Eucalyptus vitrix (Western Coolabah)
Posted: January 31st, 2019, 4:01 pm
Hi all,
I bought a Euc. vitrix as tubestock about six weeks ago. Planting notes from the Australian Native Plants Society website indicate vitrix is native to WA north of Kalbarri and into central NT. It's habitat is floodplains. This probably means it will like lots of water during the heat of summer and prefer to be dryer in the winter. It is a small to medium tree, slow growing with an open canopy and grey-green leaves. Kings Park Board notes state that it has white bark and the leaves have a white bloom on them. It's trunk has a contorted shape. That all sounds like a lovely tree, if I can manage to keep it alive.
My tubestock was put into a colander and planted in the ground in a semi-shaded position to recover. I have now dug it up as it has more than doubled in height, and it will be going back in the ground in a full-sun position.
I intend to wire the trunk, to try and develop some of those contortions that give the victrix its character while the stem is still supple enough to bend.
But my question is, should I be cutting the stem back at all before it goes back in the ground? Or even just removing the growth tip to induce any branching?
Also, I couldn't find very much detail on growth notes in any threads here, so I am wondering if anyone else has tackled the victrix, and if so, whether it was worth pursuing as a bonsai.
Any advice or suggestions will be much appreciated!
I bought a Euc. vitrix as tubestock about six weeks ago. Planting notes from the Australian Native Plants Society website indicate vitrix is native to WA north of Kalbarri and into central NT. It's habitat is floodplains. This probably means it will like lots of water during the heat of summer and prefer to be dryer in the winter. It is a small to medium tree, slow growing with an open canopy and grey-green leaves. Kings Park Board notes state that it has white bark and the leaves have a white bloom on them. It's trunk has a contorted shape. That all sounds like a lovely tree, if I can manage to keep it alive.
My tubestock was put into a colander and planted in the ground in a semi-shaded position to recover. I have now dug it up as it has more than doubled in height, and it will be going back in the ground in a full-sun position.
I intend to wire the trunk, to try and develop some of those contortions that give the victrix its character while the stem is still supple enough to bend.
But my question is, should I be cutting the stem back at all before it goes back in the ground? Or even just removing the growth tip to induce any branching?
Also, I couldn't find very much detail on growth notes in any threads here, so I am wondering if anyone else has tackled the victrix, and if so, whether it was worth pursuing as a bonsai.
Any advice or suggestions will be much appreciated!