AusBonsai

Leptospermum variety Australian Beauty
Bought from Bunnyworld for $10.95...sigh, they're such ripoffs...

Since I have no idea what this looks like in the wild, I'll have to wing it.

Very much like a coastal Tea tree Mel, looks like a good small leaf to work with...we have all got skinny's and welcome Mel to the skinny sticks comp now and good luck too...cheers Anthony

Thanks Anthony, and you're right, it does look a little like a coastal tea tree!

I've been busy with life over the past three months, and have done nothing with this plant, other than keep it alive...

I gave this quite a hard prune before the last update, and over Winter it hasn't done a great deal. The other one I kept intact has started flowering though, so at least I know what to expect. Still in the original pot, with just a bit of minor wiring to make the most of that weird bend...

Two views of the tree....looking a little like Sideshow Bob here...

There is plenty of growth there so there will be sufficient foliage and branching to help make your design decisions. Looking good so far.

Cheers Watto, yes it has produced good strong growth, I'll give it that!

One slight clipping between the last photo and this...water and fertiliser. It has thickened in the trunk, and started to produce nice bark. No flowers at this time...

Looking good so far.

The period from start to now has shown significant improvement in the "showiness" of this tree so time to move it to the next step maybe?

Thanks danlevy and Watto

The period from start to now has shown significant improvement in the "showiness" of this tree so time to move it to the next step maybe?

It just so happens I have root pruned it and put it into a smaller bonsai pot, after quite a severe top pruning... The other one I have is just starting to flower, so clearly I did my work on this tree at the wrong time, lol.

Another top prune, it was long and leggy and trying to be a cascade... I might have to let it have its way for the last few months.

Switched completely so the last front is now the back. New Tracey Francis container is a little oversized, but less so than the unglazed one previous. Actually "sort-of" styled, so not natural, lol!

I really like the new front Mel.nice flower too
Cheers
Kirky

I find Leptospermum can be a bit problematic in terms of getting them to put on girth over a short period of time, but I had a look back at your first entry and I’d say you got a reasonable addition of “weight” … nice job!
As for the styling … I don’t know, looks natural enough to me! I think it’s a pretty subjective thing and it’s not like you pulled the branches down and went all “snow laiden” … looks like a decent structure to build a natural silhouette in my opinion