Melaleuca Claret Tops Progression

[Kevin]

Hello all,

I purchased this Melaleuca from Flower Power on 3 October 2016 for $19.95.
I immediately stripped back the foliage to create my bonsai skeleton.

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Several weeks later in early November 2016 the tree sprouted new buds everywhere.

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As the new buds developed further it was time to attack the roots and pot into a shallower container.

Before root prune

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After a reasonably heavy first root prune and minor canopy prune

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I do hope this species is capable of heavy root prunes as the trees roots were heavily pot bound in 3 distinct layers from tube stock (the worst area), small pot and sale pot. The tube stock roots had knotted and wooded themselves together which i cut 2 major spiraling roots away and generally reduced the depth of the wooded tube stock roots by 30%.

I do hope the tree survives my reasonably heavy root prune.

All advice appreciated.

Thank-you,

Kevin

[Bougy Fan]

I would highly recommend putting this in a saucer of water and keeping it wet. Before I got this advice (from here) I lost every mel that I heavily root pruned. I also put a handful of seamungus on the top of the mix and keep Seasol up for a week or two. If you are having the heatwave you definitely need it in a saucer of water. I have not lost a single mel since I started this regime.

[Kevin]

Thanks Tony,

I will do that right now.

Kevin

[Bougy Fan]

No worries. I have also found a saucer of water beneficial to callistemons - I picked up a collected one from Ken in Sydney. When I bought it up here to Brisbane it languished for 12 months until I stuck it in water. It has shot like crazy since and seems to really love wet feet. I have lost all callistemons I have collected so next time they will go into water to see how they go.

[kcpoole]

Nice bones of a tree there
I keep all mine well watered in summer and after pruning hard, but with the weather we are about to have I think a gravel tray or saucer is an excellent idea

Ken

[GavinG]

Leptos seem to like a water tray after repotting as well. Haven't tried it with Eucs, but "flooding" - heaps of water - has been recommended after repotting. I sense a theme? Not sure about kunzeas and the like - time for some tests.

Gavin

[Kevin]

November 2017 Update,

After the last post where i gave it a reasonably heavy root prune the top two thirds of the tree died.
So i have left it alone to rejuvenate itself.
Several weeks ago, planning to give it a hard prune and find some direction, i brought it up closer and sat it under our pergola, where its sat untouched while i've procrastinated.

The bonus is it's spot flowered for me. The flowers (photographed below) are tiny, approx. 5mm in diameter.

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Thanks,
Kevin