[Petra] Wormwood

[Petra]

Species: I only know it as Wormwood.
Height: 120mm from top of pot.
Origin: Cutting taken from my garden.
Cost: Nil

Sorry hit the wrong key.

1bonzai com.jpg

[bodhidharma]

Need a piccy Petra.

[kcpoole]

Which one?
the stick or the white shrub?

Ken

[Petra]

The white one.

[cre8ivbonsai]

btw, where's the "wrong" key is that next to the "any" key I really need a new keyboard, I have none of these keys

now more seriously, is that the same wormwood they (used to use) make absenth from? how big does it grow? ... very interesting entry Petra

Cheers, Ryan

[Petra]

Ryan, not sure. It is a medicinal plant with a strong pungent smell.
A friend had said it may be Artemisia, used for stomache upsets.
It grows about 1metre with yellow flowers in summer.
Here is a pic of it as a bonsai.
Sorry, just need to get rid of that keeeeeeeeeey! Were's my hammer.

1artem.jpg

[LLK]

Yes, it's Artemisia absinthia, very bitter and indeed a good remedy for stomach upsets. I used to have to drink a tea made from it when I was young and it tasted horrible. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemi ... urn false;
Sensational bonsai! May take a while to lignify as a young plant.

Lisa

[Petra]

Picture of after i planted this baby out sometime in october in the garden to get better growth happening.
Im still not sure where im going with this as yet.

artmsa 4th 011 11.jpg

[Petra]

First chance i got after the rains to view all the overgrowth.

Artemesia 1.jpg

A bit of a trim to see whats in there.

Artemesia 2.jpg

Trimed & choped all over, leaving a 18cm height even though its not showing. I want more bushiness before winter comes.
Still not a hundred percent sure where im heading. Hopefully the new growth will give me more of a direction then

Artemesia 3.jpg

.

[Andrew F]

You can always add your off cuts to this:

[Petra]

eeeew! yuk, icant even stand the smell of Artemisa let alone drinkin it.

[Petra]

Once again not much to report.Other than plenty of feeding and watering since last post,then another trim just resently.
Still undeciecive on where im going, knowing there will be alot of lost branching when the frosts hit. Once spring comes
i truely will know which way to go then.
First picture shows alot of growth before i get in & do some chopping.

artemesia1.jpg

2nd pic shows after i cut it a third way back of its height, now 15cm. Shows some branching has accured, & again some tiny new growth already on the way. im thinking this may be its last flush before the frosts.

artemesia3.jpg

3rd picture shows, the strangest way of encourageing movement in the branches.

artemesia4.jpg

& no, they are not straws. just plastic shoe display inserts.

[Petra]

Once again not much to report.Other than plenty of feeding and watering since last post,then another trim just resently.
Still undeciecive on where im going, knowing there will be alot of lost branching when the frosts hit. Once spring comes
i truely will know which way to go then.
First picture shows alot of growth before i get in & do some chopping.

artemesia1.jpg

2nd pic shows after i cut it a third way back of its height, now 15cm. Shows some branching has accured, & again some tiny new growth already on the way. im thinking this may be its last flush before the frosts.

artemesia3.jpg

3rd picture shows, the strangest way of encourageing movement in the branches.

artemesia4.jpg

& no, they are not straws. just plastic shoe display inserts.

[Greth]

I've looked at my wormwoods sideways sometimes, never seen them used as bonsai before. I have true wormwood, tree wormwood, african, and roman. Southernwood, French and Russian tarragon, and mugwort are other artemesias I grow. Only Tarragon is really edible, and only French has a decent flavour. Good flea and mite repellant for chicken bedding or a rinse for animals. Backbudding is prolific, and very hardy plants. If I was going to try a bonsai wormwood I would pick the Roman, a much prettier finer leaf shape. Southernwood has a fine leaf too, but seems to be a bit prone to looking half dead, when it isnt. But now that I have seen an example of a good one, I might give it a try...

[Petra]

Another update on this Artemesia. Only wish i could find the pictures i took in June of the branch selection i did.
So ,you'll have to just settle with these pics of new growth on the branches that has recently developed.

wormwood aug20121.jpg

wormwood aug20122.jpg

wormwood aug20123.jpg

wormwood aug20124.jpg

All thats left to do will be potting it up and tip pinching to shape and style, which I'll have to do in the next weeks or so.
Any ideas or advise most welcomed.