AusBonsai

Species Name: Callistemon Subulatus.

Height: 675mm.

Source: Shibui Bonsai Nursery.

Cost $40.

Photos








This was a Birthday present I picked out for myself around 6 months ago that my partner paid for, so I guess the price should maybe be changed to $0? :Reading: We swung by Shibui's nursery just before Christmas last year, grabbing me a couple of tree's

This one had the new growth cut back once to see how the tree responds (my first Callistemon) but it was the new growth only and no branches were removed or altered, as you can see it's already grown back and is where it was before hand. I have confirmed with the mods that it is fine to enter but if anyone has a problem with it speak now (preferably not in 18 months).

I got a little over zealous today and purchased a pot for this one, let's see if I change my mind before then!

Cheers,
Pearcy.

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Hi Pearcy,

Great potential, but looking at the last of your pictures on the new growth it seems you've got a mite infestation - little white spots?!
If it is the case - cut it off, bin it and disinfect your tools with methylate spirit! To finish give your tree a good spray with a systemic pesticide!

Good luck....cheers,
JRJ

Hi JRJ,

Thanks greatly for the future information but on this occasion I think it's just the fresh rain spots sprayed across the foliage. When I get home tonight I'll give it a thorough investigation.

Cheers,
Pearcy.

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Confirmed it to be fresh rain drops only. Had a closer look at the photo too, because the quality dropped when I uploaded it via Tapatalk you can't really tell. Here's a closer cropped edit of the photo you may be able to see it on?



Cheers,
Pearcy.

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Nice base on it Pearcy. Love the new foliage colour too


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orpy wrote:Nice base on it Pearcy. Love the new foliage colour too


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The new colour is fantastic orpy! If only the whole tree could go that colour sometimes haha. The base is nice. Seems to be a fairly radial root spread under that moss too but the roots still need some work, thinking I may do a repot now to try get the roots sorted early in the competition. Days are around 15 degrees at the moment and nights around 6 on average? I'm guessing as it is still growing strong it may be possible, but if the growth spurt stops tomorrow I may be in some strife.

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First update!

Today this one recieved an initial branch selection. I removed 90% of the branches that will not be used, about 1/2 of the overall foliage. This included most of the long straight branches, while others were left to try keep the tree healthy over winter. I have left all remaining shoots untrimmed until spring to try help maintain the tree's vigour, but eventually the shoots will be much shorter.

From the start I have envisaged a waterswept / windswept design for this one, being planted atop a slab or similar. After first seeing Shibui's waterswept callistemon in person I have wanted one of my own (the photos just do not compare to real life Neil ). I will allow the natural growth to reach up to the light so as the branches continue to grow in the direction I desire naturally until the final potting up, then it will be tilted to the right. On the left there is a number of small dead branches, these will be kept (and probably bleached a little) to show the damaging force which has caused the tree to sweep from left to right.





This one will be cut back when repotted (probably just to a slightly bigger training pot) at the beginning of spring to try induce some back budding in places. The final design I have in mind does not require foliage as far down the trunk as you would expect, but it would still be nice if it were to happen. The main spot I'd love some new shoots is on the lower straight portion of the bottom left branch, below the dead wood I spoke of and preferably at the rear. I plan to continue to fertilize this one at least monthly over winter (if you think either less or more, feel free to share your thoughts). It will then receive a feed much more often over the warmer months, either weekly or fortnightly.

It doesn't look like much right now, but should be coming along nicely in the next 12 months, fingers crossed.

Hope you guys like the plan! It's a great feeling when you can picture exactly where you want it to be in the future. Good luck to everyone else that has entered this year's Shohin Competition, I look forward to your updates.

Cheers,
Pearcy.

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Here's a view from the other side.





And some internal structure, front and rear.





Cheers,
Pearcy.

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Bloody possums gave this one a munching last night

Not happy Jan!

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Now that is a bummer!

Hopefully it's not too bad... Could be a blessing though if it pushes growth further back down the branches..... That if it's still got them!

Pearcy001 wrote:Bloody possums gave this one a munching last night

Not happy Jan!

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Nets Pearcy... I've tried it all & this is the only way to guarantee to have your trees the way you left them when you wake up in the morning. Aesthetically it's not great but nets work... Possums

This one has been having a growth spurt for the last week or two, so I decided to cut it all back further in order to try get some more taper into the straight branches, as well as some foliage closer to the trunk. Hopefully it hasn't ran out of energy now that I've cut it back!



Essentially I want a bud to pop about half way up the left branch, in order to both reduce the obvious straight section and fill in some space. I decided not to cut it right back now, as it may not have enough energy to push the bud if I did?

I decided to cut back to the last green instead in order to try get a bud further down safely, then I'll cut back further in the future. Then again I may just cut it back tomorrow and see what happens, who knows haha.

Cheers,
Pearcy.

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Like how this one is shaping up.

This is a nice piece of stock you have here!