[squizzy] melaleuca claret tops

User avatar
squizzy
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1438
Joined: March 2nd, 2011, 4:12 pm
Favorite Species: pines
Bonsai Age: 10
Location: sydney
Has thanked: 20 times
Been thanked: 11 times

[squizzy] melaleuca claret tops

Post by squizzy »

Melaleuca claret tops

Height 340mm

Cost $7.95

Purchased wirreander nursery Ingleside

Squizz
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34 55..............................
User avatar
squizzy
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1438
Joined: March 2nd, 2011, 4:12 pm
Favorite Species: pines
Bonsai Age: 10
Location: sydney
Has thanked: 20 times
Been thanked: 11 times

Re: [squizzy] melaleuca claret tops

Post by squizzy »

I think this tree is my best chance of the three create entries

I have only cut it back at this stage and plan to repot in about 6 weeks.

I have a few of these and am confident I can get good growth in a short period of time.

Squizz
image.jpeg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34 55..............................
CraigM
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 343
Joined: February 25th, 2014, 10:23 pm
Bonsai Age: 20
Bonsai Club: Waverley, Vic Native and BSV
Location: Melbourne
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: [squizzy] melaleuca claret tops

Post by CraigM »

Nice structure, going to be a cool tree
User avatar
squizzy
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1438
Joined: March 2nd, 2011, 4:12 pm
Favorite Species: pines
Bonsai Age: 10
Location: sydney
Has thanked: 20 times
Been thanked: 11 times

Re: [squizzy] melaleuca claret tops

Post by squizzy »

Here is tree 2 of my experiment.

Once again. Potted in zeolite only and into the aquaponics system.
image.jpeg
Squizz
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34 55..............................
NAHamilton
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 207
Joined: March 24th, 2013, 7:24 pm
Favorite Species: Backea
Bonsai Age: 3
Bonsai Club: Ausbonsai
Location: Ocean Shores

Re: [squizzy] melaleuca claret tops

Post by NAHamilton »

Hi Squizzy,

Are you able to fertilise as well or are you relying on what the trout produce?

Cheers,
Nigel
User avatar
squizzy
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1438
Joined: March 2nd, 2011, 4:12 pm
Favorite Species: pines
Bonsai Age: 10
Location: sydney
Has thanked: 20 times
Been thanked: 11 times

Re: [squizzy] melaleuca claret tops

Post by squizzy »

From what I understand you can ad seasol without any harm to the fish. I have done that twice now without any noticeable change in the system and the fish seemed fine.

I am learning along the way. The biggest problem I am having is the water keeps dropping to a ph of 4 ish. I am just adjusting with the powder I got from fish works at the moment but wouldn't mind experimenting with other natural ways like egg shells.

I think a combination of warmer weather and a more mature system will kick things along.

I do have to sacrifice the trout soon though for something more suitable in warmer weather. I have grown the trout from 100mm to nearly 300 in the past 3 months. I was fairly shocked.

Squizz
1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34 55..............................
NAHamilton
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 207
Joined: March 24th, 2013, 7:24 pm
Favorite Species: Backea
Bonsai Age: 3
Bonsai Club: Ausbonsai
Location: Ocean Shores

Re: [squizzy] melaleuca claret tops

Post by NAHamilton »

It's an interesting plan for sure. I keep my claret tips in water after a recommendation from a local grower and noticed a definite improvement. That's a big increase in the size of the fish. Will they be sacrificed for dinner? Rainbow trout are delicious!
User avatar
squizzy
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1438
Joined: March 2nd, 2011, 4:12 pm
Favorite Species: pines
Bonsai Age: 10
Location: sydney
Has thanked: 20 times
Been thanked: 11 times

Re: [squizzy] melaleuca claret tops

Post by squizzy »

Hahaha. Yes. Thinking of smoking them? I've heard they are even better smoked.
1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34 55..............................
Ent
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 66
Joined: June 11th, 2013, 9:33 pm
Favorite Species: Ficus
Bonsai Age: 1
Location: Townsville

Re: [squizzy] melaleuca claret tops

Post by Ent »

Hi Sqizzy,
I am learning along the way. The biggest problem I am having is the water keeps dropping to a ph of 4 ish. I am just adjusting with the powder I got from fish works at the moment but wouldn't mind experimenting with other natural ways like egg shells.
A ph of 4 is on the extreme side of trout tolerances, get yourself some hydrated lime from a hardware/cement place (it may be what you already have) and use it to raise the ph. It will not buffer the ph much but it will raise it. Do it slowly (small amounts daily) as to not shock the fish and don't go too far the other way. Be careful with it as it will burn your skin if your skin is wet and don't breath it in.

