Integrifolia and Friend

[FigKiller]

I won't bore you with the how and why but I have a large pot originally intended to hold a citrus (possibly a seville orange but unsure). A small self-sown B. Integrifolia appeared just before 2-3 years of total neglect, apart from the occasional watering. I now have a 2m B.I. and a 2m citrus in a 50cm square pot. I'd love to bonsai the B.I. but I've been threatened with death if I kill SWMBO's citrus but she also thinks it should be removed first.
Any one game to suggest the best approach? (I realise I shouldn't touch the banksia until spring.)

[kcpoole]

Post a pic will help, But I woud take the entire mess out of the pot, then tease out the roots of each tree and untangle them.
Then pot each one up individually. Remove as much root as you need on each tree. Up to 1/3 should be easy.

Ken

[shibui]

Both banksia and citrus will repot best when weather is warmer so repotting time is compatible. Wait until late spring then proceed as Ken suggests. I'd expect it will be reasonably easy to separate them. Banksias tend to have masses of fine hair roots that break quite easily but they recover from massive root reduction quite easily in warm weather. Citrus can also recover from root reduction but probably not as drastic as the banksia so I'd probably err on the side of cutting the banksia more than the citrus - new small banksias are relatively easy to come by, good partners are a little harder to find.

[FigKiller]

Thanks for that advice. I now have people to blame if the citrus dies. By the way, I don't think a pic would have been much use. It wouldn't really show the situation.
You probably think I'm nuts tackling this but I have a thing about personally grown (accidentally) baby trees. I recently lost a grape I had sort of 'nurtured' for 30 years. It was born in a tiny compost heap on a small porch. Left it in the care of a rellie. Erra!! "... and I miss him so".

[Jarad]

Thanks for that advice. I now have people to blame if the citrus dies.

[kcpoole]

Thanks for that advice. I now have people to blame if the citrus dies.

If it does we can catch up one day and commiserate over beer or 3

Ken

[FigKiller]

God news! Thanks again for all the advice. SWMBO insisted on separating them herself - a little early I thought. Nevertheless, very good news - only herself to blame. Anyway, both have survived a few weeks and are looking good; even the banksia cutting I just chucked into the pot.