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False Indigo Progression
In fact, the thought didn't even cross my mind until I noticed the out of this world nebari and interesting lower
trunk.This species is primarily a mass of runners that can spread to six feet in diameter and die back in the winter.
A hardy perennial, they are considered more of a creeping ground cover than as a shrub. While I took no images of
the nebari and lower trunk initially (I knew I would be able to get better images once I cleaned it up), I did take a
quick snap shot of the plant in its nursery container before I laid a hand, or tool, on it.
My initial assumption when I plopped it on the table to start the first styling was that this tree would simply *have*
to be a cascade. All of the runners seemed to lend itself toward that and little else. But as the trimming started and
I got a better look at the lower trunk, I realized just how unnecessary all of the hanging branches were to what, to
me, would become the focal point of the tree. Rather than a larger size cascade, this would become something far
smaller and focus on the roots, rather than the flowers and the foliage that initially attracted me to the plant.
Armed with the knowledge that this would back bud like crazy, possibly even onto the woody trunk, I pruned
heavily, leaving very little of the original left.
My apologies for the quality of the next image. My digital camera is so old the company no longer supports it, and
sometimes the image that I need (or think I need) simply doesn't come out. I'm still working on learning how to
make up for what the camera itself lacks, and hopefully will come through in the subsequent photos.
trunk.This species is primarily a mass of runners that can spread to six feet in diameter and die back in the winter.
A hardy perennial, they are considered more of a creeping ground cover than as a shrub. While I took no images of
the nebari and lower trunk initially (I knew I would be able to get better images once I cleaned it up), I did take a
quick snap shot of the plant in its nursery container before I laid a hand, or tool, on it.
My initial assumption when I plopped it on the table to start the first styling was that this tree would simply *have*
to be a cascade. All of the runners seemed to lend itself toward that and little else. But as the trimming started and
I got a better look at the lower trunk, I realized just how unnecessary all of the hanging branches were to what, to
me, would become the focal point of the tree. Rather than a larger size cascade, this would become something far
smaller and focus on the roots, rather than the flowers and the foliage that initially attracted me to the plant.
Armed with the knowledge that this would back bud like crazy, possibly even onto the woody trunk, I pruned
heavily, leaving very little of the original left.
My apologies for the quality of the next image. My digital camera is so old the company no longer supports it, and
sometimes the image that I need (or think I need) simply doesn't come out. I'm still working on learning how to
make up for what the camera itself lacks, and hopefully will come through in the subsequent photos.
I purchased this plant, an Indigofera pseudotinctoria, better known as a
False Indigo, this past spring at a local nursery. The species information I
came across on the web after my purchase, as the nursery staff couldn't
figure out what this unlabeled pot was either. I took a risk with it, but as
the only one of it's kind at the nursery and a price was was willing to pay
for an experiemtnt, it was worth it. I wasn't originally looking at the plant
as potential bonsai stock.
False Indigo, this past spring at a local nursery. The species information I
came across on the web after my purchase, as the nursery staff couldn't
figure out what this unlabeled pot was either. I took a risk with it, but as
the only one of it's kind at the nursery and a price was was willing to pay
for an experiemtnt, it was worth it. I wasn't originally looking at the plant
as potential bonsai stock.
I let it grow out after that and had planned to leave it alone for the rest of
the season... until I saw just how prolific a grower this plant actually was.
Within two weeks it was back out to almost half the size it had originally
been. After that I started regular pruning to encourage ramification,
pinching off new growth after it had reached three to four new sets of
leaves at first, though now I'm at the point for this season where new
growth gets one to two leave sets before I'm snipping them.
the season... until I saw just how prolific a grower this plant actually was.
Within two weeks it was back out to almost half the size it had originally
been. After that I started regular pruning to encourage ramification,
pinching off new growth after it had reached three to four new sets of
leaves at first, though now I'm at the point for this season where new
growth gets one to two leave sets before I'm snipping them.
I didn't want to pinch too agressively over the first season, as I was still unsure of the growth habits.... obviously
not a problem here.
Root pruning was less aggressive than the top pruning had been. Being a tropical, I was less concerned about
repotting a little late in the season. We'd had a very mild summer with a week and a half forcast of overcast and
rain, so I took the opportunity, hoping to slow down some of the top growth with a reduction in the roots. Though
the plant was potted into a gallon nursery pot, the roots took up barely half of that. Due to the dense, peaty soil, the
bottom third of what there was had already started to rot. It turned out to be good timing, as I had considered
leaving it in the nursery container until the following year. The plant likes it's feet wet, but that was just silly... It
took some work to get the clay out of the upper parts of the root system that I wanted to be exposed, but well
worth the effort. The "bark" on the tree and roots is very delicate, and with the discovery of a slime mold growing
on some of the areas I wanted exposed as well, a soft bristled tooth brush was used to remove it.
I am unhappy with the pot choice, though at this point I have had mixed reviews on it. Regardless of the few people
who actually like the heavier pot, it will not be staying. At the moment I am still keeping my eye out for something
better suited for a repot in spring and a further reduction of the root system.
not a problem here.
Root pruning was less aggressive than the top pruning had been. Being a tropical, I was less concerned about
repotting a little late in the season. We'd had a very mild summer with a week and a half forcast of overcast and
rain, so I took the opportunity, hoping to slow down some of the top growth with a reduction in the roots. Though
the plant was potted into a gallon nursery pot, the roots took up barely half of that. Due to the dense, peaty soil, the
bottom third of what there was had already started to rot. It turned out to be good timing, as I had considered
leaving it in the nursery container until the following year. The plant likes it's feet wet, but that was just silly... It
took some work to get the clay out of the upper parts of the root system that I wanted to be exposed, but well
worth the effort. The "bark" on the tree and roots is very delicate, and with the discovery of a slime mold growing
on some of the areas I wanted exposed as well, a soft bristled tooth brush was used to remove it.
I am unhappy with the pot choice, though at this point I have had mixed reviews on it. Regardless of the few people
who actually like the heavier pot, it will not be staying. At the moment I am still keeping my eye out for something
better suited for a repot in spring and a further reduction of the root system.
The first image is the front view that I have chosen, though the second image's "back" view is also, I think,
acceptable. I prefer the first image as a front, but again, have had mixed opinions on that. The final height of the
tree is five inches (12.7 centimeters) from the soil to the tip of the tallest flower..... four and a half inches (11.4
centimeters) to the top of the foliage.
The growth has indeed slowed down since the repot, and I'm not out there almost every day pinching back,
though it's still happy and continuously flowering.
acceptable. I prefer the first image as a front, but again, have had mixed opinions on that. The final height of the
tree is five inches (12.7 centimeters) from the soil to the tip of the tallest flower..... four and a half inches (11.4
centimeters) to the top of the foliage.
The growth has indeed slowed down since the repot, and I'm not out there almost every day pinching back,
though it's still happy and continuously flowering.
