AusBonsai

Hi everyone,

This leptospermum laevigatum; Coastal tea tree, is about 20 years old and I was given it by Paul Sweeney about 18 years ago as a 3 inch tube stock.

Since then it has been always in a pot and for the last few years in this Pot by Roger Hnatiuk. It stands about 62cm high from the bottom of the pot.

I am considering cutting off the vertical branch/trunk uppermost of the left.

What do you think?

I had thought of entering it in the comp but didn't think it was quite ready yet. The left side is a bit weak compared to the rest of the tree. (This was because of an experiment last year). Also it needs repotting into a bigger pot and moved a shade to the right.

Grant

Hi Grant I do find my eye is drawn to the left trunk - I would be in favour of cutting it off and then bringing the first left branch down.


Tony

I have not got any input but I love the tree. In 20 years hopefuly some of my tea trees look as good

Hi Grant, I love this species they make fantastic bonsai. I would leave the left trunk which is so characteristic of these trees but I would remove the second branch of that trunk which is heading upwards and fill the space with the branches above the second trunk, Hope that makes sense.
Craigw

The top also needs reducing down.

Grant

I think I agree with Craig
The vertical bit on the left branch needs to go.
The branch on the main trunk to the right of it can come down into the space, which will fix the other problem I see withthat branch going straight up too. It is out of charachter with the rest of the tree.

The height of the setting and outline is fine to me

Hi Grant,
I find your tree very balanced with the height & the left side as it sits,very reminiscent of the Australian bush, but it sounds like your hands are itchy & your mind is made up,we await your outcome.
cheers Anthony.

I'll take off just the top of the portion as suggested and see how it looks.

I have tomorrow off so I can do it then.

Grant

Its such a beautiful tree Grant I have no problem with the height.
Craigw

Wow, what a great tree, Grant The height is definitely not an issue. And I agree with removing the straight bit and dropping a branch from the the right trunk down

Hi Grant

Are you referring to the upper portion of the minor trunk? If so it does draw the eye a bit, but without it I feel it creates more of a directional problem. Can you grow more foliage and hide it instead?

The second trunk is strong on the left side of a right direction. Have you had a look at tilting the tree to the left to bring the apex of the tree over the base and chabging it to direction right. Would need a bit of branch refining to make it work, and it is a bit hard to tell from a photo wether it would work.

Beautiful tree and should have been in the comp.

Tony

Very beautiful tree grant - I am perhaps a bit conservative with my approach to bonsai but I would try the other options first before cutting the branch off. For example I might try a small branch bender to very gently curve the straight section over a period of several months. Or as Tony suggested to cover the straight sections with some more foliage.

Grant could you tell us a little bit about care for the tree? Like how regularly you prune and how far back into the growth etc. I am very interested.

Ash

I'd bend it before doing anything. Nice tree. Well done, can be a hard species.

Has it flowered?

Care for this tree has been very easy. As it was grown from cutting or seed(as opposed to being dug from the wild) it has always had a nice compact root system and was just moved slowly up in pot size to the current.

It has nice small leaves and it will bud back a little so it is east to trim back hard.

No particular needs for soil mix but it does grow quickly and can droop in summer; so plenty of water and a good mix that wets easilly.

18 months ago I repotted it on one of the hottest days of the year(just to see how it would perform). I put it under shade cloth for a few weeks and then back out into sun.

I would recomend repotting around October or November depending where you live(later the colder the area you live).

I use Osmocote in the mix and liquid feed regularly. I will put it into a Diatomite mix this November.

Grant

Tony Bebb wrote:Hi Grant

Are you referring to the upper portion of the minor trunk? If so it does draw the eye a bit, but without it I feel it creates more of a directional problem. Can you grow more foliage and hide it instead?

The second trunk is strong on the left side of a right direction. Have you had a look at tilting the tree to the left to bring the apex of the tree over the base and chabging it to direction right. Would need a bit of branch refining to make it work, and it is a bit hard to tell from a photo wether it would work.

Beautiful tree and should have been in the comp.

Tony

Hi Tony,

I agree that as a left trunk on a right direction tree the left trunk is a bit strong. Hence its possible partial or full removal.

I don't like the look of it tilted to the right. If I do remove the upper portion of the left trunk I will let the remaining portions grow and cover the gap; but I am not inclined to drag down the higher left hand branch either.

I would probably also shorten the left growing portion of the left hand trunk.

Time will tell.

Grant