AusBonsai

Banksia serrata

Height 900mm

Cost $12.00

Squizz

More info needed.

Your first post must contain the following;
• At least 2 photos of your chosen stock before any work commences.
• Species name (any species is allowed)
• Original height of stock (from top of pot to tip of tree)
• Where you obtained it from
• Cost of stock

Additional info.

Plant was purchased at Alpine wholesale nursery.

Additional photo

Ok

For me this Serrata stands the best chance of any of the entries I have submitted so I was keen to get it started. I have trimmed the plant a bit and umed and ahhed about its front and its angle. I have also sketched what I hope the tree might resemble in about 18 months but I may be a tad ambitious???

So that's the first move of many. I hope you like. Squizz

How about the leaf reduction in the sketch. I am pretty happy with those results

squizzy wrote:
How about the leaf reduction in the sketch. I am pretty happy with those results

Yep very impressive. Best I've seen in such a short time.

You are great with the pen mate.

There has been a lesson learnt here. I think the problem might have been the distance from the branch union that I cut the trunk but someone( Grant bowie or Craigw60) might be able to shed some light on other theories.

It is producing a second leader which will remain untouched till spring/summer at this stage.

Squizz

squizzy wrote:There has been a lesson learnt here. I think the problem might have been the distance from the branch union that I cut the trunk but someone( Grant bowie or Craigw60) might be able to shed some light on other theories.

It is producing a second leader which will remain untouched till spring/summer at this stage.

Squizz

Yeah, that can happen on serrata. I have all but given up serrata and instead I have stayed with Integrifolia, which is much hardier and can withstand brutal chops. I would definitely say you've attempted to cut too low if you wanted to keep that as your leader.... hard to see in the pic, but you may have chopped to close to the actual start of the branch as well. Shame, it would have been awesome with your intentions. However, you may get a shoot later on.

Here is the B. serrata update. Since the last photo it had put on some great regrowth and I have just cut it back to the points I would like some new shoots from.

Squizz

A few options here. Might have to take some time out soon and see what I can mould out of this one

Hi all.

Reported a couple of banksias today including this one.
It couldn't get quite as low as I wanted in the pot but it should work.

I am pretty happy with the pot selection

Any thoughts welcome.

Squizz

Hi all,

There has been some amazing progressions for this comp and I feel soemwhat defeated at the moment but I am happy to update these threads to show what has and hasnt been done correctly.

This is my Banksia serrata and I am slowley growing more fond of this variety. We seem to be working out our differences.

I am not going to acheive the result in my earlier sketch but am looking at ways to give the illusion that this may impersonate a small tree.

I am reluctant to cut to hard after loosing a bit of growth from dyback earlier in the comp on this tree and I also dont want to strip the growth in the immediate period after a repot as not to put too much pressure on the tree. I feel it is still somewhat in recovery mode after such a root reduction to this size pot. I intend this as its last trim until it shows signs of strong growth next spring. I am hoping to get one or two flushes of growth and shaping in before the comp deadline.

Anyway happy to hear any thoughts.

Squizz

Not a great deal has happened with this one either since the repot. The first left branch is not great in the design of the tree but I am leaving it as I think I need the foliage for the shohin size foe this comp. After the comp it may come off to give more movement in the trunk before the first branch.

Photo to follow

Squizz

Looks great,not much time for comp as you say i would keep until you have something later to work with.

I would bend the right branch a bit more looks too straight to me,good luck.