Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
I've been conducting a fairly unscientific test over the last 2 years. Since I had a shimpaku that grew mostly in the shade for the last 10 years, and some cuttings that languished in sunshine (probably more through neglect), I began to think they prefer shade.
Collecting in the black hills also illustrated junipers did well as understory trees, as well as fully exposed cliffhangers.
So, a cutting I struck from my shade-dwelling shimpaku got full sun for the last 2 years. Genetically, they're clones. The one on the right is the parent, grown in shade. On the left is a cutting that has been in full sun. The other variables are as limited as possible; both in plastic pots, same soil, and same feeding regimen. The full sun cutting sits on the ground, so even the pot temperatures are close. Both are healthy, but show very different growth. Here are the results.
I'm keeping my shimps in full sun now!
Collecting in the black hills also illustrated junipers did well as understory trees, as well as fully exposed cliffhangers.
So, a cutting I struck from my shade-dwelling shimpaku got full sun for the last 2 years. Genetically, they're clones. The one on the right is the parent, grown in shade. On the left is a cutting that has been in full sun. The other variables are as limited as possible; both in plastic pots, same soil, and same feeding regimen. The full sun cutting sits on the ground, so even the pot temperatures are close. Both are healthy, but show very different growth. Here are the results.
I'm keeping my shimps in full sun now!