Callistemon "Dig" Today

[Inspired]

What a magnificent haul with ready features.. think you struck oil on this dig Ken

[Steven]

Some really impressive material there fella's! Some of those trees remind me of my big Callistemon which is covered in blower buds at the moment.
Looking forward to seeing what comes of them.

Regards,
Steven

[kcpoole]

Thanks Guys
it was fun and I got some really nice trees

I have potted up all the smaller ones now into mostly orchid pots with Diatomite / Zeolite mix, and just finished the first of the larger ones. It had burst the bottom of the pot and to be potted up now.
I have 3 more big ones to go but they are happy in their current pots as they have not split them yet, and I need some more diatomite and Zeolite

I will do a Howto Wiki article to describe the process I use to clean out the root mass of the big one and let everyone know when it is finished. It Should be a great resource to describe the process for just about any collected tree and especially root bound ones, and needs to be docoed.

Ken

[Rory]

Wowsers Ken That is some FINE stock you got there bud. Nice haul.
I especially like that 1st pic with caption 'the largest tree of them all'. Now, that will be really nice in years to come.

Something about that 'short lepto' I especially like too.

[kcpoole]

Something about that 'short lepto' I especially like too.

I reckon that one will be a cracker too.
hopefull it will recover well and thrive .
Especially as those 2 were a bonus and not really in the initial offer

Ken

[bonborn]

I have one very similar to the one in the 6th pic. I am not game enough to work with it. What have you got in mind for it? I just feel i don't have the skills to work on such a large trunk.

[kcpoole]

I have one very similar to the one in the 6th pic. I am not game enough to work with it. What have you got in mind for it? I just feel i don't have the skills to work on such a large trunk.

Absolutely no idea as yet
I will let them Recover and settle into the new pots and then decide.

I will probably Sell a few after they recover as I do not need as many as i have

Ken

[Neli]

Waw! I enjoyed your pictures guys...as if I was with you on this treasure hunt. Nice material!

[bonborn]

8 out of the 36 i collected have been selected to begin their lives as bonsai. The plants were soaked in seasol, trimmed back, very little root work done and have been potted in scoria, pine bark mulch and coir peat. I am letting these ones settle in for 1 whole season before i progress any further.

[kcpoole]

some nice looking trunks there good treatment and mix i reckon too
I notice you took more foliage off than me, so it will be very interesting to see the differences ( if any) in the recovery of them/
Well done and well selected

Ken

[isimiyaki]

Hi All

Went last Monday and I collected 8 Callistemon in 8" pots and thought I got a good score.
Can't imagine 40 large ones

Thanks Ken for the post as this made an easy dig.

Isimiyaki

[kcpoole]

After a month or so and initial recovery of the trees, I took the time to repot the 3 in 12" pots.

the really hot weather recently and the split pots not holding water are not a good combo, so thought they need to be re potted na dtake off the biggest of the roots.
I only took off what was needed without bare rooting, and then potted up

No decisions yet to the styling or future shape of them as its far to early yet, and probably sell off some of these trees anyway as 4 of these big ones and 6 smaller is far to many for me

Ken

[bonborn]

That's good recovery. Wonder what happened to my ones. Only one is showing signs of growth. The rest are still dormant.

[kcpoole]

interesting Bonborn. Are the still green under the bark?

I have 2 of the smaller ones that have browned right off and are sitting on water trays in the shade. Hopefully they recover.
These 3 I have not touched as yet and the roots have not been disturbed at all.

Hope these all continue to grow.

Ken

[Josh]

Good recovery there Ken. These are going to make really nice trees in years to come. Personally I probably would not have have take off quite that much foliage Bonborn with that much root reduction having been pulled out of the ground. Will be interesting to see how they go. I would just keep watering with seasol regularly. Great score guys, not often you get that come along.

Josh.