AusBonsai

Hubby and I just dug this out of the garden, since we don't want any more damaged pathways.

Anyone ever seen one as a bonsai? I've taken cuttings and they've taken root ok, but this... !!!

Yes, they can make extraordinary bonsai.

Thanks Mike, I'm struggling to find many pics of this particular plant with its large heart-shaped leaves, but hey, if I can keep this stump alive, it might just give me something worthwhile!

Cheers
Mel

I reckon that Hibiscus will be in flower this time next week They are incredibly hardy and as Treeman said, will make a cool Bonsai. They love the fertilizer along with water and as long as you give them what they want, once in a pot, will reward you with heaps of work (Don't forget to keep the updates coming with this Champ)

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=hibi ... IGA#imgrc=_"

Continuous defoliation!

lol, I did the exact same search, but I was looking for the heart shaped leaves! Looking more closely, I see they ARE the same species. I'm definitely looking forward to keeping this stump alive then!

Thanks Mike.

viewtopic.php?f=132&t=17636&p=179423&hi ... us#p179423

This one was posted by another user - it left an impression on me and I'm looking for some good stock to get!

That is impressive, no wonder you're inspired! Good luck finding some stock!

Be good too see what you do with it Mel.

Nice one Mel,yes they make wonderful Bonsai and reduce in leaf quite well,just treat leaf like a fig.

Not familiar with the tiliaceus family some are big leaf family,so a bigger bonsai compensates for this.

Had a bit of fun with some nursery stock a way back...just some of many..killed some, gave some away and some are disorderly today while I sit on bigger one,whacky /funky styling I think it works..don t need to be fat all the time I think.

You are going to need buckets of confider my friend I did learn one thing...every thing in Australia eats it LOL,and some.

These ones are rose of sharon..syriacus family I believe

Step them down and and go with flow lol

Wow, thanks for the info and images, Anthony! Agree that everything loves eating it, it's been growing in my garden for 10 years...and I reckon that it's the take away joint for every pest in the neighbourhood! Still, it'll save me defoliating!? (And yes, the leaves are bigger than your hibiscus, sadly!) Still, it's a big stump, so if it survives, it'll be able to stand a larger leaf, I guess, in between feeding the grasshoppers.

The link above to mine is I think a "Rose of Sharon" not tiliaceus
I had a few of tiliaceus on the benches but they got eaten last winter by Rats ( i think) and they have passed on.

Hibiscus have lots of different varieties and the trick to leaf reduction is to defoliate a few weeks before showing and the new growth will be in sympathy to the tree

Ken

I'm looking forward to the challenge of keeping it alive, Kane, thanks.

The link above to mine is I think a "Rose of Sharon" not tiliaceus

It's still impressive, Ken! Sorry to hear your tiliaceous didn't make it. They do seem to be popular with the pests, although this one has been growing in the ground, and seemed to not be bothered by all the attention. Hopefully it'll survive when it's in a pot.

I do know the cutting I have growing seems to be constantly under attack!

Cheers
Mel