AusBonsai

Hi all, I'm fairly new here and love the info shared on this site. The trees on here are incredible. I got given this Callistemon Viminallis and it has an amazing root structure. I'm just not sure where to go with the top. Do I cut it right back, will it back bud. I have never done anything with a callistemon before so any help would be appreciated. I repotted it and gave it more of a lean but I'm not convinced that's right for it. How well do they back back, will it back bud on the main trunk if I chop it???? If this would back bud I could trunck chop and repot more upright???
From someone more expirienced any advice please.

Josh

G'day Kidsandall,

Good to see you having a go with an Australian native, and a suitable species at that.
There is a lot of great information here at Ausbonsai regarding Callistemon, I recommend you start by reading this thread by Pup. Callistemon Viminallis will backbud readily, but it's probably a little too late into the season for trunk choping. I'd generally do that in spring or early summer for best results, so it's probably best you let it recover from its repot and chop next spring. Also, I'd be inclined to chop your tree as shown below and grow it on from there, this will create taper and movement, but it's always hard to give good styling advice based only on a photo.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Waltron. I see where you're going with that. Thanks for the advice. I will rest it and chop next season.

Josh

I thought I had updated this tree Anyway here is the update for it.

Hi Josh, it's coming along nicely. I had to take another look at the second last photo to sort the weeds from the tree

EdwardH wrote:Hi Josh, it's coming along nicely. I had to take another look at the second last photo to sort the weeds from the tree

Ed, they are accent plantings, not weeds!!

Andrew Legg wrote:

EdwardH wrote:Hi Josh, it's coming along nicely. I had to take another look at the second last photo to sort the weeds from the tree

Ed, they are accent plantings, not weeds!!

Hi yo,

Is this callistemon a flowering type (red or yellow bottlebrush?)

I might try one.

Cheers,

Brad75.