Bonsai basics
 

I have a coleus plant that I brought in for the winter and put in a south window -- I've done this before and coleus do really well like that.

Ok, so I cut back the plant considerably and it's now about 8" tall with what has become a woody stem about 1/2" diameter with a LOT of new growth starting to pierce out of that woody stem.

So, I guess, in essence what I created by my cutting back the plant and not letting it flower, is bonsai?

I know the process can be complicated in it's technique but can it also be as easy as what I just described?

I did google "coleus bonsai" and yes, it's a plant that will work.

I wonder what other plants (not bonsai trees) will do this? Other colorful annuals for example. ?

Bonsai basics
 

On 1/18/13 9:46 AM, mkr5000 wrote:
I have a coleus plant that I brought in for the winter and put in a
south window -- I've done this before and coleus do really well like
that.

Ok, so I cut back the plant considerably and it's now about 8" tall
with what has become a woody stem about 1/2" diameter with a LOT of
new growth starting to pierce out of that woody stem.

So, I guess, in essence what I created by my cutting back the plant
and not letting it flower, is bonsai?

I know the process can be complicated in it's technique but can it
also be as easy as what I just described?

I did google "coleus bonsai" and yes, it's a plant that will work.

I wonder what other plants (not bonsai trees) will do this? Other
colorful annuals for example. ?


Most bonsai hobbyists want plants that not only look old but are
actually old. You can't do that with an annual.

Furthermore, they want to create a dwarf from a plant that is not
naturally a dwarf. It seems like cheating if you use a plant that does
not grow large, such a coleus.

However, if you are pleased with what you have, it's okay.

I have thought about making a bonsai from a seedling dwarf myrtle
(Myrtus communis 'Compacta'), which actually grows to over 6 feet in the
ground. If I can get it to mature at less than 1 foot, that might
indeed be a true bonsai. I won't live to see it truly old since I am
already over 70.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary

Bonsai basics
 

so, I wonder what the word is (if there is any, for what I've done?

that is, cheating the plant from flowering and I guess, just basically extending it's age?

I suppose I thought it was a part of the "bonsai thing" just based on it's appearance.

never thought a coleus could get such a woody stem -- treelike in appearence, really.