Rosemary semicascade

Hi everyone,

I have bought a very nice rosemary plant and put it into the pot this summer:



Today, I did some pruning as it is growing very long shoots and I also took the opportunity to set some basic shape for the semi cascade I want to get from this one. Nothing too spectacular, just one wire to support the trunk in its way up and then bending down, plus I bent the branch that I want to make for the upper part of the tree.

Before:


After:


One question though, I am quite not sure how to approach the lower part of the tree, what I saw on the pictures of semi cascade trees (mostly coniferous) are quite isolated branches that create the pads of needles and develop the overall shape of the tree while the trunk seems to be very visible. So far, I am trying not to let this rosemary grow too leggy branches but it also results in the fact that the trunk is not very visible especially in the lower part. But then, is that really a problem or am I just searching for problems where none exist

Anyway, I would love to see some suggestions for how to build the lower part as I am pretty new to all of this.

i have nothing to offer in regards to styling it, but rather tips on the health of the plant.

when repotting, do not remove more than 1/3 of the roots.

when pruning, do not remove more than 1/3 of the foliage.

rosemary was surprisingly the first bonsai i killed, after previously growing it successfully in the garden...
but in bonsai culture it needs baby-steps

i now have one that has been in bonsai culture for 2 years and it is doing well.

oh... almost forgot the main thing:
when pruning, take the leaves, toss them in some olive oil, sea salt, cracked pepper and ALOT of garlic...
toss in some    or    or    or   or , marinate over night and then grill.

Vitusus - It will take time to develop branch pads. You will probably need to let the branches grow out a bit and cut back to create some ramification. You should also remove the branchlets along the hanging branch that you don't want to keep to channel the strength into the ones you want. I would also try to make the trunk bend at the top more angular and less rounded since I feel that looks better.

Kevin - Good points about not pruning too much at a time, I will apply to my two that I put in pots this summer when it is time to report (they need pruning). I also applaud the productive use of the trimmings, but am a little unsure about some of items you chose to marinate (and unclear on at least one).

kevin stoeveken wrote:... ...but in bonsai culture it needs baby-steps... ...

Yes, indeed! Very touchy!

Thank you both, I will definitely try the marinade recipe next time I am pruning it back, so far I only dried some of the leaves and use it as herbs for roasting some types of meat.

Yes, I think it will develop over time, thanks for the tim on more angular turn of the trunk, I did not think of that before but it's definitely a good idea and it will look better.

Marty Weiser wrote:I also applaud the productive use of the trimmings, but am a little unsure about some of items you chose to marinate (and unclear on at least one).

thats a monkey !!!

OK, Milwaukee is a bit further off the beaten path than I expected!

actually that was for some of our members from around the world of cuisine !

Well, I have a bad news, it seems that I bent the trunk too much and I've probably broken it just above the ground which made the whole tree die off. I killed the tree, I hope this will not happen too often as it doesn't feel good

yeah, that would probably constitute more than about 1/3 of the foliage coming off at once...

try another one - they should be cheap and easy to find.

Being a shrub, it may come back from the roots, but that will be a long rebuilding effort.

Marty Weiser wrote:Being a shrub, it may come back from the roots, but that will be a long rebuilding effort.

Well, I am still watering it but it does not look like it's coming back. Fortunately I have a spare one I can play with, hopefully I will be more careful this time.