AusBonsai

hey everyone
i am wandering if any one knows any infomation on wattles. i would like to do some bonsai on some but would like more information on them first, any thoughts?
Also collecting, does any one know anything abput collecting wattles? as i have my eye on some great material in a few neighbours yards that would be fine with me taking a few. ( we live in a rural area, lots of bush and paddocks in peoples properties with trees to collect )
thanks

Hugh

Hi Hugh,
The only thing I can help with is that when collecting you might find little nodules (lumpy bits) on the roots in the center of the root mass, try and leave as many of these on as you can. They are for nitrogen fixation and will help keep the plant a bit healthier if you can keep them on, post collection.
That's about all I know unfortunately..

Thanks mate that sounds like a crucial part of keepng the tree alive when I collect them, much appreciated. Ill watch out for them.
But does any one know if now or another time of the year is best to collect that's my main concern.
Any info anyone has please let me know
thanks
Hugh

All I know is that they can make great bonsai. This one flowers around late September

One from the national collection. In a hand made pot by the owner/donor as well.

Come and see soon.

Grant Bowie
NBPCA

Hi Hugh,
I'm almost certain there is a section on Acacias, including rootpruning etc. found in the book - 'Bonsai with Australian Native Plants' by Dorothy & Vita Koreshoff. Pretty handy book to have if your interested in natives..
Cheers

Hi Hugh,

As a general rule wattles grown from seed in the bush do not transplant well as they usually have a tap root that pretty much grows straight down with little side growth for some distance. If you have a species in mind that grows in moist conditions you will have a far greater chance of success as these usually have plenty of feeder roots close to the trunk. Bye the way most common varieties are avavilable at nurseries, especially native nurseries so it may pay to visit. As most wattles grow very quickly even tube stock will develope a good trunk in a few years.

Regards Edward

are that might be a problem if i collect some im thinking, i did dig up 2 seedlings about 2 weeks ago to see how they went and if they would survive or not, one is looking like it will but the other isnt but it had practically no root left on it so that might be its problem and the other that is looking alright had about half its tap root on it so it might be doing better for that reason.
ill try and get hold of that book aswell to see if it says anything usfull
Grant thats a great tree i deffinetally want to go there some day to see the collection first hand:D just have to get there first hey, thats always the way I think someone from my club actually has a tree that looks like that, think it might be the same kind
Thanks

Hugh

For the timing I would go for mid winter, I've lifted a couple of wattle with success.

I have cultivated and lifted an Acacia Balleyiana Prostrate successfully . It was grown in my place and it was 10 years old when dug. It was posted on this site a while ago. I did prep work on it by spading around it the year before and then promoting feeder roots with organic ferilizer. It was dug the last week in august and transferred to a largish grow pot. It did not miss a beat. The shift to a Bonsai container was also successful. The only problem i had was after flowering it dropped a couple of branches but i think that would be normal in this species.