Callistemon Viminalis #2 Progression

[kcpoole]

I have been developing this calli for a a few years, and it flowered for the first time this year, so thought that that would be enough of a trigger to prompt a Progression thread.

It was purchased from Riverview nursery in West Ryde when they were selling everything off before closing down. I it is now a many townhouse complex
It was in a large pot and the roots had excaped into the ground

The tree was just a really tall stick so the top was airlayered off and repotted into diatomite in the first year I had it. The 1st layer waas taken off in March 2011

Ken

[kcpoole]

I them put on a new layer and that one was removed in August 2011

Yes layered thru the winter in Sydney!
I have a nice sheltered and sunny garden thru winter and I can do work on most trees year round

[kcpoole]

The remaining lower section developed and grew, but I decided it needed some movement as it was too straight and boring.
At the time there was much discussion here about drilling trees to relieve the stress and thus be able to bend larger trunks so thought why not!

I drilled a couple of holes into the side of the trunk where i wanted to bend, and then tied a chromed steel pipe to the base of the trunk. Put a cork between the trunk and pipe and pulled the tops of both together to get some bending happening.

They were left like that for a good 8 months which seemed to be enough time.

Note to self. uncover the nebari before drilling holes in the trunk so that you can make sure to drill the back of the tree

Ken

[kcpoole]

The tree recovered and was potted into this Mudlark Pottery bowl pot in January, and then it sulked until the next spring.

The lower foliage has developed well and is shown by the flower but the top is still not doing much.
Hopefully this summer it will take off and fill out the crown to a nice shape and give the tree a nice soft outline.

I am happy top see that the flowers are quite small, so when covered with them it shodu look pretty special

Hope you like my Callistimon, and shows what can be done in only 4 years or so with our natives, and over the next few should develop nicely.

Ken

[Elmar]

Love the small flowers! Calls are one of my favorites and I've got several although I'm struggling to keep them going (just lost 5 of 6) - thankfully the biggest is coming back and I've already decided to name it Phoenix! With all that it implies.

Time to put up some of the specimen ...


Cheers
EZ
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[Ben Thomas]

Very interesting. Thanks.