backyard lillipilli
Posted: September 9th, 2015, 11:06 pm
Hi,
This lillipilli was planted in my yard 8 years ago, with no intention for use as bonsai. 2 years ago the plant needed to be removed for a number of reasons, so late winter I dug it up and put it in a cheap plastic storage tub with a dose of seasol, and a reduction of the foliage to aid recovery only. The whole process to be honest was quiet brutal with little care taken as I didn't have the time to mess about.
After no time at all the tree went nuts. Throwing new foliage and growing strong for a further 12months until today when I noticed the cheap plastic tub has developed some nasty cracks and is in need of replacement. So I broke the plastic away and started combing the clay/crud soil away to reduce the root ball to a respectable size. Unfortunately the large solid clay balls that broke away in chunks took a large amount of the new fine roots with it. I contemplated hosing the soil away but persevered not knowing how it would handle that sort of treatment, as this is the first I have dealt with lilli pilli with Traditional bonsai techniques.
Hopefully it pulls through as it is over 100mm in diameter and 800mm high, nice taper and some degree of nebari under the soil which should provide the opportunity for a nice bonsai in the future. tomorrow I will make up a box to fit. The following pictures are a few quick progression pics I managed to snap off. Any advice on lillipillis in general would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks..
This lillipilli was planted in my yard 8 years ago, with no intention for use as bonsai. 2 years ago the plant needed to be removed for a number of reasons, so late winter I dug it up and put it in a cheap plastic storage tub with a dose of seasol, and a reduction of the foliage to aid recovery only. The whole process to be honest was quiet brutal with little care taken as I didn't have the time to mess about.
After no time at all the tree went nuts. Throwing new foliage and growing strong for a further 12months until today when I noticed the cheap plastic tub has developed some nasty cracks and is in need of replacement. So I broke the plastic away and started combing the clay/crud soil away to reduce the root ball to a respectable size. Unfortunately the large solid clay balls that broke away in chunks took a large amount of the new fine roots with it. I contemplated hosing the soil away but persevered not knowing how it would handle that sort of treatment, as this is the first I have dealt with lilli pilli with Traditional bonsai techniques.
Hopefully it pulls through as it is over 100mm in diameter and 800mm high, nice taper and some degree of nebari under the soil which should provide the opportunity for a nice bonsai in the future. tomorrow I will make up a box to fit. The following pictures are a few quick progression pics I managed to snap off. Any advice on lillipillis in general would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks..
