This is a Callistemon pallidus. It was doing well then suddenly I noticed that it's leaves began to loose their firmness. I suspected root problems so I had a look and sure enough there were almost no roots left, just a few black stubs!
I suspect that it was caused by the roots drying out at some stage followed by death and rotting. I doubt it was too much water. You can also see some die back to the roots from a pruning which didn't help!
Anyway, I repotted it and waited for any signs of recovery. I waited...and waited.... for 10 months or more and nothing. It was on the teetering between life and death just refusing to move and with about 10 shrivelled leaves hanging on. I began to wonder if any buds were still alive. Then one day I had a close look and saw the axillary buds very slowly starting to swell. It finally decided not to die and go with life. Talk about on the edge!
Normally I would have thrown it on the burn pile but I kind of hoped this one would pull through...The branches you see are the result of those buds. It's still very weak but seems to be out of the woods????
I will let it grow without touching it for a while.
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- treeman
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Back from the dead.
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Last edited by treeman on February 20th, 2017, 3:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Mike
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Re: Back from the dead.
Mike
Great trunkline! I assume you started this young and wired it up. It wants to live and become something special down the track I think. I really like it
Great trunkline! I assume you started this young and wired it up. It wants to live and become something special down the track I think. I really like it
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Re: Back from the dead.
Bloody excellent. This is the type of stock which we should all be seeking to develop and create.
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Re: Back from the dead.
Hello Mike,Webos wrote:Bloody excellent. This is the type of stock which we should all be seeking to develop and create.
I had an extremely healthy pallidus that i wanted to put into a larger container for development.
After a minor directional prune for the foliage and minor root prune it died.
After reading this post i went and had another look, with my glasses on and definitely dead.
I believe the plant turned its toes up because of exposing and trimming its roots.
Kevin
- treeman
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Re: Back from the dead.
Actually this tree was discovered on an expedition into the wild Victorian interior where we had to battle deadly snakes and perilous ravines. I actually broke my leg in 2 places...Oh who am I kidding, it was wired when young...Matthew wrote:Mike
Great trunkline! I assume you started this young and wired it up.
Mike
- treeman
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Re: Back from the dead.
Yes Kevin I have a few more in pots and a lot in the ground. I'm still feeling my way with them but they do seem a bit more touch than viminalis. I will post any findings as/if I learn them. I like the restrained look of the flowers on this species (as well as the bark) so I think it's worth persisting with.Kevin wrote:Hello Mike,Webos wrote:Bloody excellent. This is the type of stock which we should all be seeking to develop and create.
I had an extremely healthy pallidus that i wanted to put into a larger container for development.
After a minor directional prune for the foliage and minor root prune it died.
After reading this post i went and had another look, with my glasses on and definitely dead.
I believe the plant turned its toes up because of exposing and trimming its roots.
Kevin
Mike