AusBonsai

This species has all the characteristics of a tree which would make good bonsai but do they ? I would be really interested to see and here from other growers who have worked on these trees. I feel that they are not so good. The group that I have posted a pic of is one of the oldest trees in my collection. I am the third owner and I have had them for 20 years. The lump in the pot is an old piece of charcoal they were collected from Kinglake. I have tip pruned them cut them back hard fed them not fed them in short tried everything but have never managed to attain fine ramification. They do not seem to take to well to wiring. The new tips have numerous buds but when cut back only one springs forth.
The only reason I keep this group is for sentimental associations. Apart from N. gunnii of which I have killed plenty I have not tried any other members of this genus. Maybe some of the deciduous ones from sth America wold be better.
Craig

Never tried them, and I probably won't considering that each time I've been to your place and we've come to this group planting you've told me they make poor bonsai . Which always struck me as ironic due to the fact that this group is quite impressive "in the flesh".

it looks like it potential could be a good species to use craig, i have never seen them before, i am sure with costant attention you might be able to get it to back bud, trees and shrubs can be quite variable in how they react, i have found with my buxus harlandii if i want ramification i need the branch to extend to where i want it to get to leave the last two leaves on the tip and then remove all leaves behind it, the it will back bud with a plethora of new buds and these will extend in order to create ramification and pads, i have also found that they completely stop growing once in a pot, im not sure bout this species though, have you tried moving it to a grow box in order to develop the ramification you are after and then move it?

how does it go with dieback?


jamie

I cultivated one for about 15 years before I returned it to where it belongs. This originated as a nursery plant. It was 3m high when I dug it in Winter. Far more resilient than gunnii in the mainland.
There's a vid of it here.
http://vimeo.com/3290143
Cheers
Lindsay

Hi Jamie,
Your idea of moving my tree into a box for a year is a really good one and I will try that. I will also try the technique you explained for your buxus and see what happens. The nothofagus does die back a little and I do lose the odd branch from time to time.
This is a really ancient tree species which predates eucalypts in Australia they were once a predominant species here before the continent dried out. They are found here in sth east Victoria, Tasmania, new Zealand and in south America which means they where around during gondwana. I think there is a species which is found in the divide in QLD.
With thanks from Craig

They are also the only native deciduous tree if am correct, and thus are pretty special

Anyone know if they can be found in Sydney?

Ken

i didnt know they were a deciduous KC, it interesting you cant get fine ramification craig, D trees should develop quite nicely. i would definately try get it going in a grow box though, develop it to where you want in that and then pot back up

Hi Jamie,
Nothofagus cuninnghammii is an evergreen the deciduous one is gunnii and comes from reasonable high altitudes in Tas. I have tried on a few occasions to grow gunnii as they are amazing trees but they have all died pretty quickly. I suspect they are one of those plants which refuses to live outside their climate zone.
Craig

craigw60 wrote:Hi Jamie,
Nothofagus cuninnghammii is an evergreen the deciduous one is gunnii and comes from reasonable high altitudes in Tas. I have tried on a few occasions to grow gunnii as they are amazing trees but they have all died pretty quickly. I suspect they are one of those plants which refuses to live outside their climate zone.
Craig

Ah Ok
Looks like I confused myself with the wrong one, But that won;t be the firts nor last time.

Ken