Bonsai3.net

Taking a cutting from a Serissa Foetida

The little glimmer of hope that was the seedling growing from the base of my increasingly misnamed Tree of a Thousand Stars has faded away. It now seems that the tree has died back almost completely with the exception of a couple of branches towards the back and top of the tree, which continue to grow.

Since this is the only part of the tree that is showing signs of life I decided to take a cutting from here and try to develop a new tree from it.

I took my cutting on February 13 and dipped it in rooting hormone powder before planting it. This is my first time using rooting hormone but since I have so little serissa left to work with I thought I’d give it every help I could. I also enclosed the pot inside a clear plastic bag to create a greenhouse effect for the cutting.

It is over a week since I took the cutting and the leaves remain in good health, so for now I can continue to be optimistic.

22 02 08 - 10:44 - - Bonsai| one comment - § ¶

Spring!

Perhaps it's because Spring is beginning but over the last couple of weeks or so my three bonsai trees have all begun to produce seedlings. Although my serissa and ligustrum both continue to look either dead or dying they both have little seedlings growing from their base.

Also another of my dragon fruit seeds which I planted at the end of November has begun to sprout. The other dragon fruit seedlings sprouted within a week of planting while this seed, which was planted at the same time, waited for two and a half months.

Something that I am beginning to understand now more clearly is that you can never really tell when a seed will sprout. If the instructions say that it will sprout within two weeks, don't give up if nothing appears after 15 days! It could just as easily be two months before anything happens. (more)

14 02 08 - 19:23 - - Bonsai| three comments - § ¶