repot Callistemon
Posted: December 8th, 2019, 7:40 pm
I know I've posted this tree before but the search function doesn't turn any up so here's a new thread for this year's prune and repot.
callistemon flower at the tips of last season's shoots so, in order to have flowers I need to allow the shoots to grow after Feb. That means the tree gets bit shaggy by this time of year. After flowering the tree can be cut back really hard to start the cycle again. While thick and bushy is great for many bonsai styles this tree is styled after the waterswept trees growing in our rivers and creeks where spring floods break off excess branching each year leaving long, thin trunks all flowing downstream. That means this tree needs a really hard trim and thinning out.
Fortunately C. sieberii bud really well. So well that it frequently produces buds on really old trunks without being pruned. All those new buds are rubbed off to preserve the open shape and bare branches. After initial shortening and thinning: it still looks a little more crowded than I want so I cut a few more parts off. Now for a repot. Plenty of healthy roots. Roots on this species can be cut back quite hard at this time of year. Can't show you that because i forgot to take that shot
Prepare the pot. That's plastering tape covering the drain holes. Quick, easy, effective and really cheap. and the tree is back in the pot for another year or 2 Final shot of the base after repotting. I'll cover most of the potting mix with gravel as a way to express the river flowing around this tree and rock plus the gravel will help retain the mix when the tree is watered.
callistemon flower at the tips of last season's shoots so, in order to have flowers I need to allow the shoots to grow after Feb. That means the tree gets bit shaggy by this time of year. After flowering the tree can be cut back really hard to start the cycle again. While thick and bushy is great for many bonsai styles this tree is styled after the waterswept trees growing in our rivers and creeks where spring floods break off excess branching each year leaving long, thin trunks all flowing downstream. That means this tree needs a really hard trim and thinning out.
Fortunately C. sieberii bud really well. So well that it frequently produces buds on really old trunks without being pruned. All those new buds are rubbed off to preserve the open shape and bare branches. After initial shortening and thinning: it still looks a little more crowded than I want so I cut a few more parts off. Now for a repot. Plenty of healthy roots. Roots on this species can be cut back quite hard at this time of year. Can't show you that because i forgot to take that shot
Prepare the pot. That's plastering tape covering the drain holes. Quick, easy, effective and really cheap. and the tree is back in the pot for another year or 2 Final shot of the base after repotting. I'll cover most of the potting mix with gravel as a way to express the river flowing around this tree and rock plus the gravel will help retain the mix when the tree is watered.
IMHO it would look great to have that side as the front. This tree inspires me to make something of my humble c. citrinus. 
