AusBonsai

A friend is about to undergo a front yard renewal and has given me anything I want from her front yard. Anyone attempted to style a Diosma? She has 4 big Diosma in her yard that she will be killing unless I save them...

Thanks

i think if it has the trunk potential and can survive the transplant it shouldnt be an issue. they have tight foliage and such so it would possibly be a good subjet. i have never tried or seen one so it might be something worth a crack. if not, good practice anyways

I started mucking around with a small one a couple of years ago. After selecting the branches I wanted It quickly took on a pretty pleasing broom shape and started to take an aged appearance by the second growing season. It can look a treat with the constant blooms. It always needed trimming back which can limit the flowering but with a little thought to the growth cycle it could put on a ripper show. I gave it to the mother in law last year and although it has managed to survive the lack of care It has not progressed much since then only needing a couple of trims.
I am not sure how well it will take transplanting as I didn't do much root work in that time. I can say that although it loves a light trim I have noticed from the ones we have growing around the yard that it does not seem to like a hard trim. I have one that is still struggling to come back after I took it back too hard a few years ago.
Just read a garden forum stating they handle a hard prune so I may be wrong but the one in the garden that I trimmed back hard was very vigorous until I cut it back very hard. We also had two large ones out the front also growing well. We decided we wanted much smaller Diosma balls and thought it was worth another try. I cut these back even harder and they died within the season. We now have two small ones growing fast being trained in the small balls we wanted
It could make an impressive bonsai I reckon though.

I have one in our front garden I will be digging out when I get some Diatomite ( Clinton Have you ordered it yet)
Ken;'s Reno Rescue coming soon and that is on plant that will be coming out. Might as well save it and try to grow it as Bonsai Maybe and African Savannah Flat top style


Be replaced with Azaleas and Camelias mainly, Grow them in the ground for a few years then lift 'em for Bonsai


Ken

Thanks guys.. I will dig it and I will make sure I take my camera. I always forget to take photos which I will regret in years to come.

Found a pic....

http://images.bidorbuy.co.za/user_image ... bonsai.jpg

Diosma is a definite possibility for Bonsai...Will be digging soon!

Hey that look really nice

Might actually take some care when I dig to make sure it survives if it looks ok arond the base

Ken

that is good. i like it a lot. the ground grown ones should have decent trunks on them too.

enjoy.

regards jamie

Geezs I am glad you found a pic coz I have been going though my files.
My mate has a couple but I cant find them on the PC. He has a good flowering each season so I think they should be ok.
So good luck with them Pup

Hi Webos ,no bonsai but i have transplanted quite a few ,saturate the soil with seasol or similar for a day or two and dig a rootball at least 1/2 the size of the tree wrap shade cloth around to make a make-shift planter bag,secure tight to ensure the dont go wheels up .Lay a builders barrow on its side and roll the rootball into it Reduce the foliage over several seasons constantly trimming so they maintain themselves with solid foliage.Cut them hard they shock and die in a day or 2 .My driveway had 10 now there is 3 i tried to bonsai in the ground 10 years ago 7 died in the first months of chopping .Hope you have success .Cheers