Native trials 2018

[Keep Calm and Ramify]

Thanks for the update Rory - I'm thirsty for any info you've gained on growing the Mel. thymifolia.
What are these persistent "munching insects" you mention?

[Rory]

Thanks for the update Rory - I'm thirsty for any info you've gained on growing the Mel. thymifolia.
What are these persistent "munching insects" you mention?

Mainly possums and grasshoppers.

I do love the species. So I’m going to persist even if lose all the current ones.
Their flowering is too beautiful to give up.

Hint: I think Rory likes Eucalyptus crebra.

In fact if it were a recommendation on the share market, I think the stocks Euc-crebra and Lepto-cardwell are a ‘buy’!

Hahahahaha.

That made me laugh. 1 of 1 analysts recommend a long term buy.

Similar speculative recommended buys include:
A2M $10
GRB $0.10
ABP $3.20
EDE $0.045

[boom64]

Thanks for the update Rory ,always interesting to hear how things are going. Cheers John.

[Rory]

2018 Trials : Update going into winter:

Melaleuca thymifolia:
These are looking quite sick. However for those that aren't afflicted by vermin, these are a fantastic choice to grow.
The 2 that I have that the possums haven't found yet are going well. The others keep getting stripped and are quite ill.

Melaleuca linarifolia (not compacta):
Fabulous. Bulletproof.

Micromyrtus ciliata:
Not great. The mix is too heavy. My next attempts will be 100% river sand. They have been stripped by possums right before the 6 week dark winter period here. Really disappointed at the timing. If they survive winter, I'll be putting them in 100% river sand, but I don't like my chances. Full sun and fast drainage is needed.

Thryptomene saxicola:
Dead.

Melaleuca ericifolia:
Dead. Most didn't survive a heavy root prune.

Indigofera australis:
Fabulous. In about 80% river sand and thrives. The first specimen I acquired was staying wet too long, and the roots were rotting. I have only kept the healthier one with a better root system now. If they don't require watering after about 48 hours, the roots deteriorate for anyone attempting them. Fast drainage is needed.

Banksia marginata:
Fabulous. 50% river sand has helped immensely. I might even go a tad higher at repotting time with these. The trick is to leave a lot of foliage on them.

Leptospermum cardwell (small round leaf variety):
Fabulous. Nothing can kill these beasts.

Eucalytpus punctata:
Dead.

Angophora bakeri:
Only one left. Gall wasps, grasshoppers and possums eventually have killed most of them.

Leptospermum squarossa:
Accidentally let them dry out and they all died.

Baeckea linifolia:
Never really took off after initial root prune. Dead.

[Ryceman3]

2018 Trials : Update going into winter:
Melaleuca ericifolia:
Dead. Most didn't survive a heavy root prune.

Leptospermum cardwell (small round leaf variety):
Fabulous. Nothing can kill these beasts.

Thanks for the updates Rory ... always helpful to hear how things are working out - good or bad!

The two bits above were the most interesting to me ... I have ericifolia in the natural comp. I repotted in March, I wouldn't say it was a heavy root prune but at least around 50% reduction. I did two others as well as the comp one and all are doing fine (all about the same size). I will say they had a lot of nice fine, usable roots in close to the root ball so I was ahead in that area before I started.

Leptospermum Cardwell ... is this the same as Lept. Favescens (Cardwell Pink)?? I wouldn't describe the leaves on that as small and round though so I'm thinking not, but I do like the sound of it - very promising.

Again, thanks for the updates.

[Rory]

2018 Trials : Update going into winter:
Melaleuca ericifolia:
Dead. Most didn't survive a heavy root prune.

Leptospermum cardwell (small round leaf variety):
Fabulous. Nothing can kill these beasts.

Thanks for the updates Rory ... always helpful to hear how things are working out - good or bad!

The two bits above were the most interesting to me ... I have ericifolia in the natural comp. I repotted in March, I wouldn't say it was a heavy root prune but at least around 50% reduction. I did two others as well as the comp one and all are doing fine (all about the same size). I will say they had a lot of nice fine, usable roots in close to the root ball so I was ahead in that area before I started.

Leptospermum Cardwell ... is this the same as Lept. Favescens (Cardwell Pink)?? I wouldn't describe the leaves on that as small and round though so I'm thinking not, but I do like the sound of it - very promising.

Again, thanks for the updates.

Hi Ryceman,

Someone told me M. ericifolia was very hardy, so I can't be certain but I think I cut off around 80% of the roots. They were small seedlings. I definitely went too hard on most, as I remember thinking.... 'thats not much root left'.
I did this too with linarifolia and all the linarifolia survived, but the ericifolias didn't.

Leptospermum cardwells were purchased from Plants Plus (old cumberland state forest council nursery), and the leaves are roundish.
Its foliage is quite different to Lepto flavescens cardwell.

From my memory I believe Leptospermum cardwell flavescens is a cross between 2 species. It has the long pointed foliage. I have also grown these, but the white flowering form.

[Rory]

Interesting. I took a visit to the native wildflower nursery in Glendale in Newcastle today.
Wow, what an awesome selection of natives they have

Anyway, what got me curious is that they have stock of Leptospermum cardwell.
But their L. cardwell has the same shape leaf as L. cardwell flavescens.
Which leads me to believe that the species I purchased - labeled L. cardwell - isn’t correct.

This is what I purchased and was labelled as L. cardwell

B919AE7C-4DA0-42B1-B60B-4D587ACABB99.jpeg

.....
And this is definitely L. flavescens cardwell

E6DE8D6D-AFB3-4C6D-93B6-6045E93D0C8A.jpeg

[Ryceman3]

That is interesting Rory... and the differences between the two despite the very similar names is what made me look twice. It would be interesting to know what the original "Lepto Cardwell" you ended up with actually is. I like the leaf size/shape and if it grows as you describe it seems well worth the effort as a bonsai candidate. Unfortunately my lack of knowledge/ID skills when it comes to Lepto means my guess is as good as the next blind guy.