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Question: Can i plant a cannabis bonsai?

(Posted by: Tom Bilodeau on 2010-02-22 11:27:18)

I came across a couple seeds the other day and my friend said they looked perfect to grow. i don't want a full sized plant because i don't smoke weed. but i am VERY interested in bonsai and since cannabis grows fast i thought i could practice on it. i have done some research and found that cannabis doesn't flower unless it gets 12 full hours of darkness a day. so basically my question is this... if i keep the plant near a window during the day and under lights at night will it stay in a vegetative growth for a few years or will it end up flowering anyways? also if i keep it in a really tiny pot will it stay really small and grow tiny 5 fingered leaves all over? i heard that if you keep a cannabis plant alive long enough it grows bark and a wood like stem. does this mean that it has potential to be a bonsai? yes i know that cannabis is illegal i just want to grow a tiny plant for looks because the leaves itself are beautiful and the plant gets gorgeous after its full grown even without buds. plus if i could keep the same cannabis plant for my whole life and passed down to my children i would be sooo happy. i will end up getting a normal bonsai tree like a maple or something but for now with all ive got i want to try this. will it work??

Posted by: c_kayak_fun on 2010-02-22, 12:34:29

I seiously doubt it will work because it is not a woody shrub or deciduous or evergreen tree, it is a weed and therefore does not respond as woody trees will to stunting and forced miniaturization. It's growth pattern is too abrupt -- it is programmed to either bolt or die back. It has a watery stem, not a seasonally layered trunk. it does not actually grow "bark " it just builds up dry grassy stem layers, but only if it allowed to grow to huge heights and has unlimited sun, rain and natural warmth. If you just like the appearance of the feathery leaves, why dont' you look into making a bonsai of false aralia or Japanese maple? I'm not sure if the first species can be miniaturized (though I kept a tiny one for several years in a small pot) but I have seen gorgeous bonsai Japanese maples.