[Category 2] Leptospermum obovatum 3

[Jan]

2011-03-22_Leptospermum_obovatum_a.jpg

Leptospermum obovatum tripple trunk – collected on August 19, 2010. The plant was growing in sandy soil in a pocket on a sheet of granite rock.

2011-03-22_Leptospermum_obovatum_b.jpg

2011-03-22_Leptospermum_obovatum_c.jpg

2011-03-22_Leptospermum_obovatum_d.jpg

This plant was soaked in Seasol solution overnight then planted in a soft green glazed, banded, rimmed, oval pot. It was planted into a seed-raising mix/sharp sand/long stranded moss mix with a sand drainage layer and mulched with long stranded moss (I have found that including moss in the planting mix and mulching with, it seems to enhanse the recovery of collected plants). It was watered in with Seasol solution. The plant was lifted with excellent fine root retention when collected.

The plant has a thick trunk (5cm diameter) rising in a taper to twin trunks 6cm above soil line. One trunk then branches again making three main branches. The plant has aged papery bark on trunk and branches. Tall, scanty growth was removed to the lowest foliage available on each trunk and some branches were moved into new positions using charcoal (charcoal is light, strong, organic and the color blends well) spreaders.

2010-12-16 This plant was trimmed to encourage ramification again today. This has been done regularly whenever the plant becomes “leggy”.

2011-02-18 Plant trimmed using “clip and grow method” to encourage branch ramification. Upper branch on far left tied into new position with guy wire.

The plant has been regularly trimmed as the new growth elongates to build a new, more compact branch structure with better ramification. This Ti-tree is an early work-in-progress with more branch repositioning and trimming yet to be done. The bonsai pot it is growing in is being used in place of a training pot and will probably not be my preferred pot as the plant develops. I envision this plant growing in an earthy textured and colored pot more in keeping with its rugged character.

[Jan]

Botanical Name: Leptospermum obovatum
Common Name: Ti-tree
Training: 7 months
Size: Height (from soil line) 29cm, Width 35cm, Depth 25cm.
Artist: Jan
State: NSW

Here are a set of images with a neutral background,

2011-03-23_Leptospermum_obovatum_3_aw.jpg

2011-03-23_Leptospermum_obovatum_3_bw.jpg

2011-03-23_Leptospermum_obovatum_3_cw.jpg

2011-03-23_Leptospermum_obovatum_3_dw.jpg