Callistemon Macarthur

Bottle Brush
Post Reply
Kelvin8r
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 63
Joined: October 22nd, 2015, 9:56 pm
Favorite Species: Melaleuca
Bonsai Age: 0
Location: Port Hedland
Been thanked: 1 time

Callistemon Macarthur

Post by Kelvin8r »

Hi all,

This is my Callistemon Macarthur, which is a cross between the Captain Cook and Little John. I came across it being neglected at the local nursery in March 16 and the lovely lady let me have it for nothing.

Image

This has been such a good tree to learn with, very forgiving and back buds and shoots easily. Here's what it looks like today, with its first bunch or flowers ready to open soon.

Image
Image

Once it has finished flowering, do I keep the bottom growth, or keep some them to develop into branches?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
shibui
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 7653
Joined: August 22nd, 2009, 8:41 pm
Favorite Species: trident maple
Bonsai Age: 41
Bonsai Club: Albury/Wodonga; BSV; Canberra; VNBC
Location: Yackandandah
Has thanked: 65 times
Been thanked: 1399 times
Contact:

Re: Callistemon Macarthur

Post by shibui »

Lower branches on the left appear to be too close to the branches above so get rid of those to leave some space.
Lower branches on the right could be developed into branching on that side if you want something to fill that space but the tree will also look good with the higher canopy.

There is no one right answer to styling a bonsai. You are the boss of this tree. You need to make the decisions. Whichever way you decide it will be a good tree.
http://shibuibonsai.com.au/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Kelvin8r
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 63
Joined: October 22nd, 2015, 9:56 pm
Favorite Species: Melaleuca
Bonsai Age: 0
Location: Port Hedland
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Callistemon Macarthur

Post by Kelvin8r »

Thanks shibui! I think I'm leaning towards getting rid of them rather than making something off them. Was just keen to hear others thoughts :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Kelvin8r
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 63
Joined: October 22nd, 2015, 9:56 pm
Favorite Species: Melaleuca
Bonsai Age: 0
Location: Port Hedland
Been thanked: 1 time

Callistemon Macarthur

Post by Kelvin8r »

First flowers

Image

Image

Image

Image

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Last edited by Kelvin8r on November 22nd, 2017, 8:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Kelvin8r
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 63
Joined: October 22nd, 2015, 9:56 pm
Favorite Species: Melaleuca
Bonsai Age: 0
Location: Port Hedland
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Callistemon Macarthur

Post by Kelvin8r »

This year's spring flowers ImageImageImageImage

Sent from my CLT-L29 using Tapatalk
Kelvin8r
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 63
Joined: October 22nd, 2015, 9:56 pm
Favorite Species: Melaleuca
Bonsai Age: 0
Location: Port Hedland
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Callistemon Macarthur

Post by Kelvin8r »

After flower haircut and repot.

Pot from Luke @ Adelaide Bonsai Pottery Image

Sent from my CLT-L29 using Tapatalk
User avatar
MJL
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2840
Joined: October 26th, 2014, 8:47 pm
Favorite Species: Maples, Elms, Cedars and Pines
Bonsai Age: 7
Bonsai Club: Waverley Bonsai Group & Yarra Valley Bonsai Society
Location: Melbourne
Has thanked: 424 times
Been thanked: 643 times

Re: Callistemon Macarthur

Post by MJL »

Hi Kelvin8r,

What a ripper thread. It just goes to show that even discarded stock can be a great way to learn - and more importantly- I reckon you’re on the way to a lovely tree. Great that it flowered so profusely. Top pot too!

Cheers,

Mark

PS - Surely with your AusBonsai name above - you’re nickname must be ’fridgeman’ or something similar. :-)


Bonsai teaches me patience.
Tending bonsai teaches me patience.
Watto
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 3939
Joined: July 6th, 2009, 8:17 am
Favorite Species: Plum
Bonsai Age: 0
Bonsai Club: Goulburn Bonsai Society
Location: Goulburn
Has thanked: 509 times
Been thanked: 1096 times

Re: Callistemon Macarthur

Post by Watto »

I agree with Mark in that this has been a very interesting thread.
Good to see your bonsai flower so well and the new pot is a winner.
A progression update each year for the next 10 years please mate!
Check out my blog at http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/blog/Watto" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
Ryceman3
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2596
Joined: October 19th, 2014, 10:39 am
Favorite Species: Pines & Mels
Bonsai Age: 7
Location: Melbourne
Has thanked: 1042 times
Been thanked: 1536 times

