Banksia integrifolia

[squizzy]

Hi all,

Just wanted to post a progression of this Banksia that I have hacked and chopped over the last few years.

PC150199.jpg

I am missing a year or so of progression here but about 12 months back I had advanced the tree to this look.

022.jpg

I then decided on a new direction and started to hack bits off small amounts at a time and then stand back and look for a while.

pictures 231111 015.jpg

Just recently I have given it a real good cut back as I think now I have a bit of an idea of design in mind

IPOD210412 020.jpg

This is something like where I would like to head with this tree

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Happy to hear any thoughts or critiques

Cheers

Squizz

[Craig]

Squizz, coming along real nicely mate, i love the sketch and intended design. Should be a sweet tree in a few years,

[kcpoole]

I gree with Craig... Nice tree and nice vision

Ken

[lellul]

Love your work. I'm a bit anxious at the moment because I cut mine back very hard. I hope it buds ok.

[anttal63]

COOL !!! as Sqizzy but you will have to stay up at night pinching buds to keep it that minimalist !!!

[Ces]

Love your work. I'm a bit anxious at the moment because I cut mine back very hard. I hope it buds ok.

Dont worry. The banksia's that are fire resistant (such as integrifolia) bud back profusely usually. I chopped a heap of serrata's recently and as ant says, if was trying to pick favourable buds at this point I would be doing it daily. Mine are growing on, so are being left relatively unchecked.

Great sketch squizzy. Do you mind if i ask whether you worked up a ghost sketch or if you went straight in with the ink?

[squizzy]

Hey ces not that talented I did a ghost sketch.

Anttal it wont be that minimalist then because I havent got the time and I like my sleep. just picture an umberella shape, thats what I had in mind probably just a bit lazy drawing in the banksia leaves.

squizz

[lellul]

Hi Squizzy,

Curious to see how the banksia is going now. Please post some pics.

Question, What and when do you fees to promote new growth ?

[Gerard]

Banksias can develop proteoid roots which give them an amazing ability to draw nutrients from very poor soil.
Some people never use fertilizer on their banksias while others use lots.
If your tree has proteoid roots a heavy dose of fertilizer could kill it. Start slowly and gradually build your dosage.
Low phosphorous fertilizers as with all natives.

[lellul]

Thanks Gerard,

I've been feeding mine Seasol but it seems to have stagnated for a very long time. I want to give I a kick along.

[Gerard]

You should expect them to go slowly over winter, when the weather warms they should take off suddenly. Last year mine were very slow to start moving (November)

[Boics]

I agree too.

Last year mine took forever to start moving as well.
This year I note that my one has started to move already but is quite slow.

Check out this thread here: viewtopic.php?f=104&t=15528&hilit=+integrifolia

Note some of the dates and discussion re. my frustration, action/s and results.

[squizzy]

Hi Lellul,

Nothing to update here other than an empty pot

The others are right though. My other banksias haven't moved a lot yet but I will update when they do. I'm still learning a lot myself.

Cheers

Squizz