Bottle Brush Pruning

[mick]

Thanks pup. I will need it I think. The cuttings I took are twice as thick and about 100mm long. They have new growth on them as well. I dont have my camera on me to take a pic.

[Waltron]

Hi Pup, you seem to know alot about these trees.

I have a callistemon Matthew Flinders (captain cook and little john hybrid) that I have let grow freely for a year or two and now it's got to the stage where I want to remove some major branches for styling. Currently, the tree is covered with new growth and new flowers. Can I cut off these major branches now or is there a better time to do this?

It's just that in the first post you mention cutting back hard now and after it's peak.
The branches I want to cut off are essentially sacrificial branches.

Cheers.

[Pup]

Hi Pup, you seem to know alot about these trees.

I have a callistemon Matthew Flinders (captain cook and little john hybrid) that I have let grow freely for a year or two and now it's got to the stage where I want to remove some major branches for styling. Currently, the tree is covered with new growth and new flowers. Can I cut off these major branches now or is there a better time to do this?

It's just that in the first post you mention cutting back hard now and after it's peak.
The branches I want to cut off are essentially sacrificial branches.

Cheers.

I usually do that at pruning after flowers, but as you are not worried about flowers you can do it now.
I find all Callistemons the same.
The peak I mentioned is Flowering. That is when I do the hard prune and re pot if necessary.
Hope this helps Pup

[Grant Bowie]

Sorry, wrong avatar.

[NBPCA]

Hi Pup,

Your Callistemon in the national bonsai collection (NBPCA) flowered OK this year but not as floriferously as last year. It would have had all the flower buds from your excellent care and your longer growing season in WA before it came here.

Tinimg of all sorts of things (date or month specific) vary a lot here in Canberra and the growing season is much shorter. For instance if I were to cut back the new growth that has emerged after the hard prune after flowering as late as you do I would be cutting off all the potential flowers.

The Callistemon did not start to flower here until well after yours had flowered and already been trimmed back. It finished flowering here about mid November and is only now getting new vegetative buds forming. As I said its different here.

I will just continue with a mild, regular fertilizing regime for the natives and see how it goes next year. Any thoughts for encouraging flowering of Callistemon in a colder climate with shorter growing season?

"Kunzea" has some interesting(radical) ideas on fertilizing of natives and if he reads this thread he might like to share with us on line at some time as well.

Grant Bowie
NBPCA

[Pup]

G,day Grant yes we do have some differing problems here. What you need is our weather, I must admit now you have pointed this out, it appears that my regime is not going to be much good for Canberra.

I am sorry I have not had this problem obviously, as we get more sunshine and warmer longer.
So I think that I am not going to be able to help you in the ACT. I am looking for ward to how you come up with the solution.

My assumption which is obviously wrong is that as the tree's are from the Eastern States, you would get better flowering than us here.

Cheers Pup

[Pup]

G,day Grant I have been thinking about the lack of flowers on the collections tree. I must admit it has me puzzled.
Whilst fertilising this morning. I thought ( now that hurt ) what fertiliser are you using and how often?.
I have been fertilising fortnightly all of my tree's. I use Phostrogen ( coz I still have some ) I also use MiricalGro for Azaleas and Camellias.
Alternately both these fertiliser's are applied at the manufactures recommended dosage. Yates for fruit and flower can be substituted
for Phostrogen as it has the same NPK balance. Also it is cheaper.

Is that different to what you do?

Cheers Pup

[NBPCA]

Ouch! thinking hurts doesn't it.

As I said the callistemon flowered OK this year but not as well as last year. I gave it a hard prune last year ( I am not in the office now as I am cooking dinner soI can't check dates) and the new growth here took about 5 weeks to get going and then elongated quite well as expected.

I have been using maxicrop for most things and now nitrosol for exotics and bloom booster for exotic flowering. Boosting flowering for Natives is another matter.NPK etc.

"Kunzea" has found that just regular applications of various fertilizers here in Canberra has his many natives flowering better than ever this year.(I don't grow a lot of Natives other than banksia at home)

I would be interested to open up this topic to anyone who has an opinion as well.

I will check out NPK on the ferts you mentioned and compare.

Grant Bowie.
NBPCA

[Webos]

Gday Pup,
I have a Bottlebrush on my nature strip that was chopped down to a foot tall about a year and a half ago to make space for a "For Sale" sign. It has shot back prolifically. Is now a good time to transplant? What type of aftercare would you give to a bottlebrush?

[Pup]

Gday Pup,
I have a Bottlebrush on my nature strip that was chopped down to a foot tall about a year and a half ago to make space for a "For Sale" sign. It has shot back prolifically. Is now a good time to transplant? What type of aftercare would you give to a bottlebrush?

G,day Webos I dug the one we are discussing when it was in full flower. The reason being it wont be there tomorrow. Digging now should be OK if possible give it a good soaking. Two reasons one it softens the soil for the dig, and two gives the plant some moisture around the roots.
Which I have found important when digging Natives. After care is trim up the roots and soak them in your favorite Auxin hormone or seasol. for about a two or three days while you prepare the pot or box. Then plant it up keep it in the shade till you see some new growth. Then ease it out into a more sunny position. Start fertilising and working out your styling options.
Hope this helps. Cheers Pup

[Webos]

Helps immensely Pup. Thank you

[Waltron]

Just thought I'd say thanks Pup for the advice, I took about 80% off the top and bottom (roots) as advised to create a little shohin (it's far from ideal but I'm new at this). Not only has it survived, it has budded back well.

Thanks again.

[Pup]

Just thought I'd say thanks Pup for the advice, I took about 80% off the top and bottom (roots) as advised to create a little shohin (it's far from ideal but I'm new at this). Not only has it survived, it has budded back well.

Thanks again.

You are more than welcome.
Cheers Pup

[Bretts]

Here is the link to Bud Burst that you mentioned Pup
viewtopic.php?f=55&t=223

Just refreshing my memory on Bottle Brush care

[NBPCA]

G'day Pup,

Took a pic of your tree today.

Here it is!

Callistemon - resized.jpg

Happy Easter mate!

Leigh.