Dwarf Barbados Cherry

JoeR

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So at the Winter Bonsai Silhouette show I bought a dwarf barbados cherry prebonsai from a vendor for what I think is a good price. I have been thinking about purchasing one from wigerts for some time.

Anyway, I bought it saturday and I noticed today that the leaves drop very easily when touched. I am wondering if I can expect it to defoliate itself due to the change in growing conditions? And if so should it bounce back fairly quickly? I mist it and my other tropicals about four times a day.

There seems to be a lack of information on them, which I find odd. The leaves are tiny, the bark is rough/corky, they form good nebaris from what I can tell, and the fruit and flowers are awesome! You would think they would be more popular.

Is there anything in specific I should know about these guys?

The bark really needs cleaned but it is fragile so I am not sure how I would go about that?


Any care, info, etc appreciated. Thanks,

Joe


Another monday over with!
 
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Mike MoMo

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I got a Barbados Cherry it did the same thing. The seem to respond such to shock. Yet after a week of watering and care it's getting leafbuds . So we will see
 

Anthony

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Okay JoeR,

from the Philippines and that side of the world.
These shrubs, are prone to nematodes at the root, so they advise a sprinkle or incorporate into the soil mix, finely crushed crab shells.
Whatever feeds on the decaying shells, will feed on the nematodes.

By the way, the Dwarf Cherry, also weeps and can get as dense as a, for example , a boxwood, when happy.
You can work towards a 3"+ trunk, seen in images from the sub-tropical / tropical east.
Good Day
Anthony
 

JoeR

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Okay JoeR,

from the Philippines and that side of the world.
These shrubs, are prone to nematodes at the root, so they advise a sprinkle or incorporate into the soil mix, finely crushed crab shells.
Whatever feeds on the decaying shells, will feed on the nematodes.

By the way, the Dwarf Cherry, also weeps and can get as dense as a, for example , a boxwood, when happy.
You can work towards a 3"+ trunk, seen in images from the sub-tropical / tropical east.
Good Day
Anthony
Thats really good to know. So at repotting time I will incorporate some.


To get a large 3" trunk like you suggest, should I put it in a colander? It is a tropical here so the ground isnt really an option at the time.

The trunk is a little less than an inch currently and the root spread is about three inches.
 

Anthony

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Try this -
Air-pot

There is a guy on Amazon who has them reasonably priced.
Go with very long branch extensions.
Good Day
Anthony

*Take cuttings, experiment on them, not the mother plant.
Will also grow from root cuttings.
 

Mike MoMo

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Try this -
Air-pot

There is a guy on Amazon who has them reasonably priced.
Go with very long branch extensions.
Good Day
Anthony

*Take cuttings, experiment on them, not the mother plant.
Will also grow from root cuttings.
This is a great suggestion i will definitely invest in a few of these this new year. Thanks
 

JoeR

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Try this -
Air-pot

There is a guy on Amazon who has them reasonably priced.
Go with very long branch extensions.
Good Day
Anthony

*Take cuttings, experiment on them, not the mother plant.
Will also grow from root cuttings.
Any suggestions on how to root cuttings?
 

Anthony

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Tropics - so we just stick them in a basic soil mix [ lazy man's way, commercial peat moss / perlite mix ] in a 4" container, and leave about 1/2 " above the soil
level, water and wait about 3 weeks.

Late spring might be best for you.
Good Day
Anthony

* If you can get a second expendable plant to use for experiments, and cuttings.
 

JoeR

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Tropics - so we just stick them in a basic soil mix [ lazy man's way, commercial peat moss / perlite mix ] in a 4" container, and leave about 1/2 " above the soil
level, water and wait about 3 weeks.

Late spring might be best for you.
Good Day
Anthony

* If you can get a second expendable plant to use for experiments, and cuttings.
Thanks for the info. Do you have any yourself that you can post pictures of please?

I would like to see them as there are not very many, at least as far as I know.
 

Mike MoMo

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I have rooted cuttings in Styrofoam cup of bonsai soil. Dip the cuttings in honey and cinnamon. Then watered them and placed it in a plastic bag for a 6 weeks. Next time i will try a plastic gallon jug as a mini hothouse. Willow water works great as a rooting hormone
 

Mike MoMo

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I replanted a ficus Pandora that i have been growing for a future root over rock bonsai in a basket from the dollar store. In three days i can see a difference already. I am sure that once i get my grow lights the same will happen to my ficus too little and my olive tree. The olive will receive a good hard pruning as well. My Barbados Cherry has sprouted leaves actually more than it had originally. Thanks for the advice. I am secure in being Crazy
 

JoeR

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Noticed a very pleasant sight the other day- its throwing long shoots out everywhere so I guess its happy.



Thinking I may repot it in a month or so.
 

JoeR

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Just realized I havent posted any full photos of it....

1224151329b-1.jpg 1224151329-1.jpg 1224151328-1.jpg 1224151329c-1.jpg 1224151330-1-1.jpg


Is there anyway to get it to backbud? All the foliage is too far on the branch and I would like it to be cut back.
 

Anthony

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JoeR,

in late spring, fertilise for a month and then cut .
As usual, please have an expendable to - TEST - this on.
It is a very attractive shrub.
Buone Natale
Anthony
 

JoeR

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JoeR,

in late spring, fertilise for a month and then cut .
As usual, please have an expendable to - TEST - this on.
It is a very attractive shrub.
Buone Natale
Anthony
Thanks- any Idea what I should fertilize it with?

I will take cuttings in the spring hopefully.
 
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