Hello from me and my Portulacaria Afra x2

[Snorlax99]

Greetings from Sunny Cape Town!

I rescued these two from someone's garden(They were planned for removal) and I'd appreciate some advice/ fresh eyes on development choices and or ideas.

Number 1 is a rather leggy beast with many long leaders. twin trunk or mother and child perhaps?

 

[Snorlax99]

Number 2 is more of a strange one:

 

[Snorlax99]

Please go ahead. Any and all opinions and criticism welcomed!

and thank you!

 

[Carol 83]

Looks like you're going to have the opportunity to start a lot of cuttings, when you start trimming.

 

[Mycin]

Looks like you have trunk and primary branching set in both plants, so now it’s a matter of cutting the branches back hard so you can develop secondary branching and a nice collection of foliage.

General rule of thumb suggests a 1:6 ratio of trunk width to tree height, so these would probably be best suited for shohin sized tree. 6-8” I’m guessing.

You can only make these cuts once, so make them count! Take a couple weeks or even months before deciding where you’re going to cut. I included an example photo just for discussions sake, I didn’t put much thought into the location of the cuts

 

[Mycin]

One other example of how I’m planning to progress a portulacaria of mine. From nursery pot, to bonsai pot, to what I have decided as a goal for the tree: a nice flat top.

Hope this helps you plan your trees out Nice finds!!

 

[Orion_metalhead]

I see this. If you want to ship this new jersey. Let me know lol.

 

[Snorlax99]

Looks like you're going to have the opportunity to start a lot of cuttings, when you start trimming.

Indeed! I did some tap root removals when I put them into these pots a week ago so I'm going to wait until they're happy and actively putting out new leaves again before I make any major chops.

 

[Snorlax99]

Go

Looks like you have trunk and primary branching set in both plants, so now it’s a matter of cutting the branches back hard so you can develop secondary branching and a nice collection of foliage.

General rule of thumb suggests a 1:6 ratio of trunk width to tree height, so these would probably be best suited for shohin sized tree. 6-8” I’m guessing.

You can only make these cuts once, so make them count! Take a couple weeks or even months before deciding where you’re going to cut. I included an example photo just for discussions sake, I didn’t put much thought into the location of the cut

Good advice, thanks! Yup I definitely see number one getting the most drastic cuts once it is healthy enough to take it.

 

[Snorlax99]

I see this. If you want to ship this new jersey. Let me know lol.

View attachment 357368

Thanks for the idea, much appreciated! That's close to what I had in mind as well.

 

[sorce]

What kinda gangster ass jack-a-lope's do y'all have in S.A.?

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[Snorlax99]

Thanks Sorce!

I actually have 4 rabbits as pets so I'm partway to a Jack-a-lope's.

 

[Mycin]

I see this. If you want to ship this new jersey. Let me know lol.

View attachment 357368

good eye! Yeah this one is closer to finished than I initially thought.

 

[MrWunderful]

They all need to be chopped back to low trunk lines, and start branching over. That mult-trunk one I would remove the smaller trunks for taper.
Have fun!

 

[HorseloverFat]

Holy Crap! .... My climate does NOT allow a P. Afra to EVER get that kind of bark.

Wowzers!!... I honestly... got nothin’ else... NICE!

Reminds of a hilarious rant by
@Wires_Guy_wires

 

[HorseloverFat]

Oh yeah.. Greetings and such, stranger. The Woody Dwarves gave me the back of their secondary branches cross ma’face to remind me to welcome you to the Tiny Forest.

I was just taken back by your bark... and lost my position... you “barked” my compass away!

I’ll shut up now.. my breakfast was “ignited”, pardon the rambling.

Pleasure to make your acquaintance.

 

[HorseloverFat]

Also... have you seen the Gigantamax Snorlax...

Whaaaaaaaaa?

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Holy Crap! .... My climate does NOT allow a P. Afra to EVER get that kind of bark.

Wowzers!!... I honestly... got nothin’ else... NICE!

@Wires_Guy_wires

I know what I said and I'll dare say it again!

 

[Snorlax99]

We get some absolute monster afra's down here.

Examples:

Portulacaria afra “the underdog“

Portulacaria afra, "Porkbush" or “Spekboom“ is a popular succulent plant found on rocky slopes in the Karoo scrub and semi-arid landscapes. In this article, Andre Swart, a keen bonsai enthusiast shares of his 15 years of experience growing this species as bonsai.

www.bonsaitree.co.za

 

[HorseloverFat]

We get some absolute monster afra's down here.

Examples:

Portulacaria afra “the underdog“

Portulacaria afra, "Porkbush" or “Spekboom“ is a popular succulent plant found on rocky slopes in the Karoo scrub and semi-arid landscapes. In this article, Andre Swart, a keen bonsai enthusiast shares of his 15 years of experience growing this species as bonsai.

www.bonsaitree.co.za

That was an AWESOME read!

Thank you!!!