Lemon Scented Gum (corymbia citriodora) as bonsai

[MattM]

Hello all, has anyone had any luck with this plant as bonsai. I have been trying for a few years with one plant but I can't get it to work. It has a nice little stubby trunk but the branches die back and shoot from the base. Also I can't get the leaves to reduce in size.
Any advice??
Thinking about planting it in the garden and forgetting about it.
Matt

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[shibui]

Wait until Gavin gives us an opinion but I have experienced similar issues with this species.
I'm sure the leaf size will reduce when(if) we can get some ramification but the branches dying is a real pain. I have heard some talk about letting the branches get a bit older before cutting back. Maybe that would help?

[Rory]

I have grown these for years.
The main issue I have is the pests that eat the foliage.
Generally take Neil’s advice with cutting back.
I let the branches thicken to at least 6 or 7mm before you cut back.
Don’t contiually cut back this species. It promotes die back. Cut once every 3 months.
If it’s fully developed and you’re wanting to reduce the foliage, you usually can maintain the beautiful jeuvenile fury/rough strong scented foliage by cutting back once a season to the first 3 or 4 leaves.
Don’t cut back a gum in winter!
Don’t repot or do anything in winter!
Don’t cut back a lot of foliage and root prune at the same time.
I didn’t manage to get the leaves much smaller than about 8cm or so, otherwise it affects the health of the tree.
Grow it big and appreciate it as a larger Bonsai I’m my opinion.
The new greenish colours on the wet trunk as it sheds its bark is simply divine.
THe only time I ever got die back to the base was repotting in winter or cutting back far too frequently.

They don’t like to be allowed to get bone dry but equally they don’t like to keep wet feet.
Don’t over pot them either. If your drainage is really good then it’s less of a problem.
I’d use about 30-35% washed river sand in your mix.

If you let them grow in the ground do not let them go for more than 6 months at a time, as the tap root will take over and the lateral roots lose vigor. Then when you cut the tap root the whole tree can die or die back to the base very easily.

[GavinG]

Thanks Rory. I've never grown them. Angophora hispida has smaller leaves, with red fuzz and some interesting angles, but I haven't conquered the "staying alive" thing with them yet...

Gavin

[MJL]

Thanks Rory. I've never grown them. Angophora hispida has smaller leaves, with red fuzz and some interesting angles, but I haven't conquered the "staying alive" thing with them yet...

Gavin

Ha! I am no guru but conquering the staying alive thing would be rather high on the list of priorities. Best of luck with that goal!


Bonsai teaches me patience.
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[Rory]

Thanks Rory. I've never grown them. Angophora hispida has smaller leaves, with red fuzz and some interesting angles, but I haven't conquered the "staying alive" thing with them yet...

Gavin

Ha! I am no guru but conquering the staying alive thing would be rather high on the list of priorities. Best of luck with that goal!


Bonsai teaches me patience.
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Hahahaha.
MJL, if you haven’t grown A. hispida, then you’ll understand as well as being witty and funny, Gavin is accurate.
I had 3 of them. Beautiful foliage. I repotted them and they powered on for 6 months.
Then the first promptly died. And the others died about 3 months after that.
One did get attacked by vermin, but not enough to cause death.

Disclaimer: I won’t pursue more C. Citriodora unless I move. It’s too disheartening with the possums.

[MattM]

I planted my Lemon Scented Gum in the garden - too hard basket.
I have a Sydney Red Gum and Sydney Blue gum which are powering on as bonsai.

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