Melaleuca Ericifolia - Shohin

[Watto]

I have been growing this Mel for a few years now and before Christmas I put it in its first bonsai pot, one of Pat Kennedy's and the plan is simple, keep it small and now start to develop it properly (they aren't real bonsai until they are in a bonsai pot). There are plenty of things that need to be done and over the coming years I hope to achieve those.
This tree is part of my plan to show a 7 point shohin display of Australian natives in the near future.

[Raging Bull]

Hi Watto,
Looks nice in that pot. With the foliage like that it certainly looks like a bonsai. But I have a question regarding the lowest branch on the smaller left trunk,- is it being kept as a sacrifice branch? IMHO the tree looks more balanced without that branch. If you look at the image with that branch covered you will see what I mean.
Cheers, Frank.

[Ryceman3]

Love the idea of a 7 point display Watto... Look forward to seeing it come to fruition. I'm not so sure about removing the branch, it's always hard to get a good 3D appreciation from a photo in just one view, and obviously what it looks like in reality is most important so I guess that means you know better than anybody. Good luck with this one... And the other 6!

[Watto]

Thanks Frank. That branch is very straight so there will probably be some changes made. It may or may not survive, but the real development of this tree has only just started so a year or two from now I hope it is much better.

[Watto]

I snapped a quick photo of this in flower recently. The photo was taken in the trees usual resting place so its not as clear as it might be, but it was nice to see it flower.

[boom64]

Nice work Watto ,always great to see a flower ...Cheers John.

[BB Brian]

I keep seeing more and more natives! especially the Melaleuca species! they get better every time!

[PAC]

Watto

Sorry I missed the flower, but this tree looks good in the flesh (bark?) and a it's in a great pot.

After looking around your backyard today I want to know your collecting secrets, you've got some great results.

Thanks for the tour, see you in Melbourne.

Regards
Paul C.