new purchase grey myrtle

[Michael]

hi all

have just purchased my first aus native bonsai being a grey myrtle 16 years old will post photo soon camera in for repairs just wondering if u guys can offer care and maintenance guidance very nice bonsai fits in niceley with my jbp and junipers way my setup is displayed.any info greatley appreciated

cheers Mike

[MasonC]

sorry.haven't had much experience with natives but someone will.

[Pup]

I would like to see a picture if possible. As for there culture they are easy to style just watch the wire. They will respond well to fertilser that is very low in Phophate.
They need to be kept open as the foliage like most when it is closed will die.
Repotting is the same as others when it is warm.

The full name is Melaleuca incana. There are some hybrids that is why I asked for a photo.

Pup

[Michael]

Eevening Pup



the myrtle i enquired about is a backhousia myrtifolia : showing lot of new growth with i think some leaf die back due to much internal growth as u may have suggested.if i prune on outer growth will this cause shortening of branches or am i right in thinking that they can be treated like a port jackson fig ie. loving a good prune at this time of year. also should i take of upward growing new shoots as seem to be very vigourous at this time.thanks for ur assistance


regards michael

[Michael]

hi all
of course if any one else can assist please go for it all help with my new aquisition greatley appreciated

thanks michael

[Matthew]

Eevening Pup



the myrtle i enquired about is a backhousia myrtifolia : showing lot of new growth with i think some leaf die back due to much internal growth as u may have suggested.if i prune on outer growth will this cause shortening of branches or am i right in thinking that they can be treated like a port jackson fig ie. loving a good prune at this time of year. also should i take of upward growing new shoots as seem to be very vigourous at this time.thanks for ur assistance


regards michael

micheal,

if its backhousia myrtifolia commanlly called iron bark or grey mytle than you can prune quite heavily . Up here in the dry tropics i found they like to be under shade cloth and like to stay moist but down south you may get away with full sun etc. They grow alternate leaves ie 2 from the side than 2 from above (make sense) like olive. prune back to a nod site and it will rebud like figs. Word of caution branches can be brittle when real young so watch the wiring and heavy branches are just about impossible to move so get in early. Pup is right that in the right environmeni they grow QUICK. the wood is also quite hard when dead hence the name.

[Michael]

noah


thanks for the advice i thought just looking at the tree it was the way to go as u described looking forward to developing this tree.will start to post pictures soon just trying to work that out at this stage- researching picture resizing etc.not been a computer user for a great deal of time but i will get there


michael

[Pup]

Now there is a classic example of common name mix up.

Being a Melaleuca lover my assumption on the common name of Grey Myrtle was the Melaleuca Incana.
So I responded to that not having a clue about Backhousia.
Another common name Iron wood is also referred to as is Beef wood to Casuarina's. So I would ask if we could where practical use the Botanical name.

Pup

[Michael]

hi to all

this is backhousia myrtafolia i enquired about in earlier thread after a heavy pruning any thoughts can see a nice tree coming on photo taken about 6 weeks ago approx

PB080006.JPG

cheers mick

[Michael]

anyone for a critique any advice helps


mike

[Jamie]

not much to say mick, its on its way to being a nice little tree, build the ramification on it by the advice you have been given and you will have a nice tree in a few years


jamie