'Kohuhu' Waking-Up

 (excerpted from Photo/History page for Pittosporum tenuifolium - 'Beach Ball Kohuhu')

'Kohuhu' responded to the minor pruning yesterday, as if he had been waiting for someone to pay attention to him. I counted 22 fresh, new, bright-green buds, even though I only pruned 1/2 dozen. (pic below

I also took advantage of the opportunity to put him into a training pot. Although I would rate the root pruning as minimal, it required me to remove almost all of the potting mix, which is something I try not to do on the 1st re-pot. All seems to be going well though I did remove the tap root, while I had the chance..beyond that, minor root prune (just to even out growth).

I have no "master plan" for this little tree, but he has already shown that he is viable & willing, given the barest necessities. For now, I will just continue to provide his needs & see how he looks in a month or two.

Update: Manzanita (Arctostaphylos Densiflora)

The time has come for Baby Manzanita to leave the security of his nursery 'can' & start his progression to adulthood. Potted him in a training tray, which he will probably outgrow before fall. 

Root pruning was minimal, as is minor foliage pruning, even at this early age to keep him "within bounds"..these trees have a tendency to grow "helter-skelter" in all directions if not controlled.

You can access the full history of the Howard McMinn Manzanita here, or use the Tree Inventory Menu.

Intro: Japanese Boxwood

'Green Beauty' cultivar is a selected variety of Buxus microphylla var. japonica, which is native to the islands of Japan. While its wild ancestors thrived in the mountainous regions of East Asia, this specific cultivar was developed for its superior ability to maintain a deep, emerald-green hue even in the face of summer heat and winter chills—conditions that often cause other boxwoods to turn a brassy orange

Acquired: April 2026; Home & Garden Center: Cost: $6.00 (1/2 Off Sale)

Boxwood is often referred to as "Man’s Oldest Garden Ornamental." It was so popular in ancient Rome that Pliny the Younger famously wrote about his Tuscan villa, describing his boxwood hedges clipped into the shapes of letters spelling out his own name—the first century version of a personalized lawn sign!

Update: Italian Stone Pine

Yesterday, I re-potted "the Stoner" into what may become his 'forever home' after spending 4 months on the patio in a training pot. If you're interested, you can see/read the history of this plant on his photo/history page, but here are before & after photos:

May 2026

Jan 2026

                             

I've done very little to this tree "topside" or above-ground, but had to remove the tap root & prune the feeder roots to make a good fit. It's hard to see from the photo, but he is showing new growth at the tips of the upper branches, which will become candles. That means it's a good bet that this tree will survive & grow.

Just for the Fun of It - Wk 2

The tomatoes have grown appreciably, visibly, although I'm not sure that's it's easily seen in the photo. They don't get much morning sun, but get about 4 hours of afternoon sun. I will leave them located where they are for now, but the summer afternoon sun may be too much for them.

The plastic pots are on the left side, terra-cotta, on the right..growth looks to me about equal..the plants in terra-cotta seem like they are slightly ahead of the plants in plastic containers.

The Hatch Chili Peppers did not grow as much as the tomato's, but the individual plants that I transplanted to 4" pots did show a growth spurt. This photo also shows an older pepper that was propagated a couple of weeks before the others..

These guys get mostly morning sun (2-4 hrs) & some afternoon sun & but they're not growing as fast as the tomato's, in spite of getting more sunlight.

In the case of both, all I want is 1 plant, of each..I propagated expecting a 50% attrition rate, but they fooled me & all of them lived. If they all grow-on, I will give away the extra plants.