AusBonsai

(sorry Pup)

Can do a chop but of course that is the most risky time of its life. You can also do it in stages. Cut back hard but safely, wait a few months and do it lower once buds have emerged etc.

Depends on where you live as to how far and quickly you can push things but that goes for all things bonsai.

JayC wrote:Hi BB and Grant,

What species is this technique used with? Not that ive had trouble with leaf reduction on banksia, but this sounds like something i have to try. Thanks!

Pup, this is possibly the first banksia ive seen from you. Have you shown others online before? Knowing your skills, i cant wait to see this tree in a few years, and where you will take it.

JayC

I had a couple of other's. I gave one away to our club auction last month went for 30 dollars the other I sold last may for 400-00 needed pocket money for the trip. The one for 400. Was a praemorsa, the other was tricuspis, this one has pine like needles so I thought it might work. Alas it did not cutting the foliage produced massive growth but no reduction in leaf size so it went. I did have the praemorsa on here last year when I repotted it. Along with some other's I will be try some other's when I can find something. No worry's about what you persieve as a hijack I feel it is a learnig curve for us all.
Cheer's Pup

I have nil experience with WA banksia so I am also keen to learn from Pup. I hope it sparks others to try as well.

Grant Bowie wrote:(sorry Pup)

Can do a chop but of course that is the most risky time of its life. You can also do it in stages. Cut back hard but safely, wait a few months and do it lower once buds have emerged etc.

Depends on where you live as to how far and quickly you can push things but that goes for all things bonsai.

What Grant is saying is what I have been doing to this one. Let it grow cut back, let it grow cut back.
As with all my natives I never go beyond green. We are now getting some spring weather yesterday when I chopped it was 26 today is 25 with some showers. If it get's too cold I will shift it into the warm house where I keep my figs.

What are you all apologizing for we are all learning
Pup

What are you all apologizing for we are all learning
Pup

haha... I dunno? Courtesy I guess...

Pup, how would you grow a mel from seedling with a view to about 60cm? Would you let it go until it was fat enough before cutting back, thereby gradually lowering the height, or would you grow for a season, cut back, grow, cut back... etc..? I have a few Mel seedlings I'm bringing up (I figure I'm young enough to start with seedlings ) and I was just wondering what the best plan of attack might be.

teejay wrote:

What are you all apologizing for we are all learning
Pup

haha... I dunno? Courtesy I guess...

Pup, how would you grow a mel from seedling with a view to about 60cm? Would you let it go until it was fat enough before cutting back, thereby gradually lowering the height, or would you grow for a season, cut back, grow, cut back... etc..? I have a few Mel seedlings I'm bringing up (I figure I'm young enough to start with seedlings ) and I was just wondering what the best plan of attack might be.

Put them in the ground if possible a swampy area feed them up and stand back.
The one being disscussed at the moment re Australian style. was ten foot tall then cut back or cut down which ever you prefer.

It does depend on whether or not it is a swamp grower as far as that is concerned.

Just googled those banskias, i want them! I realize they probably wont survive in my environment. Oh well. Im really jealous of your WA flora. Have you considered experimented with any of the banskias that were known as "Dryandra"? They were called Dryandra until a couple of years ago. They have interesting foliage, and REALLY nice flowers. There are quiet a few species...

http://images.google.com/images?q=dryan ... &um=1&sa=2

JayC

JayC wrote:Just googled those banskias, i want them! I realize they probably wont survive in my environment. Oh well. Im really jealous of your WA flora. Have you considered experimented with any of the banskias that were known as "Dryandra"? They were called Dryandra until a couple of years ago. They have interesting foliage, and REALLY nice flowers. There are quiet a few species...

http://images.google.com/images?q=dryan ... &um=1&sa=2

JayC

Used to pass a Dryandra forrest years ago when we used to go to the daughter in Narrogin. We had to go though Wandering one of the coldest pockets in WA.
Always said never did go and have look. Might go out to a native nursery tommorw there having a sale 130mm pots $1-00 see whats there.

Put them in the ground if possible a swampy area feed them up and stand back.
The one being disscussed at the moment re Australian style. was ten foot tall then cut back or cut down which ever you prefer.

It does depend on whether or not it is a swamp grower as far as that is concerned.

It's mainly Stypheloides and Ericifolia, and I think they're both happy in a swamp.

Cheers again Pup.

Who said Banksia are slow?. This is today I posted on the 27Th of September just gone this is today. We have not had what we would normally have weather wise in the West cold at nigh just warm very low 20s during the day.
So I was surprised to see this growth already from this after the major chop. I did try to get better shot's but when the buds are very nearly the same colour as the bark it is not easy, But I think you can see them.

I don't know of anyone who would say Banksia are slow.

My integrifolia(Coastal banksia) grew right into mid winter here and it was only a minus 6 and frost that slowed it down for a while. It is actively growing again despite how cold the spring has been here in Canberra.

Grant Bowie wrote:I don't know of anyone who would say Banksia are slow.

My integrifolia(Coastal banksia) grew right into mid winter here and it was only a minus 6 and frost that slowed it down for a while. It is actively growing again despite how cold the spring has been here in Canberra.

Thank you Grant I am learning more all the time about these tree's. I might try a few more if I can find some worthy specimens around next time I go for a look see.

You said no more trees Pup

Bretts wrote:You said no more trees Pup

I forgot that OH shari

Bretts wrote:You said no more trees Pup

I'm sure he had his virtual fingers crossed when he was saying it.

Re B ericifolia, I have seen them growing in the Blue Mountains of NSW at about 1,000 mtr altitude and right out on the exposed edge of the cliff overlooking the valley, windswept and very compact, so a very adaptable tree as well.