Shohin Callistemon Experiment

[melbrackstone]

I like this combo Watto!

[Watto]

Another week another small bottlebrush potted. The theme of using Aussie made bonsai pots continues and this one is by our local potter Viveann.
About 12 months ago I put a preliminary plan in place and selected a viewing side, however when potting came around I was undecided and thus I picked this pot that will allow a few sides to be viewed and a selection made later. The top growth is to allow the apex to gain some bulk and strength and will be trimmed back in a few months time. I think this one will have a future.

[melbrackstone]

Yes, I like the third one as the front. Beaut tree Watto!

[PAC]

Last one gets my vote as well!
Regards
Paul C

[MJL]

The second and third photos are are close run race - but the second photo for me ... by a short half head. I feel the base is stronger from that angle and the tree has a more solid foundation in the pot. A slight drawback is that the tree seems to be angled back - but then from the side view - I don’t think it is and anyway - the new top could be trained towards the viewer anyway ...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[greg27]

Thanks for posting your experiment Watto, it's really interesting to see such a difference between the control and the ground-grown plants. I have a callistemon that I bought as tubestock about a year ago that I was going to get rid of, but you've inspired me to stick it in the ground and see what happens. Again not super scientific with just one plant but hopefully it will thicken up a bit!

[Watto]

The jury is in it seems, my pre-selected front is no longer the front. And I agree, I have turn it to the new front and I will see over the next twelve months or so if it suits.
Thanks everyone for their assistance.

[bki]

a slight tilt to the right would give a little drama i reckon.

[Watto]

This does appear to be a weekly event, so here is the next installment. This one has a lot of root under the surface and I am trying to get some taper in the apex, so plenty of work still to be done especially getting the plant lower in the pot.
Another Aussie native in another Aussie pot so I am still on target.
PS - I do understand that the pot is a little bit big for the stand but I was too lazy to go and get another one.

[Watto]

No more potting recently (would you believe I'm waiting for a new pot?) but as one plant is in flower I thought I would show what the flowers look like. The flower looks like a standard "Captain Cook" flower but is much smaller/shorter which hopefully will look good as a shohin size bonsai.

[Watto]

Would you believe it has been nearly a month between potting up one of these little beauties?
This pot is recently out of the kiln and is one I made (and it is a little bit special when you make a pot specifically for a tree) and after the potting I think it looks OK. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with all these trees in the coming years but that is a problem for another time.

[Raging Bull]

Nice pot Watto. I like the nice sharp clean corners you've achieved there. I've started making my own too and am learning to construct them from slabs, and as you've found out too, no doubt, it takes a while to get them the precise shape you want.

[KIRKY]

Stunning combo
Cheers
Kirky

[legoman_iac]

Great experiment, great results! Keen to see how these go, and how the branches respond to wiring.

[Watto]

Hi Raging, getting things "square" when constructing from slabs is a skill that I haven't yet mastered but I am improving with every lesson. That's what I think anyway. Also getting the finished size correct takes some management when you are making a pot for a specific tree, i.e. working out the shrinkage for different clays.