Hi DeanW45; thanks for the input, I have Cryptomeria j. "Tenzan" too -- one of my favorites of the Crypotmeria. I actually have 7 "Tenzan" on a rockery along the driveway which I planted over 15 years ago; beautiful, lush, thriving for all these years. I liked "Little Leo" so much; that I grabbed three of them; put two in the ground with all appropriate planting materials, but not in rockery or raised mound. Lost the two in the ground within 8 months of acquisition; the one in the pot was lush and thriving, so took it out of the pot and put it in the ground this past September. Notice that 1/3 of the plant is starting to do what the other two had done.

Pruned off the dying limb and have potted it back up. Will try to get a couple of more "Little Leo" and put one in a rockery and try your mound technique.

I also have Cryptomeria j. "Pygmy", and "Tansu"; all doing great in the ground (not even in a rockery bed or mound planting). Love these miniature Cryptomeria for fall, winter, and spring morphing show of color.

Everyone I know (about a couple dozen advent gardeners) have put their "Rimpelaar" in the ground; lost them in the first year, that is why mine is still in it's pot that I potted into. I think I'll keep mine in the pot too.

"Ryokogu Coyokyu" is a hard one to find miniature Cryptomeria j.; found it in one of the higher end nurseries here in PNW, in Puyallup, WA. Picked up three; again two in the ground, lost in 11 months -- the one in the pot is gorgeous, lush, and thriving.

Cheers,

Correction on one of the cryptomeria j. "pygmaea" not "pygmy". Cheers,

I have a Cunninghamia k. 'Little Leo' in the ground for a year after being in a pot for two. So far, so good. I watered it real good this past dry summer.

The 'weeds' are my Grandmother's volunteer Iberis. One of my sentimental plants.

WOW Mike; thank you for the recommendation of your experience, yours is gorgeous. After having to limb and repot; mine is now only 2/3 the size it use to be, love the pic of yours to look forward too --- mine getting that big and lush,. Cheers,

I also have some C. j. 'Jin Dai'. Here's a grove of them I've pruned to make them appear much larger. They need some more pruning already.

Mike

Mike; this is one of my favorite feature of your garden, planting of these --- that your created a miniature grove. How old are these? Cheers,

At first I listed them as Tansu, and this morning I realized it was a mistake. They're Jin Dai. I just now corrected the mistake. I don't know what I was thinking. Old age, I guess. ;-) They're about 35 years old. I planted them in the early 80s. I wish now I had given them more room. Back then it was hard to plan 35 years ahead. Still is, for that matter.

Cryptomeria j. 'Tansu' on the left and C.j. 'Pygmaea' on the right.

Well Mike; it was a good mistake, now I have a picture of what I have to look forward too in the future for my "Tansu", "Pygmaea", and "Jin dai". I only have one "Jin dai"; so it really makes me appreciate your "miniature grove". Thank you for sharing. Cheers,