AusBonsai

I have started to wire down the new Mel. But I am stuck which way to go from here. Love to have opinions please.

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More photos this is a young plant but thought I would try on cheap before I spend more money.

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It looks like the lowest left and right are bar branches...one of them will have to get the chop.
But otherwise more photos

There doesn't seem to be a lot to it. If you have it in a bonsai pot I would take it out and let it grow on. Then cut it back and grow on again -do this as many time as necessary to increase the taper. I know it is a long term strategy but that's what it needs to become a good tree. Thus the reason good stock is expensive - you are buying years

Thanks Tony,

I appreciate the comment.
It is a young tree, that I want to play on and try and get the shape and the foliage right before I spend the big bucks.
Hoping to get comments to shape the mel.

Regards
Rae

Isitangus

"It looks like the lowest left and right are bar branches...one of them will have to get the chop.
But otherwise more photos"

Sorry bad photography hopeless on this phone. (My problem) the bottom 3 branches are staggered. (Not bar branches) there is at least half a centimetre between not directly opposing.
Unless I missed the meaning.
The foliage on the Mel. is abundant and new growth.

Rae

Try to use one of the lower branches as new leader.

Neli,

Could I ask your reasoning behind the advice please.
would it be the lack of taper?

Regards
Rae
Happy to take advice

Actually it has some taper...but you will create additional movement if you do that...Later you can cut the sacrifice branch very short and use a shoot from it for first primary branch.
Also you have bar branches there...need to remove one...better the middle one.

I woud also cut low and let the new leader develop. Yes will give taper between the sections, but more important as Neli suggests, gives movement between each section as well.
this is critically and , more important than taper.
Taper ( or lack of) can be hiddenby foliage, or created by carving later, but movement is very difficult to achieve in a mature tree.

Ken

Depends on the stock you bought, for what you wish to achieve. If it is large tree start with larger.
I know you wanted to start with some thing that was cheap.
Well you can if you want small, this tree I am showing was $5-00 3 months ago it is a Melaleuca linarifolia x claret tops. This one is a Calothamnus quadrifidus also $5-00 3months ago.

Pup,
I am a bit confused with the pad formation on melaleukas...Mine get to look like pom poms... I think I leave too many branches on the pad...and pinch them too muck.
I plan to style few with pads like the way they style baeckea in Indonesia...pads with an apex...the way Master Roberts does them.