AusBonsai

Went to the adelaide bonsai show on the weekend with 500 to spend on whatever. I left feeling a little deflated having only spent 30 bucks lol. Didnt find anything i was after. With a wad of cash still in my pocket we decided to head to a bonsai shop on the way home.

I have been there before amd not bouggt much and thought this trip would turn out the same. Well i was wrong this little bottlebrush caught my eye and i had to have it. Ended up settling on $375, this i by far my biggest purchase and normally i like to grow my own trees but this time was happy to get a more refined tree. Went home with an empty pocket but very happy .

Looks a lovely Bonsai. How old is this tree?

Beautiful tree.
Looks very natural.

I have no idea on age mate. lady who sold it to me claimed 40 years but with a 1 inch trunk id be suprised if it was much more than 15 years and 10 would be more like it i think but not sure? Maybe have to chop its head of and count the rings

The amount of fruit indicates it flowered very well recently. You should look forward to next season.

Wow. I was thinking about if this was possible. Looks really good.

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The amount of fruit indicates it flowered very well recently. You should look forward to next season.

Grab some better specs Joel. I'm pretty sure those are all flower buds just about to open. Sammy should look forward to the next couple of weeks.

lady who sold it to me claimed 40 years but with a 1 inch trunk id be suprised if it was much more than 15 years and 10 would be more like it i think but not sure?

It is possible to mistreat a plant enough to take 40 years to produce something like this so the claim is possible but it is also possible to achieve a similar result in 5-10 years if conditions are better. In bonsai, actual age is irrelevant. What it looks like is far more important.

Shibui you are right. Buds are swelling and close to opening. Thought the mistake could have been made because of my poor camera skills . I will post a new pic when it goes into full flower if all things go well.

shibui wrote: It is possible to mistreat a plant enough to take 40 years to produce something like this so the claim is possible but it is also possible to achieve a similar result in 5-10 years if conditions are better. In bonsai, actual age is irrelevant. What it looks like is far more important.

Very well said. When I read this post that was exactly what crossed my mind. If they are grown with even reasonable conditions and a lot of sun, Callistemon are pretty fast growing trees.
Quite possibly one of the best 'advice' quotes of all time. I feel this should be slightly rewritten as a generalization and engraved on a plaque in every bonsai club....

It is possible to mistreat a plant enough to take tens of years to produce something that is also possible to achieve a similar result in only a few years, provided one learns enough about basic horticulture and optimum growing conditions. In bonsai, actual age is irrelevant. What it looks like is far more important.

Full sun, frequent fertilizer, left to grow and not cut back all the time = strong, healthy growth
Low sun and part shade, no or minimal fertilizer, and frequent pruning = slow, gangly growth

What a lovely tree.
*checks tree wish list* yep Callistemon is on the list, which seems to be growing longer since joining this site.

shibui wrote:

The amount of fruit indicates it flowered very well recently. You should look forward to next season.

Grab some better specs Joel. I'm pretty sure those are all flower buds just about to open. Sammy should look forward to the next couple of weeks.

Sammy D wrote:Shibui you are right. Buds are swelling and close to opening. Thought the mistake could have been made because of my poor camera skills . I will post a new pic when it goes into full flower if all things go well.

Ha! Too kind. Seriously, I identify native plants for a living so should have a better eye.

I'd love to see a photo when it flowers if possible!

Now in full flower.

Sammy, that flowering is very good. When you can get the flowers all around the tree and all the flowers open at the same time, it is very impressive.
Thanks for the update.

Update. Flowers finished.

Lovely silhouette.
If I'm not mistaken Pup cuts back hard at this point.
Something you may need to consider if you want to keep this shape/size.

Have a good look at pups educational thread on callistemon and flowers (if you haven't already).
Keep us posted.