Re: Callistemon Macarthur

Post by Ryceman3 »

Nice progression Kelvin8r, I think the new pot style and colour, and the new planting angle takes it up a notch. :yes:
New pot may be a bit too large maybe, but you are in Pt Hedland so I get the weather is slightly hotter and a bit drier than Melbourne... :whistle:
Good job so far!
KIRKY
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1968
Joined: May 21st, 2009, 3:42 pm
Favorite Species: Flowering
Bonsai Age: 12
Bonsai Club: BSV
Location: Melbourne
Has thanked: 1155 times
Been thanked: 245 times

Re: Callistemon Macarthur

Post by KIRKY »

Great post thank you for sharing. Love the new pot. :imo: due to flower size you may need to allow it to get a bit bigger/taller to balance the flower display :imo: . Still a really nice tree.
Cheers
Kirky
Great oaks from little acorns grow.
User avatar
Keep Calm and Ramify
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 944
Joined: April 1st, 2017, 11:50 am
Bonsai Age: 0
Location: Newcastle NSW
Has thanked: 397 times
Been thanked: 445 times

Re: Callistemon Macarthur

Post by Keep Calm and Ramify »

KIRKY wrote: :imo: due to flower size you may need to allow it to get a bit bigger/taller to balance the flower display :imo: . Still a really nice tree.
Cheers
Kirky
Nice flowering plant Kelvin8r & I agree with Kirky here, however I do not have this problem as I must own the "super rare" non-flowering type! :shock: .
MINE NEVER PUTS ON A FLOWER SHOW..... AARRGHHH!!! :arrow: :|
User avatar
melbrackstone
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 3442
Joined: December 15th, 2015, 8:05 pm
Favorite Species: the ones that live
Bonsai Age: 28
Bonsai Club: Redlands, BIMER, VNBC
Location: Brisbane
Has thanked: 1191 times
Been thanked: 707 times
Contact:

Re: Callistemon Macarthur

Post by melbrackstone »

MINE NEVER PUTS ON A FLOWER SHOW..... AARRGHHH!!! :arrow: :|
KCAR stop pruning it... :D

Good job Kelvin8r!
Deleros
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 7
Joined: November 5th, 2018, 1:38 pm
Favorite Species: Rosmarinus Officinalis
Bonsai Age: 11
Bonsai Club: None
Location: Barcelona

Callistemon Macarthur

Post by Deleros »

Kelvin8r wrote:After flower haircut and repot.
Hi Kelvin.

Your tree is quite good but it has a couple of problems if we attend to the rules of bonsai: the situation of the branches is not adequate.

1) ichi (ichi-no-eda, first branch) must be the lowest and biggest one.
2) ni (ni-no-eda, second branch) must be opposite to ichi.
3) triangulation must be respected in front, rear, side.
4) you may need a branch in the rear and a branch in the front.
5) because so many branches growing at same level, the conicity is inverted (trunk is wider on top than on food).
6) branches must grow in the exterior of the curves, never interior.

I suggest doing like this. I'm not a guru, of course. This is what I would do with my tree..

A) To arrange conicity, I will let to grow the most possible branches at the bottom of the tree. Only purpose is making trunk wider at the nebari. This branches will be sacrificated and cut when trunk gets ideal shape, so they will be not in next graphics to simplify.

Image

B) cut all market branches.
C) move BACK BRANCH to the rear.

Here a graphic where you can see which branches to cut and which ones to move.

Image

D) I will torsionate main trunk down to reduce the distance between pot and ichi. I will grow a frontal branch just after rear one (market with slashes).

Image

Finally result from the top.

Image

Again, this is MY feeling. You must do as you like the most.

Regards!



Enviado desde mi iPhone utilizando Tapatalk
Last edited by Deleros on November 11th, 2018, 11:56 am, edited 3 times in total.
Kelvin8r
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 63
Joined: October 22nd, 2015, 9:56 pm
Favorite Species: Melaleuca
Bonsai Age: 0
Location: Port Hedland
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Callistemon Macarthur

Post by Kelvin8r »

Thanks everyone for the detailed comments send feedback. I'll be sure to keep you all updated on where this tree ends up

Tree is definitely currently too small for the pot, but it's the first decent pot of brought, so just wanted something in it haha.

Also forgot to mention this tree needs some more wiring. I've recently just moved house and can't remember where I packed my wire haha

Sent from my CLT-L29 using Tapatalk
Post Reply

Return to “Callistemon”