New to Cotoneaster - need advice

[GrimLore]

I picked up a small Cotoneaster dammeri 'Coral Beauty' as I have been trying to learn more flowering plants suitable for Bonsai. I figured I can grow them a year before purchasing larger and use them for demonstrations. What I noticed that made me concerned a bit is that the branches grow like weeds as most shrubs. They seemed to be getting way to long and I don't want them to be so I trimmed them a few inches each... Seven days later I am seeing not back budding but a large amount of back branching all about two to three inches long on each trimmed branch. Is this normal? The main reason I ask is if it is I would think it would be CONSTANT maintenance

Grimmy

ARGH - Wrong thread, sorry

 

[KennedyMarx]

Did you ever figure out how to maintain your cotoneaster? I have one I just cut a lot of stuff off of in preparation for an initial styling and repotting next spring.

 

[GrimLore]

It has been an unusual plant to play with in that it grows like mad and seems to be very durable and resistant to insects as well as fungal problems.
Mine went from an 8 inch ball to a 3 foot wide 2 foot tall bush in this single growing season. I cut it way back preparing it for an informal cascade initial styling in Spring.
I laid one 15 inch branch in a 2 foot long unused flower box and it rooted firmly in about three weeks and has several 6 - 8 inch branches sprouting up from the ground.
The potted one will attempt to root if I leave a branch lay on the ground They really back branch heavily if I cut the end of any branch so if you plan it correctly I am certain it will "train" easily.
The potted original is in a 1 gallon pot in Dry Stall while the cutting is in whatever potting mix was in the flower box. They both grow fine either way. Mine are in full sun for about 3 hours a day and partial/filtered the rest of the day. My water routine has been the same for all the "shrub" types. I let them dry up to 3 days before watering and use minimal fertilizer rather then my typical overdose.
I am going to try Wintering them simply on the floor of the shed to shelter them from wind and snow damage but honest that might be overkill.
So far that is all I have discovered and I hope to see some blooms this Spring

Grimmy

 

[fourteener]

I tried one in my early days and I've seen a lot of really nice one for sale at our society's auction. Here is a little guy I picked up a couple of years ago. It's a dwarf weeping variety. I killed a couple in my cold frame, but I wanted one so bad I kept buying them.

Last year I kept this one in my heated cold frame and it did a lot better. I had two but the other one sat in some water too long and didn't recover. They are aggressive growers and like to grow in the wrong spots. The flowering is pretty average, but the berries in the fall make them look like little apple trees and that's when they shine in my opinion.

The ones that have sold at our club have been pretty nice cascades, I've just never bought one.

One piece of advice is to make sure you keep them out of the winter wet wherever you store them. They are like a chinese elm in that you have to stay on top of them or they will get overgrown quick. But better than an elm in that they fruit and look great.