[NATURAL] Melaleuca rhaphiophylla - terryb

[terryb]

Species: Melaleuca rhaphiophylla
Tree: 16/25-4
Trunk: 7mm
Source: Grown from seed
Cost: Free

I hope I have the id right for this tree.

Seed collected and sown in 2016. Repotted in December 2017 and has remained in this small pot ever since.

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I'm planning to repot in the next week or two and place in a larger pot to grow.

[Ryceman3]

Nice.
This is one of the species of Mel that I think ticks a lot of the bonsai boxes. There are others too (Quinquinervia, cuticularis etc..) but I really like the bark and the foliage scale that Raphiophylla has in combination. I will be on the lookout for a Mel to enter but I am envious of this ... they seem to be a bit more difficult to get in Victoria than others. Good luck!

[BB Brian]

2 years to get to that size is amazing! I might try some seeds next year.
Good luck sir!

[terryb]

Repotted into a larger pot and wired some movement into the branches. Much more flexible than my other entry. Have just been letting it grow since but is starting to get a bit unruly.

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[terryb]

This tree has put on good growth in the last 6 months and currently stands at 1.2m. The base has more than doubled in diameter. I suspect this could actually be Melaleuca armillaris, as the key I used when first identifying the parent tree was incomplete. I'll have another go when the parent flowers.

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I can see two different possible trunk lines (pink and yellow below). I'm currently leaning towards the pink path and a smaller tree. There is a branch at the end of the pink line that could end up as the apex but it is hard to see in this image. If I go with this line, I will need to remove the sacrifice branch (yellow line) and the one under it soon and grow some more branches.

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[Ryceman3]

Pink line for me ... if the picture is your chosen front it looks to be extending towards the viewer which I think is favourable, plus I like the subtle bends and curves in that direction. Another beast in this contest terryb, growing well - DAMN!

[terryb]

Since my last post it has been getting harder to water this tree as percolation is slowing. The tree is also getting too tall and wide and keeps falling over. As an interim measure I simply sat the pot on the ground and wedged it between some bigger pots to keep it upright but over the weekend the tree was repotted into a slightly shallower orchid pot and cut back some.

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I decided to go with my preferred trunk line (the pink line in the last post) and removed the sacrifice branches that were getting too thick. I left a small stub on the largest branch and a slightly longer stub on the other so I could use it as an anchor point for wire. The top has been reduced a little but I want to see what new shoots I get before I cut it back more. The branches have been wired with some gentle movement to match the trunk and also cut back to promote back budding. Here are shots from different sides.

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[Keep Calm and Ramify]

That trunk is really thickening fast TerryB. Good to see you wiring some subtle movement in the branches at this stage of development. Yipee!!!

[terryb]

Thanks KCAR. This species seems to have reasonably flexible branches compared to some of the other Melaleucas

[terryb]

April update.

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The trunk line is improving as is the taper to the future apex on the right. I am starting to work on the branches and apex. Still a couple of sacrifice branches growing out the back.

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Closeup of the trunk and base

[terryb]

October update

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Have let this tree grow over winter unhindered. It got a cut back a week ago and a bit of wire. I think I will cut it back harder in the next few days to get it re-shooting. I think I also need to remove a few more branches but struggling to see the final image yet. Will see what summer brings.

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[terryb]

April update

A bit more growth and shape to the branches since the last update. Have cut it back to get some ramification but still too many branches I think. The lower left straight branch will go and I think I actually need to cut it back harder. The movement is difficult to see from the front, so have included a side view as well (90 degrees clockwise).

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[matlea]

The trunk line of the side view looks good... Either way progressing well.

[Ryceman3]

Love this terryb... I see beautiful lines through this trunk, and I think your side profile kind of shows this would work pretty well. I’d be looking at the line below (pretty much what you describe I think) to work the foliage in. Ticking boxes for me, lots of them.

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[terryb]

Thanks for your thoughts R3. l had a slightly different idea for the apex but always happy to hear other people's views; helps break me out of own fixed ideas and consider other options