Newbie Purchase: Callistemon 'Endeavour'

[Benji1980]

Hi guys, I purchased this specimen on Australia Day with a collection of Gum Tree Seedlings (separate post). I believe the 'Endeavour' is a Callistemon Citrinus Splendens variety.

I am looking for beginner's advice, hence posting before I have changed the tree in any way (except that I have re-potted because it was quite potbound).

Full Tree:

Callistemon 20110126.jpg

Close Up:

Callistemon 20110126 Up Close.jpg

this plant needs the bottom two small branches removed, along with the branch on the right (just below the fork). This would leave the major branch on the left and the right fork to be trained down as another branch, with the left-hand form becoming the continuing trunk (with wiring/shaping).

The left hand fork is currently the largest branch, and continues to the top of the specimen with lovely soft new foliage on top - other branches also show signs of new growth.

The plant is in a 6inch pot with Yates potting mix (with slow release fetilizer).

Any and all advice welcome, thank you very much.

If I have made any silly judgements, please accept my apology
I am VERY new to Bonsai, and will elarn from all mistakes if shown the right direction.

Thank you all in advance.

Ben

[kcpoole]

I would keep those bottom 2 branches as sacrifices so the help thicken the bottom of the tree, and then cut back to the 3rd branch.
Use this one as the new leader so you get some taper in the tree

Ken

[bodhidharma]

Good for you Benji. It will be easy to keep tabs on this patriotic tree. Good advice from Ken. I, maybe would have put it in a bigger, but shallower grow pot. Have fun watching it blossom.

[Benji1980]

Thank you Ken and Bodhi.
I looked up 'sacrifice branches' on the internet and found a good write up on developing a thicker trunk, so that will be helpful.
Bodhi, I have heard the term grow pot used, however could you please explain what sort of pots meant?
Unfortunately, a Google search for 'Bonsai grow pot' references very different plants...

Ben

[kcpoole]

a Grow pot is just any old pot that is Much bigger than what the tree will finish in
Usually most have normal black nursery or Orchid pots as grow pots as they are cheap as and you can get large sizes. The more fancy people use large Ceramic or Mica pots as grow pots

Anything that will aloow the tree unrestricted growth while developing it

Ken

[bodhidharma]

Thank you Ken and Bodhi.
I looked up 'sacrifice branches' on the internet and found a good write up on developing a thicker trunk, so that will be helpful.
Bodhi, I have heard the term grow pot used, however could you please explain what sort of pots meant?
Unfortunately, a Google search for 'Bonsai grow pot' references very different plants...

Ben

A polystyrene box from your local supermarket or green grocer (do they have them these days) they will give them to you. Look up polystyrene here and you will be swamped.