Ent
User avatar
squizzy
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1438
Joined: March 2nd, 2011, 4:12 pm
Favorite Species: pines
Bonsai Age: 10
Location: sydney
Has thanked: 20 times
Been thanked: 11 times

Re: [squizzy] melaleuca claret tops

Post by squizzy »

Cheers ent

I have no idea how to solve it long term but I've had a few others suggest it's too much food? I've been trying to control that also.

I intend to have a larger set up later but for now it's 5 fish. 300 L of water and about 300L of grow bed. I'm lead to believe a rough rule is twice the grow bed to water volume :whistle:

Squizz
1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34 55..............................
Ent
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 66
Joined: June 11th, 2013, 9:33 pm
Favorite Species: Ficus
Bonsai Age: 1
Location: Townsville

Re: [squizzy] melaleuca claret tops

Post by Ent »

Hi Squizzy,

You can raise your pH with Hydrated Lime in the morning when your pH is lowest and then to add buffering capacity with Sodium bicarbonate in the afternoon when your pH is highest. You will not need much with those volumes, probably start with a teaspoon of lime, measure your pH before and after and see what it does. You don't want rapid changes, I would aim for 0.2 increase per day or twice a day.

Ent
User avatar
squizzy
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1438
Joined: March 2nd, 2011, 4:12 pm
Favorite Species: pines
Bonsai Age: 10
Location: sydney
Has thanked: 20 times
Been thanked: 11 times

Re: [squizzy] melaleuca claret tops

Post by squizzy »

image.jpeg
So here is the claret tops as of the end of October. Its put on quite a bit of growth as I would have expected. I am going to let it go a bit longer to keep the new roots moving. I can see a nice line in there that I will cut back hard too when I think it has the root power to handle it.

I have also added a few photos of my helpers. Sorry to all the people who might find this cruel but I think its a fantastic concept both from a plant growth perspective and a sustainable living one. By the way they tasted great. I eased of on pellet feed and gave them crickets and bugs for the last few weeks.

Squizz
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Last edited by squizzy on October 28th, 2016, 11:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34 55..............................
User avatar
squizzy
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1438
Joined: March 2nd, 2011, 4:12 pm
Favorite Species: pines
Bonsai Age: 10
Location: sydney
Has thanked: 20 times
Been thanked: 11 times

Re: [squizzy] melaleuca claret tops

Post by squizzy »

image.jpeg
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34 55..............................
User avatar
Steven
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 3408
Joined: November 7th, 2008, 11:21 am
Favorite Species: [color=green]Casuarina[/color]
Bonsai Age: 15
Bonsai Club: AusBonsai & The School of Bonsai
Location: Sydney
Has thanked: 43 times
Been thanked: 60 times
Contact:

Re: [squizzy] melaleuca claret tops

Post by Steven »

Is that little one legal Squizzy? :whistle:
Trout.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Check out the AusBonsai Store ǀ Wiki ǀ Blogs ǀ Gallery ǀ 360˚ ǀ
Remember to be polite and abide by the Spirit and Intent of AusBonsai
User avatar
squizzy
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1438
Joined: March 2nd, 2011, 4:12 pm
Favorite Species: pines
Bonsai Age: 10
Location: sydney
Has thanked: 20 times
Been thanked: 11 times

Re: [squizzy] melaleuca claret tops

Post by squizzy »

Hahaha.

Absolutely
1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34 55..............................
Post Reply

Return to “Category 2 withdrawn, disqualified or dead entries”