AusBonsai

Hi Peter,

I’m loving any updates on callitris, especially anything grown by you.
Ive only recently started growing this genus. They are very beautiful and I need to learn a lot about them.

Good afternoon gentlemen,

I’ve been given four large Callitris intratropica. I’ve read that cypress do not like trunk chopping. Have you had success with this technique to reduce them? These are several years old and have been pretty well neglected....

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Hi Peter ,recently out in the Riverina and your tree would slip in to any stand of trees out there effortlessly. Very natural with that amazing splitting trunk line. If it was not a native it would nearly be described as Penjing. Cheers John.

Thanks for the replies,

Xena,

I have not trunk chopped this species as in my experiance they do not throw back on the old wood. They do throw back a little on the younger growth.

PeterH wrote:Thanks for the replies,

Xena,

I have not trunk chopped this species as in my experiance they do not throw back on the old wood. They do throw back a little on the younger growth.

oh bugger. I'll take careful note of your comment Peter. At the moment all the stock I have is less than pencil thickness. I presume that as the years pass by I'm best off trunk chopping early while maintaining growth below the cuts each time??
The foliage is lovely, but I can't remember what particular species I have. I had originally purchased a stack of seedlings and they appear to grow very well in my area. At one point I forgot to water them as young seedlings and thought they were goners, but they must have great tolerance to drought.

Peter this is a really fantastic representation of this species. You should be proud of your efforts. A true aussie styling . I always enjoy your trees.

You have maintained a nice compact silouette for a tree that does not backbud well.

It may seem unlikely, but I agree with treeman. It's a wonderful tree, but my eye just won't go past that double sudden lurch in opposite directions in the middle of the tree. I think you could make a very interesting tree by cutting that major right side branch right off (gulp), then leaning the tree over to the right a bit, so that the trunk rises along the right side of the tree, with the foliage falling of it to the left. It's an odd balance, but I think it would work. And where there is now the double-opposite kink, the sudden change of direction, in one direction, would work well.

Just my 2c. I'd happily give a home to this tree as it is.

Gavin

I think the effect of the swirling foliage and unruly branch, branches and trunk really makes this tree something special.
This seems to be the nature of the tree species as well; it grows for a long time in a certain direction then changes its mind, direction, habits or look.

Re trunk chopping or hard cutting back; some species will bud back more easily than others, some will not bud back appreciably at all. You will need to experiment on different species and see which works for you.

Cheers,

Grant.