Schefflera actinophylla Queensland Umbrella tree

[Bretts]

Still need some branch refinement but this one is coming along nicely I thought I would share a picture.

umbrella.jpg

[Steven]

It's come a long way in a short time since you entered it into the first Aussie Native Bonsai pic's for the AusBonsai header competition. I much prefer the Mirkwood pot and the trunk is aging nicely.

Thanks for sharing mate!
Steven

[Bretts]

I think it looks much the same
That was much later in the season last year though. I have an opportune bud on the right branch that I will be cutting back too when I guess the time is right. I expected it to come forth this season but it is still sitting there dormant.

There is a branch at the back that needs to come down as well.

umbrella1.jpg

This should be about it for the basic structure and then I can concentrate on the refinement.
The pot is an improvement but I still don't think it is the right one. I had nothing else decent to go in my first PK pot though.
There was a great article on the Internet some where from a potter about the design of a pot to a tree. Their where many factors to take into consideration.
One I remember was the outside curve of a pot.
The old pot had an outward flare witch suits a light tree. (although many other things about that pot where heavy set such as the rim)

A heavy looking tree like this one should have a pot that curves out at the middle or even lower to give the impression of weight in the tree.
So I think the shape is much better for this tree but I think the colour/ texture is a little out still.

[jarryd]

wat are the dimensions on this one brett

[Jamie]

awesome trunk brett i nearly got one of these a while back with a fat trunk like this, unfortunately it hasnt been til recently that i have seen the potential in them and it ended up sold!

look forward to seeing it filled out

jamie

[Bretts]

It's 130mm across where the two main roots enter the soil and 70mm diameter of the trunk just above the roots. Height is 280mm from soil to the top leaf.
The actual trunk is fatter from the two sides at the moment. I figure the front holds it's own at around 3:1 and it just gets more interesting as you look around the base.
I will take some other angles when I get a chance.

This one came from the mother in law's garden almost 4 years ago Jamie. It took me two years to reduce the root ball to get it into a bonsai pot.
Here it is in the first year after collection.

um.jpg

[Bretts]

Opps right thread this time

This guy was over due for a trim so I decided to defoliate.

qq.jpg

qqq.jpg

qqqq.jpg

qqqqq.jpg

qqqqqq.jpg

Then Repot

sssss.jpg

aaaaa.jpg

aaaaaa.jpg

Much better after the right branch was also reduced.

aaaaaaa.jpg

[Bretts]

Didn't get as much out of this one as I would have liked last season but here it is today.

umbrella.jpg

[Andrew F]

Love this tree Bretts. Update if possible??? how do you feed your umbrella????

[bodhidharma]

I missed this one Bretts. I was in Canada. A lovely little tree indeed and the pot suits a treat. A P.K? if it is i gotta get me one.

[Bretts]

I decided to try a different track with it this season and I didn't defoliate. I planned to just clip the larger leaves. Worked OK but I found I was somewhat bored with the tree this season

I noticed one of these at Peter Song's "Garage Sale" nursery few years ago that I believe was defoliated going into Winter. I thought that was a pretty good idea to defoliate over Winter as they take some time to leaf back out, timed right it could save the tree from frost burn and be rearing to go as it warms up with fresh small leaves.

I believe they should be fed much like a fig. LOTS of fert and they don't mind drying out a little.Although I feed almost on a weekly basis with 1 1/2 times recomended dose liqued fert, I believe I don't feed mine enough.

Plan to do a little work with the trees tomorrow so will get a pic

Oh yes Bodi it is a nice PK pot, I believe it is in another pot at the moment but can't remember for the life of me which one. Bloody CRAFT disease

[chrisatrocky]

Very nice little tree, Bretts. However, I believe it is a Schefflera arboricola, Dwalf umbrella not a Qld umbrella.

chris.

[chrisatrocky]

here are 5 different scheffleras
1. Schefflera actinophylla,2. Schefflera arboricola, 3.Schefflera veitchii,4. Schefflera heptaphylla, 5. Schefflera elegantissima

Schefflera1.jpg

chris

[Bretts]

You could be right Chris, I do believe I was mistaken in Queensland Umbrella tree. Can't remember what I last settled on, thought I had said in the thread but can't see it. It was even enterd in the native comp the first year it ran
If you look at the pic in the bucket and believe it to be Schefflera arboricola then I am happy to go with you at the moment.
Thanks