I'm bored with my Portulcaria
- Thread starter RosieO
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tmmason10
Omono
I got bored with mine too, so I gave it a haircut. Looks similar to yours. Actually, our indoor setups look very similar as well. I don't have any advice on direction for this though, it does have a great looking trunk however.
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
If you have lost interest in it, and it seems you have, you might want to consider giving it away to someone in your club or that you know that would appreciate working with it.
Ang3lfir3
Omono
or as Mr. Hirotsu said in regards to Suiseki : "Just enjoy it"
pretty powerful advise...
pretty powerful advise...
jk_lewis
Masterpiece
They're really just houseplants, anyway. Put it in a bigger, fancy pot and just let it grow.
edprocoat
Masterpiece
Heck you could always send it to me as I have never seen one of these before! 
Its a great looking little tree though, I would not part with it if it were mine.
ed
Its a great looking little tree though, I would not part with it if it were mine.ed
jason biggs
Chumono
i also think it looks nice-good thing is those scars will heal in a reasonably short time
misfit11
Omono
Heck you could always send it to me as I have never seen one of these before!
ed
I'm sure you've seen one before. It is a common Jade plant.
It's actually not a jade plant though it's sometimes referred to as a mini-jade. They are succulents that are very easy to propagate and care for.
I've decided to sell it because as I said before, it just seems like it's done and I enjoy a "project" tree (or houseplant as it were).
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I've decided to sell it because as I said before, it just seems like it's done and I enjoy a "project" tree (or houseplant as it were).
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Nice trunk, but I wouldn't say its done. To say the tree is done is to say you have brought out the maxiumum potential in it. To do this with this portulacaria, I think you need to let it grow a lot so that it can be wired and a more refined appearance developed. Also, a definite apex needs to be defined. Right now the tree does not have clear movement. Half the tree goes one way and the other half another. Also, the position in the pot could be improved.
Contrary to what some people have told me, portulacaria can be wired and refined. Copper works best on this species since they are a bit stubborn.
You can see mine here: http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?7066-Portulacaria-progression
Best of luck, and thanks for sharing your tree.
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tmmason10
Omono
That's interesting, I have heard to not bother wiring them. I'll have to give it a try. I think yours is looking pretty nice, good job with it.Nice trunk, but I wouldn't say its done. To say the tree is done is to say you have brought out the maxiumum potential in it. To do this with this portulacaria, I think you need to let it grow a lot so that it can be wired and a more refined appearance developed. Also, a definite apex needs to be defined. Right now the tree does not have clear movement. Half the tree goes one way and the other half another. Also, the position in the pot could be improved.
Contrary to what some people have told me, portulacaria can be wired and refined. Copper works best on this species since they are a bit stubborn.
I attached a pic of mine, which still has a long way to go. It grows really slow in my climate. Best of luck, and thanks for sharing your tree.
edprocoat
Masterpiece
The common jade have very large leaves and a smoother trunk, almost featureless I had one years ago as a potted plant. I looked this up last night after reading this thread, these are referred to as a mini jade but are also known as the elephant bush as they are a staple in elephants diets in some part of the world, it was last night late so I can not recall where it was. They have very small leaves naturally and they propagate on their own in the wild as the elephants eat them from the top down leaving the base and the roots and they just regrow and spread some through the root system.
I actually have seen these as small little things for $3 or $4 dollars in succulent displays and they look like they would never make a convincing looking tree like this one has, I never thought it was the same plant.
ed
I disagree with your assessment that this portulacaria has not reached its maximum potential. In my opinion, the beauty of this is and always will be the trunk. It's quite old, gnarled and beautiful from every side. At one time there was no separation between the top and lower. I removed a section and I don't regret doing so. Perhaps the picture is not taken from the best angle but the top and lower portions do flow together nicely. It does not meet any standard for true bonsai but it is striking in person.
I do agree that it could be in a much better pot. Perhaps the next owner will see things differently than I do. Someday it may look completely different than it does now and I will wonder why I didn't think to do "that" with it.
I looked at your portulacaria, very nice work indeed. They don’t always tolerate wiring as well as that one has.
I do agree that it could be in a much better pot. Perhaps the next owner will see things differently than I do. Someday it may look completely different than it does now and I will wonder why I didn't think to do "that" with it.
I looked at your portulacaria, very nice work indeed. They don’t always tolerate wiring as well as that one has.
The trunk is nice, but you need more than a nice trunk to make a bonsai. You need foliage to frame and draw attention to the trunk. I think the foliage needs to grow a lot more, then it could be brought forward and wired. Some portulacarias may handle wiring better than others, but that has nothing to do with the species itself. It is all about preparation of the material.
You really think this tree is at its maximum potential? Even if you are happy with the foliage, what about cleaning up the two large scars? I disagree that the foliage flows together nicely. The movement of the trunk is strongly to the left, but the upper right of the tree is not in harmony with that movement. I don't have an opinion about the pot itself as I can't really see the pot. What I meant was that the position that the tree is planted at could be improved. It is too far to the left edge of the pot. It kind of affects the stability of the composition.
These is just my critique. If you are 100% pleased with the tree then, as AngelFire said, sit back and enjoy it. I am just trying to provide some constructive advice based on my opinion. This is what I hope to get from people when I post trees, so I try to reciprocate that.
Best of luck,
AK
So you can tell what it looks like on every side from one blurry cell phone pic? As the only one of the two of us that could actually see it from every angle, I stand by my belief that the slant of the branches from the top and side did flow together nicely into a semi-cascade.
With regard to the pot, it absolutely was NOT planted too far to the left. The nebari filled no less that 2/3 of the pot. Again, this I not something you can tell from the admittedly bad picture.
Arguing with you about it is really a moot point because I’ve since sold it. I only bothered to reply because I feel your criticism was anything but constructive. You (and several others) just wanted to tear something down that someone else felt was good enough as it was.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I have 275 bones to prove it.
With regard to the pot, it absolutely was NOT planted too far to the left. The nebari filled no less that 2/3 of the pot. Again, this I not something you can tell from the admittedly bad picture.
Arguing with you about it is really a moot point because I’ve since sold it. I only bothered to reply because I feel your criticism was anything but constructive. You (and several others) just wanted to tear something down that someone else felt was good enough as it was.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I have 275 bones to prove it.
Wow. Sorry you feel that way. I tried to make honest suggestions for improvements, and pointed out the strengths in your tree. That was my attempt at being constructive, but I guess not. Anyway, glad you are happy with the outcome.
Typical wild Canadians stirring up the women.
daytona1911
Mame
Ha! I thought it was pretty constructive. Some people just don't like criticism , regardless of intent.
