Shohin Cotoneaster - My New Obsession

[Flounder61]

Here is a little cotoneaster I bought at a local nursery. It started out about twice as tall, with multiple large, useless branches and a confused trunkline. I cut it WAY back and removed all superfluous branches, roots, and jammed it into this tiny little pot by Bonsai Fusion, not at all expecting the little tree to survive. Much to my surprise it flourished! Branches grew from everywhere, and every one of them had flowers! I wired all the little shoots into the general shape I was going for, and here is the result. Enjoy!View attachment 71371 View attachment 71372 View attachment 71373 View attachment 71376 View attachment 71377

When you did the hard prune on this beauty, did you seal the cuts? I hard pruned a cotoneaster 3 weeks ago, sealed the cuts, and only 1 or 2 buds have shown up. Should I have not sealed the cuts? Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[penumbra]

When you did the hard prune on this beauty, did you seal the cuts? I hard pruned a cotoneaster 3 weeks ago, sealed the cuts, and only 1 or 2 buds have shown up. Should I have not sealed the cuts? Any advice would be appreciated!

Normally I consider sealed cuts to be more a thing for appearance, but I think it is prudent for cotoneaster as they are so susceptible to fire blight.

 

[barrosinc]

I have been trying to put one of these over a rock for years. Probably 4x 5-7 year old trees with deaths every single time. Any tips? @AlainK?

 

[Flounder61]

Thank you, Penumbra.

 

[barrosinc]

Brian! We need an update!

 

[AlainK]

Any tips? @AlainK?

The most common method is to tie the roots around the rock, and add soil to the base of the trunk. Then remove the soil gradually from the top. Here is an example with an Acer buergerianum, started in March 2018 with a seedling that I didn't really know where to go with. Not very good, but it will help you understand the idea of it. I used raffia that rots away in a few months' time, but you can use other kinds of strings, and I put it in a square pot for the roots at the base of the rock to spread :

http://krizic.eu/bonsai/photos/index.php?/category/362

What I did with my cotos is a bit different : I tied the roots around the rock, and added some soil (mainly peat and sand), then wrapped the whole thing with plastic sheet.

June 2008 :

October 2008 :

I think I already posted these photos, i don't have recent ones.

And it's better to use a stone with holes and lines so that the roots can be more firmly clasped to the rock.

 

[AlainK]

PB uploading files

 

[AlainK]

PB uploading files

 

[AlainK]

Any tips? @AlainK?

The most common method is to tie the roots around the rock, and add soil to the base of the trunk. Then remove the soil gradually from the top. Here is an example with an Acer buergerianum, started in March 2018 with a seedling that I didn't really know where to go with. Not very good, but it will help you understand the idea of it. I used raffia that rots away in a few months' time, but you can use other kinds of strings, and I put it in a square pot for the roots at the base of the rock to spread :

http://krizic.eu/bonsai/photos/index.php?/category/362

What I did with my cotos is a bit different : I tied the roots around the rock, and added some soil (mainly peat and sand), then wrapped the whole thing with plastic sheet :

http://krizic.eu/bonsai/photos/index.php?/category/16/start-45

 

[vp999]

Very nice tree Brian! Do you have a sister named Carrie?

 

[luvinthemountains]

Brian Underwood​

Chumono · From Santa Rosa, CA
Joined Mar 15, 2010
Last seen Sep 15, 2019

Seems we may never know? Too bad...pretty little tree.