Native Trials 2024 - Mostly Eucs this year
Posted: May 30th, 2024, 3:42 pm
Native Trials 2024
I didn't think I was going to do another year of trials, but I've been a bit influenced from some of Patmets glorious Eucalyptus trials.
So I've ordered a number of seedlings. My recommendation for those wanting to trial native material, is to do it with seedlings or tubestock. Its cheap, and you can easily order them online or from your local native grower. Young people today have it so much easier.
But spending large amounts on large nursery material means you're at the mercy of the nurseryman and whether hes been slip potting the material so the roots end up being a disaster. On the flip side, you can still buy seedlings that are horrendously pot bound as well, so its preferable to ask for the youngest ones of the bunch if you can.
They all arrived in the last week just in time for Winter to set in, so I had the decision of either waiting until Spring which meant they would have thickened a lot more in the tubs. Or I could spread the roots now and stop the roots curling in on themselves. I chose to repot now as I'd prefer the ease of taking apart less tangled roots. It only took me about 2 hours to repot all the Eucalyptus seedlings. Its almost winter to hopefully they come good when Spring rolls around.
I've advised many times in the past to only separate the roots on the initial rootwork, then set the roots and leave it alone so it can regain its health. Similar to this thread:
https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/forum/view ... 78&t=30724
Ive added washed river sand to the mix, because they'll be heavily over potted now. But with a tonne of river sand, it helps the drainage. Also, they're mainly all Eucs, so they'll grow quick and soon they'll be sucking all the water up daily.
The only material I haven't actually repotted is the Microstrobus... as these guys seem happy doing their thing and are definitely not over potted in those pots. They'll be touch and go I think, so I'll take it slow with these and let them adjust to my climate first... coming from the Blue Mountains.
Microstrobus fitzgeraldii: These are very pretty. Not sure if they'll like my climate, but its worth a shot. Got these from Glendale Native Nursery in Newcastle.
Apparently they grow around waterfalls, so they love the water and a cool climate.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Banksia epica: This little guy looks gorgeous. I'll probably kill it, as its a WA banksia. But I'm optimistic. It even says on the label, not to let these get too wet and have fast drainage. Patmet got me into trialling this.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Daintree Pines: These are from the Casuarinacea family. Its absolutely delightful. Very thin foliage, and a month after I repotted them, one started flowering.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Darwinia citriodora: I've trialled this before, but with the benefit of hindsight I'm hoping this one comes good, if not for bonsai, then just for a garden plant.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Ficus benjamina Midnight: Wife would like one kept inside, so I thought I'd give this a go.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Eucalyptus campaspe: -------------------------------------------------------------
Eucalyptus drummondii: -------------------------------------------------------------
Eucalyptus eremicola ssp peeneri: -------------------------------------------------------------
Eucalyptus formanii: -------------------------------------------------------------
Eucalyptus gardneri: -------------------------------------------------------------
Eucalyptus halophila: -------------------------------------------------------------
Eucalyptus kruseana: Another trial thanks to Patmet and his very inticing progressions.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Eucalyptus lacrimans: -------------------------------------------------------------
Eucalyptus leucoxylon rosea dwarf Murray Bridge: -------------------------------------------------------------
Eucalyptus papuana: -------------------------------------------------------------
Eucalyptus stricklandii: -------------------------------------------------------------
Eucalyptus victrix: -------------------------------------------------------------
I didn't think I was going to do another year of trials, but I've been a bit influenced from some of Patmets glorious Eucalyptus trials.
So I've ordered a number of seedlings. My recommendation for those wanting to trial native material, is to do it with seedlings or tubestock. Its cheap, and you can easily order them online or from your local native grower. Young people today have it so much easier.
But spending large amounts on large nursery material means you're at the mercy of the nurseryman and whether hes been slip potting the material so the roots end up being a disaster. On the flip side, you can still buy seedlings that are horrendously pot bound as well, so its preferable to ask for the youngest ones of the bunch if you can.
They all arrived in the last week just in time for Winter to set in, so I had the decision of either waiting until Spring which meant they would have thickened a lot more in the tubs. Or I could spread the roots now and stop the roots curling in on themselves. I chose to repot now as I'd prefer the ease of taking apart less tangled roots. It only took me about 2 hours to repot all the Eucalyptus seedlings. Its almost winter to hopefully they come good when Spring rolls around.
I've advised many times in the past to only separate the roots on the initial rootwork, then set the roots and leave it alone so it can regain its health. Similar to this thread:
https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/forum/view ... 78&t=30724
Ive added washed river sand to the mix, because they'll be heavily over potted now. But with a tonne of river sand, it helps the drainage. Also, they're mainly all Eucs, so they'll grow quick and soon they'll be sucking all the water up daily.
The only material I haven't actually repotted is the Microstrobus... as these guys seem happy doing their thing and are definitely not over potted in those pots. They'll be touch and go I think, so I'll take it slow with these and let them adjust to my climate first... coming from the Blue Mountains.
Microstrobus fitzgeraldii: These are very pretty. Not sure if they'll like my climate, but its worth a shot. Got these from Glendale Native Nursery in Newcastle.
Apparently they grow around waterfalls, so they love the water and a cool climate.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Banksia epica: This little guy looks gorgeous. I'll probably kill it, as its a WA banksia. But I'm optimistic. It even says on the label, not to let these get too wet and have fast drainage. Patmet got me into trialling this.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Daintree Pines: These are from the Casuarinacea family. Its absolutely delightful. Very thin foliage, and a month after I repotted them, one started flowering.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Darwinia citriodora: I've trialled this before, but with the benefit of hindsight I'm hoping this one comes good, if not for bonsai, then just for a garden plant.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Ficus benjamina Midnight: Wife would like one kept inside, so I thought I'd give this a go.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Eucalyptus campaspe: -------------------------------------------------------------
Eucalyptus drummondii: -------------------------------------------------------------
Eucalyptus eremicola ssp peeneri: -------------------------------------------------------------
Eucalyptus formanii: -------------------------------------------------------------
Eucalyptus gardneri: -------------------------------------------------------------
Eucalyptus halophila: -------------------------------------------------------------
Eucalyptus kruseana: Another trial thanks to Patmet and his very inticing progressions.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Eucalyptus lacrimans: -------------------------------------------------------------
Eucalyptus leucoxylon rosea dwarf Murray Bridge: -------------------------------------------------------------
Eucalyptus papuana: -------------------------------------------------------------
Eucalyptus stricklandii: -------------------------------------------------------------
Eucalyptus victrix: -------------------------------------------------------------