[Natural] Lagarostrobos Franklinii - Huon Pine

[Padawan]

Good Evening All,

Although I have been a member of the site for a number of years, I have been in and out of bonsai and have never posted - may bad. After a frank conversation with Watto last weekend in the Arboretum it is time to get into it. I am excited to have a crack at this competition.

So, jumping straight into the deep end I came across these lovely trees in the Yarralumla Nursery, they were $24 each. My intent is to submit them as the one entry as I will be attempting a group or saikei. Hopefully my observations and learning can contribute to understanding how some our very 'cool' native species respond in different climates and environments.

Regards,
Sisto

Huon Pine Group.jpg

Huon Pine i.jpg

Huon Pine ii.jpg

Huon Pine iii.jpg

[Max]

[Watto]

Welcome Sisto. Interesting choice of plant and I am looking forward to seeing it develop.

[Rory]

Oh yeah Very nice choice.

I'm very much looking forward to watching these grow.

Although its a 3 year comp, not 30. I'm still hoping for as much development as you can imagine, and thank you for submitting one of the most majestic trees Australia has on show.

[Padawan]

Hi All,
This update covers the last fourteen months.
The intent for this group was to create a gully or bend in a small stream within the forest. I slip potted the three trees into a large wooden training box sitting on top of a rock wall. I also completed an initial style of the composition. The soil mix was fairly open 60% native, 20% zeolite and 20% perlite.
Around Easter 2019, two of the trees quickly deteriorated and died over a period of about 10-14 days - very disheartening. I do not know why. Although I was travelling with the work the trees never dried out. The third tree did not look happy but hung on through winter.
By mid spring the surviving tree started to shoot and develop new foliage.
Apart from removing wire, I let it grow for most of summer, completing a trim and style in late January.
I have decided to stay with the original theme of the composition on a reduced scale. I picked up a natural looking slab pot from James Tranter at Samarkand Pottery and will build the composition in spring.

27 Jan 20 ii.jpg

11 Apr 20 i.jpg

11 Apr 20 vii.jpg

11 Apr 20 iv.jpg

Regards,
Sisto

[Watto]

Sad news about your trees mate but the object to get to the end is commendable, good luck with your lone survivor.

[Rory]

They are a tough tree to bonsai for the mainland, but I hear that Victoria have good success with them. I lost mine many moons ago, but will try them again soon when I find some worthy candidates.

[alexgard]

Hello everyone. New to these forums and today I just potted and wired my first ever bonsai; a Huon Pine. A wood with generations of family sentimentality/obsession. I once helped craft a huon pine negroni using the woodchips infused oil into campari which, if not over-dosed in the mixed drink, had an amazing huon pine aftertaste and aroma to it.

I live down in Hobart and hoping this fares OK in an easterly facing window with shade through most of the day. I'm hoping I wasn't too rough with the plant.

I want to go back to the nursery and pick up some pencil pine and other cuttings to get into this a bit more. I pruned off about 20% of the roots and most of the new foliage close to the main trunk, leaving some main feature branches aiming to have them weeping over the side of the pot once they harden up into the desired shape (I have no idea what I'm doing, honestly )