A Few More Succulent Bonsai (in training - always!)

16 years ago

Hi -

Had the camera out today, so snapped a few shots of some succulents trying to be bonsai. All works in progress...not sure when they'll be "finished" ;-).

"Reclining" Fockea Edulis (sloppy wiring, no extra charge!):

'Mame' Euphorbia Francoisii

'Multi-trunk' Style (is there any other kind?) Dorstenia Foetida

'Informal upright' (or gnarly) Style Bursera Fagaroides (these guys are tough to train - they just put out branches wherever they feel like!):

Hope you enjoyed.

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Comments (12)

greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
16 years ago
I enjoyed alright!
You have some excellent pots, too!

Josh
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ima_digger
16 years ago
Very interesting collection. I'm intrigued. I like the unusual, so I guess I'll have to go shopping. In your opinion, were is the best place to find this odd plants?
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TT, zone 5b MA
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks, Josh.

Ima - These four have come from four different sources.

- I got the Bursera from Tropiflora (he had a bunch of older ones a few years ago).

- The Fockea from a local nursery here in Massachusetts - was very surprised to see it there, too. It did not look much like it does now. Back then, it was mostly buried and had a bunch of vines wound through a trellis.

- The Euphorbia and the Dorstenia from two different sellers on eBay.

Most of my other succulents (Madagascar and S. African) I have sourced from Out of Africa, Great Petaluma Desert, and Rare Succulents - all on the web. I usually get a species in mind, then I start hunting!

Tom
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caudex1
16 years ago
Those are great Tom! How long have you been training them?
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reiver
16 years ago
Beautiful!
I was talking to the president of the local bonsai society recently and she wants me to join her group. She is currently the only member who uses succulents for bonsai. I will join after I retire in the near future. Your pictures like Keith's are very inspirational.
Mike
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TT, zone 5b MA
Original Author
16 years ago
Oh, I think I am coming into my third season with the Bursera and the Fockea, and about my second with the Dorstenia and the Euphorbia (I don't really consider those two in 'training'. Just kinda stuck them in smaller pots...).

Tom
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puglvr1
16 years ago
Those are very NICE!! Thanks for sharing. It gives me some hope. I love the bosai look and style, and I am very, very slowly learning. Actually I just have some succulents in bonsai style pots, no wiring or training. That's about the extent of my bonsai knowledge...Oh well, doesn't mean I don't enjoy looking at everyone's pictures.
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TT, zone 5b MA
Original Author
16 years ago
Actually, I checked back and I have only had the Bursera for 2 years. This is what it looked like when I got it:

{{gwi:472218}}

I have found it tricky to find a specimen that is really conducive to the more traditional bonsai approaches. They have a mind of their own, and you have to 'go with them' to some degree. Fun, nonetheless...
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greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
16 years ago
All of your plants are very interesting, Tom. And that bursera looks like a Tim Burton, nightmare-before-christmas sort of skeleton tree. Fantastic!

Josh
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TT, zone 5b MA
Original Author
16 years ago
"And that bursera looks like a Tim Burton, nightmare-before-christmas sort of skeleton tree." Darn - if I had known I had already achieved THAT look, I would not have changed a thing! ;-)
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rjj1
16 years ago
Tom,

I've always loved succulents in small containers. I really like the proportion of plant to pot you have and the quality of pots you've chosen.

randy
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kpev7hard
16 years ago
I love it! Very unique shapes. I have only ever had the patience to bonsai a Ficus tree - twisting two small saplings around each other. yours have definitely given me ideas! keep up the good work!
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A Few More Succulent Bonsai (in training - always!)

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greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a

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A Few More Succulent Bonsai (in training - always!)

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