Mel Styphelioides

[teejay]

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What do you reckon?

I never have issues with this one until I take a photo and then I wish I'd made the first chop lower down.

[Watto]

The size of the photo makes it a little difficult to make an assessment.
That said, from what we can see its OK, but a better photo would be most useful.

[teejay]

Oops, sorry mate. I didn't check it after posting.

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[Ryceman3]

Agree with Watto, this looks good but hard to say from such a small image - would like to see a clearer pic if possible. In regards to your concerns though, I would think that however it looks in real life should take precedence over a photo... if you like it "in the bark" then that is what counts. I'd love to get something of this quality in this species but I struggle to find stock to work from ... Don't spose you know where I can find it???
From what I can see it is looking great! I'd like to hear the back story behind it (if any) & updates of progression would be appreciated!!


EDIT: bigger pic much better, thanks ... it's a beauty - now I definitely want the back story!

[peterb]

Hi teejay , I like it as is . Nice trunk and taper
Cheers
Peterb

[teejay]

Thanks guys, although now that I look at that pic I can see that there's a piece of flaking bark at the base that's causing it to appear more flared down there. I'll try and get a more accurate photo.

Back story is I bought it as a seedling and trained it to where it is today. Natives like this grow so quickly that I don't believe anyone really needs to go searching for promising mature stock, although I admit that I still do.

I didn't field grow it, I kept it in one of those big foam fruit containers and pumped it full of fertiliser. The curve was wired in when it was thinner than a pencil and I maintained two sacrifice branches, the scar of one you can see at the base.

I know that one day I will end up cutting it lower but for now I'll enjoy it as is until I have a replacement to admire while it's being rebuilt.

A better pot would probably do wonders.


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[Ryceman3]

Thanks for the details... can I ask how old it is? Good result from seedling to now.
I see the flaky bark you speak of - I think it looks like the movement in the trunk may even be more accentuated without it. Nice!

[teejay]

Cheers, It would only be about 7 years old. With these everything happens fairly quickly.