[Natural] Melaleuca Claret Tops - Elmer

[juan73870]

[boom64]

Good result Elmer. Cheers John.

[BB Brian]

Mad progress! Well done.

[Ryceman3]

Going off like I did nothing to it.
ct293.jpg

Yep... there it is!

[Elmer]

Update time has made me stop and really think about this tree, where it has come from and where it's heading.

First off, after the dig and big chop it budded everywhere from top to bottom and that's when I made my first mistake with this tree, I removed all the excess shoots instead of letting the tree use them to rebuild energy. It limped thru winter marking time instead of growing like my other CT's.

ctoct20a.jpg

ctoct20b.jpg

Given the above I am going to let her have another month or two of free growth before thinning again. I have included photos from both sides as I am unsure which I prefer, A with the real low first branch or B with the first branch at the change of direction, I also need to be more considered with future branch selection so the tree heads down the more natural path.

[Elmer]

Since the last update work has been killing me so as with the rest this tree hasn't been fed, pruned or watered consistently but it does go to show how much neglect they can survive. To top it off it's got some funky growth problems at the moment, my guess is fungal as it started during the recent weeks of heavy rain.

ctapr21.jpg

ctapr21b.jpg

Let's see if the next few months is kinder to me and my trees ....

[Watto]

Still looking OK so neglect may be the key to success

[jofi]

Such a great, hardy species with spectacular foliage.
After seeing Claret Tops growing on the Sunshine Coast as shire garden trees a few weeks back, its a no-brainer to get a few of these and train as bonsai.
Could've planted the shire trees in bonsai pots & they'd look great, without styling

[Elmer]

Alas work has not been kind on me and even harder on my trees, this along with a few others now lives over the bonsai rainbow (ie it's dead)
Many thanks to Rory for starting this learning experience and good luck to all who have living entries

[Ryceman3]

Alas work has not been kind on me and even harder on my trees, this along with a few others now lives over the bonsai rainbow (ie it's dead)
Many thanks to Rory for starting this learning experience and good luck to all who have living entries

Sorry to hear that... but thanks for the posts, there's plenty here to take away for others looking to develop the same species. You did some pretty great early development, lots to take in ... hopefully you have a multitiude of other trees left to keep you busy. Thanks for the update and just as importantly all the updates along the way.

[Rory]

Dammit.
That’s a shame. It’s usually a very hardy tree. Did you forget to water it?

Now you have to get another one and make a new shohin, haha
Paperbarks make such beautiful bonsai trees.

With the size of their leaves, they can make an easy shohin, but they look spectacular with medium sized bonsai amd a huge spread of their small leaves.

[Elmer]

Thanks Ryceman and Rory, it has been a great learning experience, the biggest lesson being I am going to have to install an automated watering system (much to the disgust of my teacher).
I lost quite a few trees, these natives can grow and thicken fast but they are also thirsty, before I started this journey like many I considered our natives to be very tolerant of the dry how wrong I was.

[KIRKY]

Shame you lost it. Was developing into a nice little tree. Except for the banksia, all my natives sit in water trays year round. No I’ll effect so far, only when the trays dry out will I loose an occasional one that’s thirstier than the rest or desperate for a repot. Natives love water
Give it another go when your work life improves.
Cheers
Kirky

[boom64]

Bad luck Elmer ,really enjoyed your approach to this tree .We all learnt along the journey. Cheers John.