AusBonsai

Could the plant be either a Cuphea http://www.google.com.au/search?q=cuphe ... 00&bih=710 or a Eremophila (Emu plant)? http://www.google.com.au/search?q=emu+p ... 00&bih=710

bluegouldian wrote:Could the plant be either a Cuphea http://www.google.com.au/search?q=cuphe ... 00&bih=710 or a Eremophila (Emu plant)? http://www.google.com.au/search?q=emu+p ... 00&bih=710

Not doubting the Emu Bush - however definitely not a Cuphea, the flowers are strikingly similar but the leaves on my plant are quite sharp and thin! Couldnt find a picture of the Emu Bush's leaves up close, but this is definitely a viable possibility! Will ask at my local nursery on my way home and pass on the news!

FOUND THE SPECIES - this plant is a EPACRIS IMPRESSA!......... what does that mean?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epacris_impressa

bluegouldian wrote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epacris_impressa

Actually found some info on this plant on an Australian blog - transplanting shouldnt be an issue, but this Wiki entry is making out like its a damn difficult thing to do! (I think because its more external to Aus).

I have dug a few species of Epacris and in general they transplant fairly well as long as you keep a couple of things in mind.
1/ Keep the core rootball intact when collecting.
2/ Do not cut back past green at anytime!
3/ Take it slowly removing old soil, say a quarter each year over 4 yrs would be the safest.
4/ Do not repot & do major pruning/styling at the same time... treat like a conifer doing one or the other then let rest for a season.

I love them, they make great mame to shohin size bonsai. Good luck with the dig & look forward to seeing it become something like your drawing with a few years work.

Matt

MattA wrote:I have dug a few species of Epacris and in general they transplant fairly well as long as you keep a couple of things in mind.
1/ Keep the core rootball intact when collecting.
2/ Do not cut back past green at anytime!
3/ Take it slowly removing old soil, say a quarter each year over 4 yrs would be the safest.
4/ Do not repot & do major pruning/styling at the same time... treat like a conifer doing one or the other then let rest for a season.

I love them, they make great mame to shohin size bonsai. Good luck with the dig & look forward to seeing it become something like your drawing with a few years work.

Matt

Hey Matt,

Just placed it in a small pot with some bonsai soil (made up by my local nursery, had some kind of... dite.. in it ), didn't do any trimming and the core root ball along with what looked like a second root ball joined by some thicker roots were in tact when I replanted. So far I'd say it's going all right?

Any pics of your Epacs? Would love to see these in a slightly more developed form

Potted the Epacris in some good soil! Pics below!

I dont have any pics of mine, they were all small test subjects so I never felt the need.
5/ Dont let them dry out ... Thats what happened to the last of them...

Now you have it home you need to cut it back removing all the flowers There looks to be plenty of green below them

Keep us updated with how it goes.
Matt

Good day chaps!

Quick update - this beast started putting out little branches of new growth so I decided to cut back some of the branches I wasn't quite enjoying the look of. As such the new growth has grown a little more and I expect shall take off very soon (Special thanks to the bloody good soil from my local nursery). Will cut back hard I believe and just shape all the new growth and maybe some of the old growth when I get a chance. Will post some pics once the pruning is done.

Thats it for this update!

This tree has gone to the big sky garden ... OH THE AGONY!

feel for you