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This
tree was grown from a cutting taken in 1980 and planted to grow up
the side of a house. In 1995 it had grown too large and it was decided
to take it out. There was no care taken in digging it out as it
was only afterwards that it was realized that it might make a good
Bonsai. It had hardly any roots but this didn't prove to be a problem,
it budded up straight away and grew strongly all summer. Over the next
five years, as the tree was being trained, any flower that appeared was
cut off so that all the energy went into branch development .
The picture on the left was taken about 6
months after it was collected.
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The
Pyracantha is only allowed to flower every other year, this produces
a good even flower cover as shown in the picture at the top
of the page. Other years the flower buds are cut off as soon
as they are large enough to see. Re-potting is done in the years it is
not allowed to flower and it is potted in pure Acadama. It is fed with
Chempack No 8 at least 4 times a week, at quarter strength, as directed
on the back of the packet . The tree has only been allowed to set fruit
once because afterwards it looked very unhealthy, with yellowing leaves
etc. I think the only answer, if I want to allow it to fruit, is to step
the pot size up to be able to get more food and water in to it.
I have found that if you leaf prune all the large leaves,
when you can see the first signs of new growth in the spring , then
the first flush of leaves are a lot smaller and it gives more room for
the flowers to open .
The picture on the right shows the tree in
full fruit. |
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