AusBonsai

I picked this Mel up on the weekend in the bargain bin for six bucks. Attempted to give the tree its first styling.... My question is does it look too much like a juniper or something??
I'm not really sure if it works or not. I apologise for the photo its a bit shari. Its 16cm in height.
It also wasn't looking healthy and when i asked the nursery staff about it, they said it was due to the bore water.Does this sound right?
I repotted it and besides being root bound it seemed ok.
Advice is very welcome.
Thanks

It looks like a juniper for sure! also that picture is so small the foliage is almost indiscernible.

May I ask what species as there are over 250 Melaleucas. If we knew what area we could say that it is possble that bore water has stained it.

Cheers Pup

Hi izzy

I don't no much about Mel's only because I don't have any, but it look's like it might turn into a very nice tree

Regard's The Hacker

hi izzykay,
personally I would remove the bottom 2 branches so that the lowest branch is the thickest, other than that, .
Bore water wouldn't be the best, give some seasol asap.

Hey Pup, i think it might be incana but i'm not sure ill do a close up tomorrow. Do you think it's bad to style a native like this???
Hey Trent, I was thinking the same thing mate but i left them on for now just incase.
Thanks

It's not bad to style a native this way as some can be found growing like this if you look hard enough Izzy , however a more natural positioning of the branches would make it more "natural" looking for a mel. Make sure you have some front and rear branches Izzy and keep it as is for now mate , it looks ok

p.s, where did you get it ?

Hey Craig, thanks for the advice mate. I got it from a nursery south of the river on Hale rd just off Welshpool. I got a couple of these. Another that suited windswept which i'm really happy with. Also got a Little Nessie and a Callistemon from there.

I think that place is called Trees a green , funny enough thats where my Elm came from originally. cheers mate, c u at the next workshop eh http://www.treesagreen.com/

I agree with Craig! you asked if it looked like a juniper it does, but you can style a native that way because some where in this big brown land of ours, native trees grow like their northern hemisphere, cousins.

If the tree came from Trees a Green you will have Bore stain, it does eventually disappear. It does no harm to the plant other than make it look shari house.

It does have a good look about it, just keep it healthy with water and a low phospherous fertiliser. Which by the way is just about all we can buy now here in the west.

I will be down that way later in the week as there are a couple of other types of native I have been told about. So I will look for them as well.

Cheers Pup

Nice work Izzy !!!

Gave this one its first style today, not happy with it. I think the bottom trunk needs to be shortened or maybe the middle or maybe the middle trunk needs more movement , hard to see in the crappy phone photo.
Update on juniper mel nana as well. Needs some time to grow. Lost some branches so had to try and make the most of what was left.
Any feedback negative included would be appreciated as I'm still trying to learn. Not as good as Pups. lol