AusBonsai

Picked this up as tubestock from a native nursery in Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula in Jan 2015 for $1.50. I stuck it in this pot and have let it go until now ... I think I may have trimmed back a branch or two in December or so last summer to encourage growth to stay in closer to the trunk, but no deliberate styling (or root work for that matter) has been undertaken that is for sure. However, if the mods or anybody else deem that to be outside the rules I won't argue and will withdraw it!! Not sure how it will go with only 18 months to turn it into something (and my skill level to do it), but thought I'd throw it in anyway. The tape measure in the pics is set at 250mm, so I'd say it's slightly above that - starting at 270mm in height.

looks like a bargain, hope it goes well

Great result for $1.50! Did it put on alot of size once it went into the bigger pot?

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Pearcy001 wrote:Great result for $1.50! Did it put on alot of size once it went into the bigger pot?

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Hi Pearcy,
Here's a pic of it on the day I got it ... I bought 3 Lepto Laevigatums (along with a few other native tubes) and I potted them all up a little differently to see what would happen. This one went in the biggest pot of all 3. All of them put on growth within a week or two of being potted, but this one by far took off the best. From memory it was just in a standard Native potting mix, and I began with some liquid fert when I saw new growth and was confident they were OK.
I only have 2 from this batch left (one got a little dry when I was away over summer), and the other remaining one is probably only half the size of this one. I recommend tube stock for natives like these - looking back at this initial photo reminds just how big it has gotten in a pretty short space of time!

Nice growth and thanks for showing the original photo. Good luck in the comp Ryceman.

Cheers,
Pearcy.

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Had a bit of time this morning so applied some wire to get some movement into what was a dead straight trunk....Man these things are not terribly compliant - needed to go heavy duty just to get a few curves in it, but it looks better for it I think (hope). Will probably try for a little more after it's got used to where it is now. Only really trimmed back and thinned out where I needed to put wire, there is a lot of stuff still to do with branch selection etc... I'll saved that job for another time.

I think it now stands at 220mm so height wise - not much reduction.

Quick update ...
Have been slowly giving this trunk a bit more of a shove every week or so and the bends are getting more apparent. Lots of new buds so hopefully lots of growth to follow this Spring - looking forward to it!

Another comp update.
Had to remove and re-wire this one as there was signs the original wire was digging in. Also gave it a clean out (lots of budding ... lots!) and did some initial branch selection while I was at it.
Happy with the growth - I hope it continues ...

Growing really well Ryce.
Looks very very healthy which is always a great sign.

Thanks Boics, it slowed down a touch over winter but was pretty quick to get moving again growth wise at the first sign of Spring. I have given it both Osmocote and liquid fert every second week or so and I'm certain that has done great things for the growth and budding of this tree... hope it remains this healthy and the growth continues.

Had a bit of time today and this entry had grown a bit so decided it was time for a prune, a bit of a root trim and then into a pot. Hopefully this doesn't stop the rate of growth too much because I need it to keep powering on and fill out a bit. I didn't trim too hard ... although the roots got a big reduction (probably over 80%), it needs some wire etc... but by the time I got this far I thought it had gone through enough for one day. Hoping I didn't go too far.

Looking good Ryce,

I hope it keeps on keeping on for you, it's a nice little tree.

Kevin

Kevin wrote:Looking good Ryce,

I hope it keeps on keeping on for you, it's a nice little tree.

Kevin

Cheers Kevin,
It's been a positive journey so far, the next few weeks will be telling... hopefully it continues. I have plenty left to do on this one!

If you are worried about the hard root hack, you could possibly sit it in a shallow water bath, or keep it very well watered. I tested out bare-rooting a Lepto last year, too late in the year, and sat it in shallow water. It went OK.

Gavin

If you are worried about the hard root hack, you could possibly sit it in a shallow water bath, or keep it very well watered. I tested out bare-rooting a Lepto last year, too late in the year, and sat it in shallow water. It went OK.

Agree with this... particularly if you're having very hot temps.

Good luck, it's a beaut!