Kunzea Ambigua

newzealandteatree · Post by **newzealandteatree** » April 3rd, 2011, 1:19 pm

Good-day to everyone.
This is my first posting of my bonsai on this forum besides the one on the test forum. In 2001 I bought the stock from an ordinary nursery for $1 and started training it in Dec 2001. My first time dealing with this native specie. So it was a learning process. Bonsai as a hobby need not be expensive. All u need is dedication and patience. Pls feel free to ask and to comment.

CJ
http://newzealandteatreebonsai.blogspot.com/

newzealandteatree · Post by **newzealandteatree** » April 3rd, 2011, 1:23 pm

It was coming along nicely and in less than 2 years, this is how it looked.

Cheers,

CJ
http://newzealandteatreebonsai.blogspot.com/

newzealandteatree · Post by **newzealandteatree** » April 3rd, 2011, 1:26 pm

As my collections grew and grew, I have less time for each of them. So it did not develop as well as it could. This is how it looked in April 2008.

Cheers,

CJ
http://newzealandteatreebonsai.blogspot.com/

newzealandteatree · Post by **newzealandteatree** » April 3rd, 2011, 1:32 pm

I began to pay more attention to it and it responded in kind. Oct 2010. The development of this bonsai continues. There r certain things I need to do to bring it up to the next level. Pls feel free to ask and to comment. I welcome constructive criticism for this is the way to improve myself.

Cheers,

CJ
http://newzealandteatreebonsai.blogspot.com/

Craig · Post by **Craig** » April 3rd, 2011, 2:09 pm

Great tree, it's progressed really well hasn't it,how tall is this tree?, no criticism from me,

Regards Craig

Kyushu Danji · Post by **Kyushu Danji** » April 3rd, 2011, 4:07 pm

Loving this tree, particularly how you have gone about shaping the foliage in the more recent '2010' photo. Please come back and post another photo when it flowers again!

James

alpineart · Post by **alpineart** » April 3rd, 2011, 5:31 pm

Hi NZtt , i like this tree very much .I have just purchased a stick in a tube Kunzea Bacteri , the label says Australian Beauty so i'm hoping it is a true Aussie native , one day it may resemble yours rock on 2021.I only wanted the lower trunk so an air layer has been set rather than just severe and train .Being young i hope the roots sprout quickly on the layer and i will have 2 to play with .Thanks for posting.Cheers Alpineart

Post by **kcpoole** » April 3rd, 2011, 6:12 pm

Nice CJ congrats on a Lovely tree.

I saw this on IBC the other day and was impressed

Personally i do not particularly like the continuous canopy from the apex all the way down the LHs. I prefer to see some difinitive foliage pads and negative space between them. But still a verry nice tree

Ken

Pup · Post by **Pup** » April 3rd, 2011, 7:35 pm

As always C,J your patience and perseverance with your subject tree shows when they are presented. For those who are interested CJ is the master of the flowering tea tree, his perseverance with this species is an absolute credit to him and his skill is amazing.

Cheers Pup

Tony Bebb · Post by **Tony Bebb** » April 3rd, 2011, 9:10 pm

Hi CJ

Welcome to AB and thankyou for sharing one of your amazing T Trees. They are absolutely a credit to your patience and skill as Pup mentioned. I look forward to seeing more of your trees on AB and in Perth in May. Post freely so everyone can see your beautiful trees.

Best Regards

Tony

newzealandteatree · Post by **newzealandteatree** » April 3rd, 2011, 11:02 pm

Thank you to all of u. I am happy that u like my creation. Sorry that I could not response earlier as I was at our monthly workshop and thereafter has to fix up something at my daughter's house. The tree is 38 cm tall and I am preparing it for our big Exhibition in May. I look forward to see u in Perth. Tony, will be nice to catch up with u again. Good to have met u when u were here years ago.
Let me outline my future development for this tree. I am happy with the overall shape of the tree except that the upper half of the foliage is a little too heavy to my liking. What needs to be done which is not clear from the pix, is to develop a fifth branch. The space is currently covered up by the foliages of a back branch. Then I will have to go into the detailed branch and twig structures and to arrange and remove some foliages to create more negative spaces to bring out the outlines of a more varied and hopefully interesting foliage patterns. This tree has been designed against its' own natural growth habit, to look like a Japanese White Pine. Reason is from a distance the foliages look like that of a white pine and it was my first attempt. However, now I do train some of them according to their natural growth habitat which is to prostrate. Will post in the future.
Now let me just give some general guidelines to those who are keen to work with this specie.
1. They are more hardy than most Australian natives. Will tolerate more drastic root reduction but not bare-rooting. I have tried with some seedlings. Some come back and some don't. So to fit the tree into bonsai pot, safer to cut off the roots with a sharp knife with sufficient space to fillin more soil.
2. Regular prunning to keep in shape but no need for complete defoliating. To thicken up the branch, allow it to grow wild.
3. I feed them with Osmocote for natives, supplemented with a forthnightly feed of liquid fertilizer - 9 litre of water, 1 tbs seasol, 1 tbs MiracleGro.
4. I use ordinary potting mix to Australian standard(60%) mixed with river sand(40%).
However, I must mentioned that u have to adjust to your local weather. I must also add that my approach is NOT the only approach. Neither is it the best. There must be a better way.
Cheer and happy bonsaing.
CJ
http://newzealandteatreebonsai.blogspot.com/

FlyBri · Post by **FlyBri** » April 4th, 2011, 1:33 pm

Gday CJ, and a hearty welcome to AusBonsai.com!

That Kunzea is a ripper - and a slap in the face of those who believe that the only good Bonsai are those collected from the wild!

We have a few K. ambigua growing in the garden, and they are not competing well with the other plants along the fence. The Missus keeps threatening to pull them up, but I think I'd better beat her to it... Do you have any experience of digging more mature specimens? The ones I'd be removing are up to 40mm thick with little or no movement/taper down low.

Thanks in advance, and I look forward to seeing the progress of this tree and any others that you care to share with us!

FlyBri.

newzealandteatree · Post by **newzealandteatree** » April 4th, 2011, 2:24 pm

FlyBri Gday and thanks. Sorry I don't have experience digging up a Kunzea Ambigua. No opportunity. U r lucky to have this chance. From my experience handling this specie, I think if u take the proper care it should not be a problem. My usual way is to dig a wide trench around the tree. Cut off the base, lift it up with as much soil as possible. Pot it up immediately and water thoroughly. A weak solution of seasol helps. Put it into a shaddy and protected spot. In the climate of Perth, the best time to work on the root of this specie is mid to late Autumn. Hope that helps and good luck. Keep us posted. I am eager to learn more.

Cheers,

CJ
http://newzealandteatreebonsai.blogspot.com/

FlyBri · Post by **FlyBri** » April 4th, 2011, 4:28 pm

newzealandteatree wrote:In the climate of Perth, the best time to work on the root of this specie is mid to late Autumn.

Gday CJ!

Summer in Melbourne has been like one long, boring Autumn... After this little tidbit of advice, I feel I should go and get digging now! Alas, I have an almost-busted hand, so collection will have to wait,

Thanks again!

Fly.

Damian Bee · Post by **Damian Bee** » April 4th, 2011, 10:40 pm

great to see a Kunzea ambigua looking so good. I always thought they had potential.

AusBonsai

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