Tropical Malpighia glabra and coccigera

Hey All,

just finished defoliating this shrub, about 29 years old or so, from seed. I have an old shrub of the West Indian Cherry, in the back yard, lots of young ones under the shrub.
I will prune for shape when it is back in leaf.
Has fruit whenever it wishes. Tasty.

Second was a gift, age unknown, but I wanted to show it [ not a Bonsai ] to address a problem I have with the coccigera. Very sensitive to wet soil. My solution, I am trying is a natural sandstone slab, hollowed by me in the middle and it even had natural holes for the drainage. It's porous and wicks away all the extra water.
Let's see if my idea works. If it does, it is back to the beach and combing.

Feel free to comment nay or yay.
Until.
Khaimraj



coccigera

The first tree is very nice, a couple of years more and its going to be an outstanding tree.
the second one is not to good at this stage, I would send it back to the growing pot if it were mine and put your first tree in that rock pot.

regards,
jun

Hi Khaimraj,

just finished typing on another post about my first misadventure with a landscape and saw your post on Malphigia Coccigera. Well my landscape is of a twin clump (multi trunk) of the same species and it just seems to be stuck and does not seem to grow at all. I've had it for over two years and nothing absolutely nothing seems to be happening in terms of grown on these two clumps. I was hoping for some branch ramification but ...... . Hoping that some selective pruning would do the trick this spring and keeping my fingers crossed. If you or any one has trees of this species and has succeeded in making it a good bonsai do share your experience with me on how to get branch ramification. And BTW the trees are full of flowers for most part of the year but no branch growth..

Best of luck with you tree...

Ravi

Khaimraj,

Your glabra is quite nice. Just make sure that the new leaders aut grow the first generation cuts. Good job on the ramification.

Your malpighia cocciguera is just sufferingfrom the wrong soil and nematodes. I recall you used some type of porous brick soil that you gathered from constructions sites. Use that. This type of cherry needs PERFECT drainage. Also and to eliminate the nematode problem, add some crushed lobster, crab or shrimp shell to the mix. It will take care of the problem. Mine are in full sun and do fine.

Kind regards,

Jose Luis

Khaimraj,,this tree is very nice to me!! the age of your trees is outstanding also...a cherry you say,,could you post it when it has fruit?? all of you do good work...thanks for posting take care john

Ravi,

there are at least three varieties of the coccigera, one type has a larger leaf and grows a large trunk really fast. It also does not have the water problem of the others. Perhaps someone on your side has this type and can give you some seed.
I only have a poor image seen below.

Jun, if I could post you these coccigeras I would, you can have them, they are not my cup of tea. Like ficus and bougainvillea, they don't like me and I am happy to look at them in someone else collection.

Jose, thanks for looking. I don't really pay a lot of attention to this shrub, and thought it might be pleasant to share what I am doing with the group. When it has leafed back out I will look at opening the air spaces.

Yes, I read the bit on the shells, but I only have about 5 of these shrubs and not one is taller than 6 or so inches [ 15 cm ]. It is not a favourite of mine, too rubbery and too, too much maintainance.
I prefer the M.punicifolia [ hope I got that correct, flowers seem to be red, but they bleach to pink.] it gives no problems and is more tree like, with scent and flowers.

Hee hee, I figure growing in less than 1/2 inch of soil in a porous sand bonded with calcium/magnesium compounds should make for a well draining and rapidly drying out soil.
When I am at Mayaro, I will get some crab shells and report back to you on how it all went.

John, thanks for looking, will send an image of the tree when in fruit, but they will be images of branches and fruit as it is rare that this tree ever bears anything on the outside. One day you pass and say, hey look flowers, then the fruit starts out green, like the leaves and can only be really noticed as they turn red.

Here's another image for you John - Calliandra s.
Now going for the Bonsai part, all tests have been passed.



Ravi


Small Cherry in my first slab built handmade pot.


Mother of my cherry trees

Jose,

I am adding on a sketch I did of the Cherry, sometime ago. It's the 2nd one down. I left the Cuphea h. idea just for fun.

On my side, the cherry in the back yard grows in heavy clay and only defoliates itself at the end of the dry season, just as the first heavy rains fall. It is a quick process, often as the leaves fall new ones are growing out, and flowering starts.

Since I don't allow my cherry in the bonsai pot [ note how I said it Jun - chuckle ] to dry out , every time I repot the shrub, within a month it will start to self defoliate, and I will take over and finish it.
I will remove only the obviously out of place shoots, back of branch, double twigs in the same direction and so on.
When the tree is in full leaf, I then clip out to regain negative spaces or the clumps of foliage.

However, since this is a small cherry only some 16 inches [ 40.5 cm ] I don't expect the twigging seen on a say a 1m tall tree, nor have I tried for it.
It is meant to be seen in full leaf.

Additionally, I don't fine shape, unless I have an exhibition situation to work on.

I didn't want you to feel I wasn't listening to you.
Until.
Khaimraj

The design.

Hi khaimraj,

My tree is the one you have posted pic of. The leaves are small and have prickly thorns along the leaf surface. Yes it does look as bare as your tree... Any ideas on how to increase the foliage..... Anyone????

Ravi

Ravi,

the first situation to check --- give the tree/s a light tug, if they are loose, then they have root rot. Next step would be Jose's solution of crustacean skeletons.

If however they are firm and healthy, it - may - mean not enough soil or time allowed for the plants to get to the desired size and shapes, before bonsai pot entry.

Unfortunately, I don't really grow the coccigeras, just the glabras and punicifolias. However, you will be pleased to note, that the type [ image I left for you, ] can have trunks of at least 6 inches [ 10 cm ] diameters.
I'll see if any of the off-list bonsai folk I know grow the coccigera successfully and get some tips for you or just get permission to give you their e-mail addresses.
Until.
Khaimraj