|
[IBC] Podocarpus
Tried to send this when the list was down, posted it on the
Gallery's Discussion and have had no responses. I'll try here. I will have the opportunity to remove two promising large (3 feet) Podocarpus from a Central Florida yard over the Christmas-New Year holidays. I've had poor luck digging large Podocarpus. I've always blamed it on the story that Podocarps don't like people fiddling with their roots ("NEVER cut more than 20% of the roots" is in book after book.) But then there was the article in BT not too long ago showing very large Podocarps with root systems literally chopped away when they were dug. While at the Florida convention last month, I was told that the secret is to cut "almost all" the foliage away, just leaving a spot of green on each branch. I'd like to hear from folks with EXPERIENCE with these trees who'd like to chime in here. These two plants are very nice potential bonsai. I'd like to get them safely out. Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect - Aldo Leopold - A Sand County Almanac ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
[IBC] Podocarpus
Jim, since you've not gotten any joy with this, I thought I'd give it a
shot. As you know, podos are a problem. I have several small ones taken from off-campus as saplings. They are doing ok. I also have a larger one which came from a salvage dig on campus in mid-fall if memory serves (others taken at the same time by me and others in our club did not survive the next summer). After a year's rest, I worked the root base which was typical of podos, a big thick bulging pad. It had been repotted twice but is still in the original barrel bottom growing pot. Since my yard is sunlight challenged, my guess is that for older podos you should treat them as tropicals in that they should be worked when the soil temperature is warm. Also, my older one has been in very course soil, perlite and pine bark. It seems slow to recover after repotting but does take off after a year or so. I'm in my second year with the latest repotting and am getting good growth in spite of the high oak shade which is my yard. In summary, my guess is warm weather repotting, course soil, shade after potting up for a long time and patience in working with them since they don't seem to grow abundant roots. Let me know how yours turn out since we see a lot of podos here and I'll probably be salvaging more. By the way, Tom Brantley in Ocala salvaged quite a number from a campus construction site recently. You might see what he's doing with them and what his success rate is. Jay Beckenbach - Melrose, FL - Zone 8b/9a - -----Original Message----- From: Jim Lewis ] Sent: Friday, June 18, 2004 10:12 PM Subject: Podocarpus Tried to send this when the list was down, posted it on the Gallery's Discussion and have had no responses. I'll try here. I will have the opportunity to remove two promising large (3 feet) Podocarpus from a Central Florida yard over the Christmas-New Year holidays. I've had poor luck digging large Podocarpus. I've always blamed it on the story that Podocarps don't like people fiddling with their roots ("NEVER cut more than 20% of the roots" is in book after book.) But then there was the article in BT not too long ago showing very large Podocarps with root systems literally chopped away when they were dug. While at the Florida convention last month, I was told that the secret is to cut "almost all" the foliage away, just leaving a spot of green on each branch. I'd like to hear from folks with EXPERIENCE with these trees who'd like to chime in here. These two plants are very nice potential bonsai. I'd like to get them safely out. ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
[IBC] Podocarpus
By the way, Tom Brantley in Ocala salvaged quite a number from
a campus construction site recently. You might see what he's doing with them and what his success rate is. Thanks, Jay. I don't have any choice as to when I dig this -- it's the last week in December or never. :-/ I think I'll rig up a large cold frame for it when it gets up to chilly N. Fla. I have one podocarpus (a workshop tree) that's been doing OK in a training pot for 4-5 years now, but it does have a base that looks like an onion. I've been slowly carving away at it and so far so good. Tom Brantley was who told me to chop most of the foliage, so I guess I'll follow his advice. My other podo digs were in summer and were spur-of-the-moment things and I didn't have the right equipment, soil, or pots, so it's probably no surprise that they lingered a while then expired. I'll post pics on the gallery showing the whole thing -- good, bad or disastrous. Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Bonsaiests are like genealogists: We know our roots! ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 07:22 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
GardenBanter