were removed to work on the shape. But next year.... I am hoping next year it will be replete with flowers and berries.

[Elmar]

Looking good!


Cheers
Elmar