AusBonsai

This Mirror Bush grew from seed in one of my parents pots.. thanks to the bird that did a fly by

It grew unnoticed for awhile before my dad individually potted in its own pot as a topiary tree

He topiaries everything whilst I try and miniturise everything.

He didn't like it so much so gave me the honors and so I stumped it

Here it is Sep 2011



Here is is Oct 2014

I have only applied one wire so far to lower the branch.. predominantly have used clip and grow.

Leaves have reduced alot with pinch outs. Hope to see bright orange berries in few seasons.

Coming along nicely!

Can you share with me your care / fertiliser regime for this one?

I don't know why but my Coprosma is horribly slow growing and never appears all that happy...

TIA.

Hi Boics

Maybe we have different species? as I don't do anything special with my MB and its a vigorous grower so Im not sure why yours would be slower
If it is exactly the same, it should be powering on. Slow and unhappy trees could be a sign of pest as I have observed with one of my prunuses that did not put on a show, produced only few wekk flowers very late in season.

If I had not put it in a bonsai pot and left it to grow freely, the branches would have packed on.
I did grow one sacrifice branch only for few months before it got bigger than what I needed compared to other branchlets (notice larger leaves in the photo and even larger ones t the tip but had been cut off)

My observation with my MB so far:

- very vigorous
- ramifies exceptionally well
- leaves reduces 1/6
- back buds easily from old wood (including trunk)
- no known pests or diseases
- full sun
- water well
- my mix 2 years ago was a simple combo of diatomite and zeolite. It's heavy so I think my zeolite ratio could be close to 50/50
- it seems happy with whatever i feed it.. currently in the basket is either chook poo pellets or dynamic lifter pellets
- I do rotate with liquids now and then being power feed, seasol or whatever else I have at the time

Other than that no magic or rabbits out of hats here.. hope that helps though. Check your tree for those little borer lavae

To my knowledge Coprosma do not berry. I have some very mature ones and have never seen berrie's.

A healthy serving of fleshy MB berries
(bird consumption)

Inspired wrote:A healthy serving of fleshy MB berries

That is impressive and begs the question, why dont mine I will have to check and see if there is different hybrids.

They would be awesome so do let me know if you do get yours to berry-up.. I've yet to see berries on mine one too

I've seen the berries first hand as we had them as hedges when I was growing up

Inspired wrote: I've yet to see berries on mine one too

Ohh..O.K,that explains it. The berry's showed did not come from your tree. It is obvious that they do not fruit in a potted environment or need male/female together.

bodhidharma wrote:It is obvious that they do not fruit in a potted environment or need male/female together.

Very wise Bodhi that surely must be you in the avatar photo and I think you are right having put two and two together.

Makes sense to have male and female plants to produce the flowers and berries