Acacia - see what neglect can do!

Watto · Post by **Watto** » August 21st, 2014, 6:08 pm

This Acacia has been in the collection for more than ten years and started as a less than pencil thin seedling that was given away by the local bonsai society to promote the growing of Australian native plants as bonsai.
In October 2010 I used it as a demonstration tree at the local exhibition (please excuse the photo but I didn't take it) and since then it has not been repotted. It has however been watered, fertilized and trimmed.
Last year it produced many flowers and then early this year produced seeds. Very exciting it was. It looks like it will again flower well in a few weeks so I am looking forward to that.
The story really is this should have been repotted last year, but promise I will do it this year.

Phoenix238 · Post by **Phoenix238** » August 21st, 2014, 6:58 pm

A beautiful tree nonetheless

Guy · Post by **Guy** » August 21st, 2014, 7:53 pm

I have no confidence with natives-----Can you reduce the rootball enough on a native to put it back in the same pot for a couple of years?---

Post by **kcpoole** » August 21st, 2014, 8:13 pm

Guy wrote:I have no confidence with natives-----Can you reduce the rootball enough on a native to put it back in the same pot for a couple of years?---

Most certainly can, I take off about 1/2 the rootball of my Acacia howittii, Same with Melaleuca. Callistimon can be barerooted if need be. Typically will take 1/2 off

Lovely tree watto

Ken

shibui · Post by **shibui** » August 21st, 2014, 9:50 pm

Your brand of neglect must be slightly different to mine Watto because acacias react slightly different here

I have no confidence with natives-----Can you reduce the rootball enough on a native to put it back in the same pot for a couple of years?---

Do all dogs fetch a ball? Not really fair to lump thousands of species of Aussie plants into a single sentence Guy. I'd class figs as THE easiest bonsai species in the world. Many others (banksia, melaleuca, callistemon are just a few) are very easy as bonsai - I just can't seem to crack acacias so must be impossible to grow them as bonsai

Josh · Post by **Josh** » August 21st, 2014, 11:43 pm

Guy wrote:I have no confidence with natives-----Can you reduce the rootball enough on a native to put it back in the same pot for a couple of years?---

I worked on two Melaleuca Incana Nanna a while back. I removed about 60 of the root ball on one to fit it in the pot and about 80% on the other. Both survived and never missed a beat. I had a lepto I removed 60% of the root ball and it threw new buds in a week. Natives are tougher than we think, aftercare is what matters

Josh

Ps. lovely tree Watto. What would be really cool would be to strike some seed and grow into a bonsai. Then you would have both parent and child as bonsai

Guy · Post by **Guy** » August 22nd, 2014, 1:09 am

yes I should have been more specific

Watto · Post by **Watto** » August 22nd, 2014, 6:56 am

When I repot I will typically remove about 1/3 of the root ball and put it back in the same pot. I think this pot (hand made, one off by Aussie potter) still suits this tree for size and texture and I should get at least another 10 years out of it.
I did plant those seeds and I'm hopeful that one or two will germinate and that should happen in the next month or so if they are to be successful.

Rory · Post by **Rory** » August 22nd, 2014, 9:56 am

Josh wrote: I had a lepto I removed 60% of the root ball and it threw new buds in a week. Natives are tougher than we think, aftercare is what matters

Haha, I would certainly also be more specific about the leptospermum.

I've done that with scoparium, and ended up with a dead lepto.

shibui wrote: Your brand of neglect must be slightly different to mine Watto because acacias react slightly different here

I have no confidence with natives-----Can you reduce the rootball enough on a native to put it back in the same pot for a couple of years?---
Do all dogs fetch a ball? Not really fair to lump thousands of species of Aussie plants into a single sentence Guy. I'd class figs as THE easiest bonsai species in the world. Many others (banksia, melaleuca, callistemon are just a few) are very easy as bonsai - I just can't seem to crack acacias so must be impossible to grow them as bonsai

Yes, in my experiences, I have lost numerous exotics over the years of nearly all species I tried and also with natives, but with natives, ... well... they are the only ones that I can proudly claim that I have never lost a single tree of Acacia Howittii, Acacia Spectabalis, Acacia Parramattensis, Moreton Bay Figs, PJ figs, Casuarina Cunninghamiana and quite a few other natives that I can't think of off the top of my head. I have never had much trouble with my variety of Acacias. They respond well to anything I do to them with pruning and root pruning. I would always recommend to anyone expressing interest with bonsai, to always start with natives that grow well in their area. I think the only exotic I can claim to have never lost a single one....would be.... my Chihuahua.

Bush bunny · Post by **Bush bunny** » August 22nd, 2014, 11:05 am

Lovely tree - What tough love can do?

Djs19992 · Post by **Djs19992** » August 22nd, 2014, 12:03 pm

Its gorgeous. Ive ben trying to get my hands on a howiitti for nearly a year now.. They remind me of willow trees

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Rory · Post by **Rory** » August 22nd, 2014, 12:44 pm

Djs19992 wrote:Its gorgeous. Ive ben trying to get my hands on a howiitti for nearly a year now.. They remind me of willow trees

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Ray Nesci has plenty of them. Ray Nesci Bonsai Nursery, 26 Sagars Rd, Kenthurst

They make gorgeous bonsai. They respond to pruning well, and can 'tolerate' shade with little sun. The trick is to cut back hard and show no fear so as not to have a lanky spider, but some like the lanky spider look though.

raewynk · Post by **raewynk** » August 22nd, 2014, 1:29 pm

They are a beautiful tree for sure.

I just raised 6 seedlings. Easiest tree to grow from seeds. Believe me if I can then anyone can.

Nice to see how the babies will grow like.

They do look the same as the weeping willow I love the delicate foliage which is why I have seeded them.

Cheers
Rae

marleey73 · Post by **marleey73** » August 22nd, 2014, 6:23 pm

I have a few of these and have lost a few. They hate a repot I think it is best not to disturb the roots too much yours are an example of this. Lovely acacia and thanks for sharing.

Sno · Post by **Sno** » August 22nd, 2014, 8:16 pm

Hi Watto . That's a great tree and pot combo . May I ask who the potter is ?
It does kind of look like it needs a repot . The tree looks like it wants to climb out of that pot especially when you compare it to the 2010 photo . Is there a certain time your planning on repotting ie after flowering or time of year ?
It looks like it will have a lot of flowers ,looking forward to seeing the updates .
Cheers Craig

AusBonsai

Acacia - see what neglect can do!

Acacia - see what neglect can do!

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Re: Acacia - see what neglect can do!

Re: Acacia - see what neglect can do!

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Re: Acacia - see what neglect can do!

Re: Acacia - see what neglect can do!

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Re: Acacia - see what neglect can do!

Re: Acacia - see what neglect can do!