Cotoneaster.What to do.

Yesterday I bought another of these plants from a garden center it says on the lable Congestus,I know this looks a bit wild at the moment and I would be greatfull for any advise as to where to go from here,also is it possible to root any cutting I take off.

Can we be cheeky ask what level of bonsai experience you have before answering so we know where to pitch the response?

Hello,

It's a non-deciduous variety of Cotoneaster, the leaves change colour in winter but they stay on the shrub. In its natural habitat, it's a prostrate form with very dense foliage.

I've never tried this species, but I suppose that like most cotoneaster, they backbud profusely so that leaves a lot of options for styling.

Cuttings and air-layerings have a high rate of success on all the cotos I've tried to work with, so when you trim it, don't hesitate to put the cut parts in the soil.

I have only just got interested in Bonsai,so as such I have no experiance at al only what I have read on the internet.

old timer wrote:I have only just got interested in Bonsai,so as such I have no experiance at al only what I have read on the internet.

Hi Darling!
i can see you are in love with cotoneaster George! If I am not mistaken this is No3 cotoneaster you are buying...But I cant blame you...I drugged the same prostrate variety all the way from London home to Zambia.
I have managed to propagate it by cuttings...very easy.
You cab try hard wood or softwood cuttings. Hard wood are easier.
What I do is I get a pot fill it with sand, push maybe 10 cuttings in one pot, add some 3 toller branches , put a clear plastic packet over it after I water it well, tie the plastic around the pot...and leave it in a warm place. I guess the best time will be spring/early summer, unless you have a heated propagator.
I take cuttings here from everything all year round.
Just check it occasionally to make sure there is perspiration on the packet and if not water it...some time from planting to reporting I dont water them...
The moisture inside circulates.
Repot them when enough roots are there and you can cover it for a short while after planting. But even if you stick them in sand when it is warm, they will grow.