Australian Babobab- Please Help!!

A place to post and chat about Australian native species as Bonsai.
Post Reply
cgorman22
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 3
Joined: July 23rd, 2012, 11:50 pm
Favorite Species: Baobab
Bonsai Age: 1
Location: U.S.A.

Australian Babobab- Please Help!!

Post by cgorman22 »

I have a two year old Australian Baobab grown from seed. It was given to me by a friend. I absolutely love this tree, but unfortunately my cat does as well. A few months ago my cat ate all the leaves off of my baobab! I made sure to keep him away and about three weeks ago it grew a few new leaves. Then a disaster happened.. My cat accidently got into the room with the baobab and ate all of its new leaves! Not only did he eat the leaves, he damaged the top of the trunk. Now it looks like a straight stick with the top chewed off. Is there any way to save this tree? If so, what can I do to help promote growth? Please help me, I love this tree and I am devastated that my cat got to it again :-(
Last edited by cgorman22 on July 24th, 2012, 12:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
Andrew Legg
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1404
Joined: June 24th, 2010, 6:23 pm
Favorite Species: The ones that don't die
Bonsai Age: 15
Bonsai Club: Oyama Bonsai Kai, Ausbonsai
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Been thanked: 2 times

Re: Australian Babobab- Please Help!!

Post by Andrew Legg »

Get rid of the cat maybe? :lost:
cgorman22
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 3
Joined: July 23rd, 2012, 11:50 pm
Favorite Species: Baobab
Bonsai Age: 1
Location: U.S.A.

Re: Australian Babobab- Please Help!!

Post by cgorman22 »

I can't get rid of the cat because I love him too much. But I will be sure to keep him away if I can get this tree to come back to life. :fc:
chrisatrocky
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 416
Joined: May 16th, 2010, 10:14 pm
Favorite Species: all
Bonsai Age: 4
Bonsai Club: CRBSInc., R'ton Bonsai Group, Cap Coast Bonsai Group
Location: glendale, rockhampton

Re: Australian Babobab- Please Help!!

Post by chrisatrocky »

Your Baobab should reshoot without to much of a problem, make sure you have a nice clean scar, so it will heal faster.
I am a giant amongst my trees.
User avatar
TheNumber13
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 99
Joined: November 13th, 2009, 10:33 am
Favorite Species: Natives
Bonsai Age: 1
Bonsai Club: AusBonsai
Location: Hunter Valley, NSW
Contact:

Re: Australian Babobab- Please Help!!

Post by TheNumber13 »

When the leaves grow back, you can try applying chilli powder, diluted perfume (check contents for harmful things first), or even a special 'bitter' spray that pet shops sell.
A mouthful or two should be all the cat takes after that. They will sometimes learn not to ever touch the tree again, so a few applications might be all you need.
(edit: I have only done this with chilli powder. I applied it a few times over a couple of weeks, and never had another problem)
Last edited by TheNumber13 on July 24th, 2012, 11:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
Cheers,
Pat

(Grow little ones, grow.)
cgorman22
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 3
Joined: July 23rd, 2012, 11:50 pm
Favorite Species: Baobab
Bonsai Age: 1
Location: U.S.A.

Re: Australian Babobab- Please Help!!

Post by cgorman22 »

The tree seems to have fully recovered and has more leaves than before. :tu:
User avatar
kcpoole
Perpetual Learner
Perpetual Learner
Posts: 12292
Joined: November 12th, 2008, 4:02 pm
Favorite Species: Maple
Bonsai Age: 15
Bonsai Club: the School Of Bonsai
Location: Western Sydney, NSW, Australia
Has thanked: 19 times
Been thanked: 96 times
Contact:

Re: Australian Babobab- Please Help!!

Post by kcpoole »

cgorman22 wrote:The tree seems to have fully recovered and has more leaves than before. :tu:
Cool, Have you tried chilli powder on the cat :?: :lol:

Ken
Check out our Wiki for awesome bonsai information www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki
What is Bonsai? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Bonsai
What should I do now? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Newbie
How do I grow a Bonsai? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... _a_Bonsai?
Visit a Bonsai nursery to see some real nice trees http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... _Nurseries
Post Reply

Return to “Australian Native Species”