AusBonsai

Banksia integrifolia.

Height 800mm

Cost $14.95

Squizz

More info needed Squizzy.

Your first post must contain the following;
• At least 2 photos of your chosen stock before any work commences.
• Species name (any species is allowed)
• Original height of stock (from top of pot to tip of tree)
• Where you obtained it from
• Cost of stock

Additional info

Purchased at wirrianda nursery

Additional photo

Another tree that's sitting pretty still in winter.

Bring on spring I hear these banksia calling.

Squizz

With banksia integrifolia, as you have two leader type branches which appear to shoot out at the same height up the trunk, (hard to tell from pics), you may find you get an unsightly bulge there that thickens more than below it. Just my

Hey bonsai buddyman. Thanks for the feedback. I plan to make 1 the leader and 1 the branch so hopefully it will work.

Squizz

Hi Squizz,
This may be to drastic a change, but have a look at the photo and see what you think. It would get rid of the possibility of creating a knob at the junction, and create some more taper. Just from the photos it appears that there is quite a distance between the internodes. In the photo I have tried to come back to close this distance.

Just a thought mate.
Regards Ray

Thanks Ray.

I think what I learned with this species from the last comp is that once I cut and repot it in late spring I should get a heap of new growth from the branch unions and various other places. I killed last years entry but I think it was to do with drying out whilst I was away and it was in someone else's care. It was a tough lesson. I like the taper your virt creates but I am hoping to get a far more dramatic angle change. Another thing with this particular tree ( which isn't shown with these photos) is a bit of a twisted base that is still under the soil level. You guys have given me plenty to consider. I will post a few other trees which I have found more recently in another thread. They have far more appealing character than my shohin comp entries.

Squizz

Yeah, fair enough, but if you are going to stick with the leader on the right, what we are saying is that you may find, you end up with a common problematic species called Banksia Watanobbi.

If you definitely want the right branch as the leader, then you could consider cutting the branch on the left off. You will still get back budding, but because the 2 branches at the moment are same age, and same horizontal start on the trunk, they tend to bulge when you have this effect and it may look quite unattractive.

Nice Banksia Squizz
I note that mine are still growing strong
They have slowed down a little but still pushing on!
I actually put a new airlayer on a small one 2 weeks ago

Ken

Thanks Ken. I don't think its a great deal more than a banksia with the top chopped off at the moment but who knows?

I gave it a good chop right at the start of the comp and you know how a banksia can sit and sulk. Spring will hopefully sort it out.

Squizz

Here is Septembers update for this B integrifolia. Not a great deal has changed. The tree will wake up soon with some warm weather and get a repot.

Squizz

Not as much vigour as my previous experience with integrifolia. Will have tonpushbit much harder to get some results by the comp end.

Hi all,

This one was a challenging shape to begin with so it comes as no suprise that I am still confused about the direction to take it. It being a Banksia integrifolia has got great potential as a bonsai species but I certainly have better B integ stock here in my collection.

I think the difficult thing with this tree will be getting it into shallow pot by comps end as well as expecting some ramification. Lets see what happens by next spring.

Squizz