AusBonsai

My third entry,

Melaleuca cuticularis, grown from seed about a year ago. Not much to look at yet, had a small chop so far. I've seen some really awesome ones in nature and bonsai, so hopefully I can do it justice.

Cheers,

Alec

Love cuticularis... I’ll be watching. Good luck with it!

Cheers Ryceman! I'm a big fan too. Will need to plan a trip down south for some inspiration me thinks

For the April update; The cuticularis growing strong and healthy. I've had it sitting in a water tray over the summer and it will probably stay there until winter as well. Its been given a regular liquid feed of charlie carp and powerfeed, interchanging each time. Its also been given native granular fert too (Bushtucker).
I gave it a trunk chop about a month ago and its put on plenty of new growth since then.
Not much to look at yet, but I'm pretty happy with it so far

Cheers,

Alec

Another awesome entry.
I’ll enjoy watching this one too.
Remember to watch the wiring if you get good sun over the colder months too.

Nice progress Alec ,certainly likes your patch. Cheers John.

Thanks Rory and John! Yeah this one seems to love getting blasted by the sun and its been a long hot season

Alec, it would be useful if we could see how they grow over your way - any photos you get would be handy.

Thanks,

Gavin

Hi Gavin, I haven't taken any good photos myself, but I found these images online. They are fairly typical examples of the growth habit and It looks like the beautiful Denmark/Walpole area.

The striking feature of Mel. cuticularis is the stark white bark and the fine branching, usually battered by the wind with heaps of character. They are a fairly small size tree and they grow on the waters edge, fresh or salt doesn't bother them.
Next time I'm down that way I'll definitely keep an eye out for a few photo opportunities.

Cheers

alec wrote:The striking feature of Mel. cuticularis is the stark white bark and the fine branching, usually battered by the wind with heaps of character.

Cheers

Alec, that first photo you posted looks brilliant; that white bark is fantastic!

Hi Alec, thanks for the shots - some lovely colours and lines there to feed on. The waters-edge scene is crying out to be potted up...

Gavin

alec wrote:Hi Gavin, I haven't taken any good photos myself, but I found these images online. They are fairly typical examples of the growth habit and It looks like the beautiful Denmark/Walpole area.

The striking feature of Mel. cuticularis is the stark white bark and the fine branching, usually battered by the wind with heaps of character. They are a fairly small size tree and they grow on the waters edge, fresh or salt doesn't bother them.
Next time I'm down that way I'll definitely keep an eye out for a few photo opportunities.

Cheers

I think it will be a good species. I have a few 3 year seedlings and they have the habit of the one in your first picture naturally! I've just helped them along with a bit of wire but the twisted up and down/side to side growth is mostly their own work. At least the strain I have. I'm not getting the straight growth yours has.

Cheers for the messages, I'm a big fan of this species too! (Hopefully over time I can do the tree justice )
Treeman, I wonder if the elongated growth habit is caused by genetics or external influences like water, soil, fert or climate. I've been letting it grow out a bit to add extra trunk size and general health. I'm planning to let it do its own thing for a while to create a more natural structure