Bonsai Chillies

Perhaps there aren't actually any bonsai chilli (bonchi) plants in Hawthorn, but there will be by the time I've managed to get a full season of growing into some plants and cut them back for the winter months.

Although people may not think of chillies as a species that will bonsai very well, they in fact can be turned into amazing specimens in a relatively short period of time. One downside of bonchis is that chilli plants are not generally not long lived, up to ten years is pushing the limit, but this also provides the creator to pursue new projects and not be stuck with something that will outlive any human.

Bonchis are a great idea in cooler climates where chilli plants will definitely take a turn for the worse during the winter months. So instead of leaving your plant to inevitably die the idea is to cut the plant back severely and transform it into a bonsai. Chillies species are very strong and can survive being hacked back practically  to the ground, think of how you would prune a rose and do the same to a chilli plant. Once the above ground part of the plant has been cut back the same can be done to the roots. Exposing the roots earlier in the season will give them that 'woody' appearance which is highly desirable in bonsai's. Now the plants are ready to be placed into a suitable bonsai pot.

These heavily pruned plants will shoot in spring and can be wired to fit the desired form. Plants will fruit and can be surprisingly productive as a bonsai. Another bonus of wintering chillies as bonsai's is that at any time the plants can be returned to the ground/pot and resume its regular form. Bonchis can also be used as 'mother' plants from which cuttings can be taken to grow new plants, this is a great use of some stems that may not be in your desired design of the bonchi.

Here are a couple of bonchis by the people at Fatalii's Growing Guide. I highly recommend that you visit the website below where you get taken through a step by step guide on how to grow your very on bonchi's.
http://www.fatalii.net/growing/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=95&Itemid=105

Here's a bonchi cultivar created by the people behind fatalii's growing guide, the 'Dutch-Habanero F1' with a great crop of tasty chillies.

This bonchi is the cultivar "Bolivian Rainbow'. This variety is more widely known for its spectacular upright colourful fruit.