My first Mel - Melaleuca teretifolia

[Luke308]

Hey guys and girls,

I was recently given this Melaleuca teretifolia at the Home and living expo a couple of weekends ago as it was pot bound. It had a label in it saying "good for bonsai". I have never worked with Mels before, so I am unsure in what to look for, but I could not pas up a free tree.

Not sure what to do with it as yet, but I would be open to suggestions on what to do/when to do it. So far I have just slip-potted it.

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[Craig]

Luke, M. teretifolia (marsh honey myrtle), is one that i have only just begun working with. They are said to be one of the hardier wa species and love water alot. Actually i spent an hour or so out looking at them this afternoon..The new shoots apear almost pine like in appearance from what i have observed, i'm not too sure about backbudding on older wood yet but yours isn't that old so in that depatment.
Around where i live these things grow like weeds and there are some amazing examples.They love wet soil, the wood seems very soft and once a branch dies off ,Rots easily.. i have just collected two fallen trees which have regenarated into raft styles, one of them has 32 trunks , .

anyway not sure which way you should go with this tree of yours but since your into growing alot of things on for the future, i'd say planting in the ground would really kick it along . keep us posted mate,

[Luke308]

Thanks Craig.

Any idea on how they respond to big cuts? eg if I was to trunk chop low and seal with a wound sealant do you think it would it recover?

[Craig]

Yes Luke, i'm pretty confident it'll recover and backshoot but as i said no experience with them yet. If i were you i'd most likely leave as is to recover, then chop it in spring .

I have been experimenting with some M. rhaphiophylla's i collected, by potting into straight bluemetal and water,No drainage and they reshoot within about 2/3 weeks.Success rate 5 from 5. I think M. teretifolia would be a candidate for this treatment mate.Plenty of water and good light.

[Luke308]

When you say blue metal with no drainage, what exactly do you mean? I thought drainage/oxygen were important for roots. But I'm guessing Mels like wet feet a bit like willows?

[Craig]

When you say blue metal with no drainage, what exactly do you mean? I thought drainage/oxygen were important for roots. But I'm guessing Mels like wet feet a bit like willows?

Ok, so i use a plastic container with no holes in the bottom, and use bluemetal instead of soil. Then fill with water and drill an overflow hole near waterlevel line,. thats it. so far with water loving Rhaphiophylla's i have 100% success rate. you'll find trapped oxygen between bluemetal particles. Give it a go.

[Craig]

When you say blue metal with no drainage, what exactly do you mean? I thought drainage/oxygen were important for roots. But I'm guessing Mels like wet feet a bit like willows?

Ok, so i use a plastic container with no holes in the bottom, and use bluemetal instead of soil. Then fill with water and drill an overflow hole near waterlevel line,. thats it. so far with water loving Rhaphiophylla's i have 100% success rate. you'll find trapped oxygen between bluemetal particles. Give it a go.