AusBonsai

Picked up this fellow yesterday. Should be a nice clump in the next few years.

Let me have it, good or bad. And any tips for getting the most out if it.

Cheers,

Jarrod

P.S. I went on this shopping trip to find a tree for the Penny Davis pot, think this guy is a little large for it



after guywiring the branchs down and out a little, it's a pity the central trunk is dead

looks good jezz! just chop back hard and chase the foliage back now. then some shots round the the tree could be good.

So I can cut it back now? Not done a lot of work with Mels yet.

Jarrod there is a nice Mallee style there. As I have said many times, the description of Melaleuca's is. A tree and or scrub yes you can cut it back now, but if you want more shoots BREAK it.
Mels shoot back well, but in my experience they shoot better from a break!!.
If you carve the dead part then put some flame to it you will have a nice Clump ( kabudachi mallee ) style tree.
JMHO Pup

Gday Jezz!

Not bad for $XX, IMHO. Oh hang on - you never mentioned a price, did you? If I'm not mistaken, the folks at Bonsai Art have had a couple of bumper days (and so they should).

Initially, the tree provides a number of challenges, but all the good ones do. I look forward to seeing what you make of it under the tutelage of Mr Pup (and the rest of us... ). I wonder what might happen if you chose a radical planting angle...

Go nuts!

Fly.

Jarrod I stink at virtual's. I am a little better with the real thing, here is an example I am developing as a Mallee or Kabudachi.
It is a Melaleuca rhaphiophylla, I hope this helps explain what I was trying to convey. Pup I will be repotting this about December or January so the angle and pot will change.

Thanks for the comments guys.
Pup, I recall you saying to break the branches to encourage better regrowth. I just wasn't sure when to do it. I guess next weekend will do. I also remember you saying to leave growth on all branches so they still draw sap. I also totally agree about the mallee style for this tree, that's why I grabbed it.

Fri, that was a secret but yes I think they had a good weekend over there. I could have spent a while lot more, but maybe next time....

I would love for Pup to talk me along with this tree, if he is interested??

Jarrod wrote:Fri, that was a secret but yes I think they had a good weekend over there. I could have spent a while lot more, but maybe next time....

Hey Jezz - I've just edited my post to keep your secret...

Thanks mate, , why didn't you pick this one up??? Great value

Jarrod go with all the good advice you are getting. My two bobs worth is keep the water up to it as they are thirsty buggers.

Ash

Great to see you posting here again Ash. Will keep the water up to it, thanks. And I still need to find time to visit AT&T some stage.

Jarrod wrote:Thanks mate, , why didn't you pick this one up??? Great value

Gday Jarrod!

I walked past this specimen for a couple of reasons: [1] my obsession of late has turned towards flowering deciduous trees, so I was loitering at an adjacent bench; and [2] there was no way I was going to fit it into my vehicle without the risk of poking my (or my kid's) eye out. Great value, I agree (but it might take some work to get the roots down to a manageable size).

Thanks.

Fly.

Well after being told by Pup to break rather then cut, this guy has back budded like crazy. It now sits in a tray of water which seems to have sped the budding up no end. It's getting a bit of work on Sunday so I will post new pics then.

Thanks to every one who posted help.

It's a big, impressive clump of options that Mel, rather like a pine I received lately .

I've only got one years experience in playing with Mels but Pup told me to break branches around this time last year and it certainly worked for me. I also discovered that Stypheloides are hungry buggers, or mine are , and I've been feeding mine with a foliar every week on top of slow release. They seem to love it nearly as much as my Bracteatas.

Are you taking it to the workshop?

Yeah but not Robert Stevens... I think you know what I mean? You should come! What do you foliar feed with? I have slow release on and I seasol, but do you use something else?