Melaleuca linarifolia backbud?

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Mickeyjaytee
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Melaleuca linarifolia backbud?

Post by Mickeyjaytee »

Hey everyone!

So I have a juvenile linarifolia which, are one of my favourite trees. I wanted to know if they backbud on wood? Mine is young but very leggy and only putting new growth into the very top. I’m wondering if I cut the top off and leave a branch or two if it’ll survive and backbud if so, I’ve attached a photo and am wondering where I should give to the chop?

I’ve just put it out to get more sun as to I didn’t realise how little it was actually getting.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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Re: Melaleuca linarifolia backbud?

Post by Mickeyjaytee »

Here is a picture!
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Rory
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Re: Melaleuca linarifolia backbud?

Post by Rory »

Melaleuca linarifolia is incredibly hardy. Yes, it will backbud wherever you cut it back to.

:beer:
Rory
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus

Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480

Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724

Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995

How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
Mickeyjaytee
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Re: Melaleuca linarifolia backbud?

Post by Mickeyjaytee »

Ah awesome, thanks for the reply Rory. I greatly appreciate it 😁
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Keep Calm and Ramify
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Re: Melaleuca linarifolia backbud?

Post by Keep Calm and Ramify »

I've previously tortured one of these by cutting all of the branches off and carved a little out of the remaining stump. It loved It! Still rubbing unwanted shoots off. Very generous with the back budding. Go hard & give it plenty of sunshine.
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Re: Melaleuca linarifolia backbud?

Post by Mickeyjaytee »

Hahaha I love it! Ok I’ll give it my best shot! Is there a “best time” to chop it? Perhaps leading up to spring or will it be fine if I did it say, tomorrow?
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Re: Melaleuca linarifolia backbud?

Post by Keep Calm and Ramify »

Tomorrow sounds good. :yes: Again give it as much sun as possible. Mine also lives in a shallow water tray which it seems to enjoy.
I'm going to be trimming mine again this weekend, as once cut back hard they are almost like hedging material.
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Ryceman3
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Re: Melaleuca linarifolia backbud?

Post by Ryceman3 »

I am chopping away at natives now, including M. Linariifolia. Providing it is healthy and producing new growth you should get good results cutting back now.
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Re: Melaleuca linarifolia backbud?

Post by Mickeyjaytee »

Awesome, thanks for the replies. Last question, do I need to leave a little foliage or would it just sprout and go for gold if I chopped it all off? The tree just has no low foliage and was considering chopping it riiiight back.
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Re: Melaleuca linarifolia backbud?

Post by Ryceman3 »

I have cut back to bare trunk and had the tree produce plenty of budding with this species. Not the case with all Mels, but this one seems to be fine with it.
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Re: Melaleuca linarifolia backbud?

Post by Mickeyjaytee »

Okey dokey, nervous but, I’ll do it. Thank you and everyone else for your help!
Mickey
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