Banksia serrata dwarf, informal upright or cascade??

[Josh]

I have this banksia integrafolia "pygmy possum" and think it's time to choose a direction. Not sure if to keep it upright or grow it on for a while as a cascade. They naturally weep so I think it would pull off a cascade quite convincingly. What do you think..

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These back bud like crazy (almost to much) and naturally weep so cascading is possible.
I have one that is in a bonsai pot already and will be trained as a slanting/informal upright

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All comments welcome
Josh

[Bougy Fan]

Great start Josh. The cascade as you have wired it doesn't look right - it just looks like a bent over trunk. If you really want to make a cascade I would straighten up the top and use that branch on the left to make a tail. The tail should look like it has naturally grown down and not look bent and contrived.

[Josh]

Great start Josh. The cascade as you have wired it doesn't look right - it just looks like a bent over trunk. If you really want to make a cascade I would straighten up the top and use that branch on the left to make a tail. The tail should look like it has naturally grown down and not look bent and contrived.

Yeah I understand what your saying. This was more just to get an idea. They are quite flexible so I would create a sharper
bend and grow a new branch up as the crown.

Josh.

[Josh]

Ok, so I got such a big response last time thought I'd just have a go. I believe the bend is sharper and will be more convincing (thanks for the comment Bougy) the branch just before the bend will become the crown so I think the way these grow will fill out the top and become a believable cascade. Now to get a ground growing area sorted to chuck this in for a year or 4.

Josh

edit. forgot the pic

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[Josh]

Time to update.

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Still got a long way to go but getting there.


Josh

[Jason]

Looking good Josh, like the colour of the pot with the leaves

[Boics]

Hi Josh.

This is coming along.

I presume all/most of the back budding is around the Tuber / base?
Mine does the same.

I have noticed that as the base grows the buds seem to appear higher and higher up the Tuber.
So maybe the goal is to thicken up a bit higher by letting your leader grow out and ramify a bit.
This is what I am currently trying.

P.S. Are you sure this is not a B. Serrata?

[Josh]

Looking good Josh, like the colour of the pot with the leaves

Thanks Jason.

Hi Josh.

This is coming along.

I presume all/most of the back budding is around the Tuber / base?
Mine does the same.

I have noticed that as the base grows the buds seem to appear higher and higher up the Tuber.
So maybe the goal is to thicken up a bit higher by letting your leader grow out and ramify a bit.
This is what I am currently trying.

P.S. Are you sure this is not a B. Serrata?

Hi Biocs. Firstly you are correct it is serrata. Mine back buds along the upper trunk but usually opposite another branch. It is starting push out more buds now and yes I am letting it grow out a bit to thicken the top trunk. These naturally weep so suits this style well.
It is hard to see in the photo bug it has started to put more branching and is starting to fill out a bit.

Thanks
Josh.

[Josh]

Wow, been a while since I updated this one. I'll show updated photos of both trees mentioned in this thread.

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[Sno]

That first one is getting really chunky ,my vote is upright . With taper like that it could be lost as a cascade . Still which ever way you go fun tree to work with .
Cheers Sno

[Josh]

That first one is getting really chunky ,my vote is upright . With taper like that it could be lost as a cascade . Still which ever way you go fun tree to work with .
Cheers Sno

Can't do upright, as soon as I take the wire off they simply grow down. Even with a thick trunk it slowly loses it's uprightness and starts to droop. They will stay as
cascades.

[Beaumatsu2]

Great tree and has some great potential. It would be as an upright but you explained why it can't be. Just one small question are you sure it's a Banksia integrifolia dwarf? They usually have no problem growing upright and usually have a different leaf. This is a great tree and I think it's great that the foliage grows down. It is a great characteristic of the the tree. Keep up the good work.


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[Josh]

Great tree and has some great potential. It would be as an upright but you explained why it can't be. Just one small question are you sure it's a Banksia integrifolia dwarf? They usually have no problem growing upright and usually have a different leaf. This is a great tree and I think it's great that the foliage grows down. It is a great characteristic of the the tree. Keep up the good work.


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I you see Biocs comment above we already established its B serrata. Maybe one of the mods could change the title please.