Grevillea firecracker

[matt_95]

I bought this hybrid grevillea at Bunnings (why do people call it buzzings here?) I think it's a wonderful little plant. I would love to know what it's a hybrid off but it doesn't really matter I 'spose. It has compact growth and only grows to 40cm so I'm going to grow it as a shohin as it has a rather short trunk. I'm wanting to go with the broom style, I saw a picture of a similar looking grevillea online in this form. I think it wouldloom great in flower, like it's on fire it was around 40cm in hight and I have tacken it down to around 20. I'm going to plant it out in a bigger pot this week and continue to develop it. I'm open to other ideas on how I could style it if you have any. It's very lopsided so if I do go witha broom I'll have that as my back or wire branches from the front half to fill it in, it won't be seen as it isn't decidous. I'll post the images seperatly later, I can't seem to do it on my iPod. I took some cuttings as it seems a shame to waste all of that growth, I want a few growing in my garden.

http://s869.photobucket.com/albums/ab25 ... 11/Bonsai/

[matt_95]

I think this plant is a cross between G. alpina and G. rosmarinifolia.

[Bougy Fan]

Hi Matt
Some people don't like giving what amounts to free advertising - hence buzzings, big green shed etc. Also instead of mentioning the brand Dynamic Lifter it is DL or pelletized chicken manure (which is what it is). You will get used to it. I would just grow it on a bit before worrying about styling. Grevillea don't seem to be that popular for bonsai - perhaps due to the size of the foliage on some varities. Also remember that even if you can reduce the foliage the flowers will not reduce so they can look oversize to the tree. Having said that I am playing around with a few silky oak depite advice that they do not bonsai well

Just put it in a big pot and don't forget to fertilise for growth. Make sure any fert you use is low in Phosphate ( the P in NPK) as natives can die from too much.


Tony

[matt_95]

Ahh thanks for that, I thought it was not aloud to be mentioned. I'll try keep that in mind.

This one actually has very small foliage, it looks very similar to a rosmary bush and the flowers arn't that big either.

I'm going to go to the fruit shop and get a foam box for it and make some cuts on the base abd put rooting hormone on it because it only has nebari on one side. I've been watering it with seasol as I damaged a few roots exposing the trunk. What do we call seasol here? Seaweed emulsion?

What do I pot it in? Just normal soil? My soil is very sandy, grevilleas like sandy soil right?

[Handy Mick]

Matt,

I have a small Grevillea with small follage and flowers, it back buds well but not on bare wood
mine is in good potting mix and washed sand, about 50x50. loves it!

Mick

[Bougy Fan]

You can call anything by any name you like as long as it's not rude

I use 50/50 good potting mix and diatomite and my silky oak is doing well. Grevilleas seem to be like banksias and like a free draining mix. Not sure that cutting and putting hormone on will encourage roots. I would make sure the base is covered and wait - roots will grow in time along with the trunk. Remember you want to leave it in a grow box until the trunk is the finished diameter so the roots have plenty of time to develop. Remember too that roots grow and thicken faster when they are covered in soil.

Tony

[matt_95]

T only has roots on one side though. And branches on one side to, I didn't notice that when I bought it. The root system and branches are all on one side. I might try it, it's better than nothing and if it scars they shouldn't take long to heal? When I repot it I'll cover them back up.

[Stewart_Toowoomba]

Hey Matt

the more i spend around more expereinced bonsaiists, the more i realise the importance of digging around the base with your fingers to see where roots are located. Growth up top can be manipulated more easily, but the secret to a good tree is in the roots first. Also not to get too frightened to pull your tree out of the pot and gently pull things apart a little just to see what is happening down below. You can always work on the top, but don't forget the roots in the inital stages of looking at a tree.

I am also playing around with a grevillia at prsent - it may even be a silky oak - Like Tony....

Thaks for the advice too Tony.

Stew

[matt_95]

I should have gone all the way around. I only did one side and felt roots so I bought it. Oh well, I can learn from it, no doubt I'll do te same thing again though