Firethorn V Gum

[Bretts]

We where talking about using exotics to recreate the style of our natives. I decided this Firethorn I collected last year was a good candidate.

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I have never grown these before but as I am so keen to get into my favourite one I thought it would be good to see how this one reacts to chopping before I do it.

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I wasn't planning on going any further but as I saw an earwig type bug in the borer hole duck away when I was picking some deadwood off I thought I better get the carver out and have a dig after it.

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Thought this angle was ok.

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I was kinda practicing a little different technique than I usually do and I was only doing a rough carve but I might be afraid to touch it now. I think that's about as good as I have got
A couple of different angles

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[Bretts]

I found the full sized saw I used to take the branches also worked well to cut a wedge ( ) out of the leader to bring it more up and forward.

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I don't mind how it has come out at the moment. Some might not like the fat start to the branches but I reckon I can get them to settle into the design. I could possibly come down a leader as well and I do always have that option but I am fairly confident I can do what I want from here.

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I think a gum is pretty natural at about 7:1 in bonsai. With that it gives me heaps of room to move here to make whatever branches I like.
Made up a virt of Gum branches over the top of this to see where I was heading.

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[kvan64]

Nice firethorn. I have one to do some work on so will keep an eye on this one. By the way, what's the car battery for Bretts?

[Handy Mick]

Love the verts Bretts,
I think the battery is for when the bonsai die, just connect the cables and ZAPPPPP......ZAPPPPP..... back to life.
I was actully thinking does he actully tow his bonsai around in the back of the kids tractor

[Bretts]

Thanks Guys
The battery was holding the shed door open when I was cleaning it out and seemed to handle the job Ok so I put it on full time until something better comes along.
Kids tractor express sounds like a great idea. I will have to try that, I know I will regret it when I come out to find all my trees shipped around the yard

[Jake]

awsome verts, how did u aquire the basket? iv'e been trying to get my hands on some for a while but its proving harder then i thought

[Bretts]

Thanks.
The Wife was working for the company when Australia ran them out of town
I got a half dozen or so of them. I could have had more but the misses was not keen on seeing them around the yard after looking at them all day long for many years

[kvan64]

These baskets would have the best drainage ever. I just repotted a tree today to find out it has a tiny drainage whole about 1.5cm wide. The pot is 50cm in diameter and 60cm tall.

[Bretts]

Thought I better get in and do some work before the new branches got too thick

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[bodhidharma]

Good rootball Bretts. VERY healthy. Not keen on the leader as it looks a bit angley, to severe a change. I am sure time will smooth it out. Looking forward to it in Berry.

[Bretts]

It has been great to watch these guys grow since I started collecting them. It's nice to grow something that loves the climate for once
I think you are right about that leader. I was more worried how it followed a paralell line with the first branch though. Maybe we are seeing the same thing from a different perspective
I considerd putting more effort into moving that branch some. I had already wedge cut it to bring the angle up more (detial in above posts). Maybe a set of branch benders will finish the job

[Bretts]

Just a little update. Into a large bonsai pot and will start some more work on it soon.

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[parabola]

Looking good!

[Bretts]

Thanks parabola
I will have to get a couple more of these they love our climate here.
Tidied this one up a little with a trim and a little wiring. Once it responds to this I think next trim will be much harsher and I will open it up alot more on the inside to show of the trunk and branch structure.
what do you reckon is it starting to look like a gum tree ?

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[bodhidharma]

what do you reckon is it starting to look like a gum tree

Nope, but i dont mind it. To dense foliage wise. A gum is more open with foliage pads looking a bit softer and spaced. you can see through them. It will look great in berry.