Title image above is copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos

First published 22nd November 2025

Back on 28th August 2025 I received a magnificent silk floss tree cutting (Ceiba speciosa) from my wonderful pen pal Helen, and potted it right there and then into a used 4.1 L Air-Pot seed tray. If I didn’t already have that used one ready to go, I would have used the very similar 4.1 L bonsai training pot instead:


copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos

This species is known for its thorny branches (and showy flowers):


copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos

By 2nd November this cutting had transformed into this:


copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos

And below the surface was as stunning as above the surface, as this root reveal shows!


copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos


copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos


copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos