AusBonsai

This is a Callistemon pallidus. It was doing well then suddenly I noticed that it's leaves began to loose their firmness. I suspected root problems so I had a look and sure enough there were almost no roots left, just a few black stubs!
I suspect that it was caused by the roots drying out at some stage followed by death and rotting. I doubt it was too much water. You can also see some die back to the roots from a pruning which didn't help!
Anyway, I repotted it and waited for any signs of recovery. I waited...and waited.... for 10 months or more and nothing. It was on the teetering between life and death just refusing to move and with about 10 shrivelled leaves hanging on. I began to wonder if any buds were still alive. Then one day I had a close look and saw the axillary buds very slowly starting to swell. It finally decided not to die and go with life. Talk about on the edge!
Normally I would have thrown it on the burn pile but I kind of hoped this one would pull through...The branches you see are the result of those buds. It's still very weak but seems to be out of the woods????
I will let it grow without touching it for a while.
Back

Great trunk... well worth waiting for!

Mike

Great trunkline! I assume you started this young and wired it up. It wants to live and become something special down the track I think. I really like it

The Phoenix...happy for you...great trunk Treeman

Bloody excellent. This is the type of stock which we should all be seeking to develop and create.

Webos wrote:Bloody excellent. This is the type of stock which we should all be seeking to develop and create.

Hello Mike,

I had an extremely healthy pallidus that i wanted to put into a larger container for development.
After a minor directional prune for the foliage and minor root prune it died.
After reading this post i went and had another look, with my glasses on and definitely dead.
I believe the plant turned its toes up because of exposing and trimming its roots.

Kevin

Matthew wrote:Mike

Great trunkline! I assume you started this young and wired it up.

Actually this tree was discovered on an expedition into the wild Victorian interior where we had to battle deadly snakes and perilous ravines. I actually broke my leg in 2 places...Oh who am I kidding, it was wired when young...

Kevin wrote:

Webos wrote:Bloody excellent. This is the type of stock which we should all be seeking to develop and create.

Hello Mike,

I had an extremely healthy pallidus that i wanted to put into a larger container for development.
After a minor directional prune for the foliage and minor root prune it died.
After reading this post i went and had another look, with my glasses on and definitely dead.
I believe the plant turned its toes up because of exposing and trimming its roots.

Kevin

Yes Kevin I have a few more in pots and a lot in the ground. I'm still feeling my way with them but they do seem a bit more touch than viminalis. I will post any findings as/if I learn them. I like the restrained look of the flowers on this species (as well as the bark) so I think it's worth persisting with.