BANKSIA INTEGRIFOLIA AS BONSAI

[craigw60]

Thanks for that Grant I do everything you suggest already except of course having a vast array of helpers which is clearly my downfall, will have to attempt to be much more vigilant this growing season
Craigw

[whereswally007]

thanks for the great information

[NBPCA]

Thanks for that Grant I do everything you suggest already except of course having a vast array of helpers which is clearly my downfall, will have to attempt to be much more vigilant this growing season
Craigw

Hi Craig,

I am at work at the moment but I will take some Macro photos, when I get home, of bud selection and cutting that may help with your question.

The B integrifolia puts out a couple of ear like small buds before they elongate and start to leaf out. You can trim back to these"proto buds" and this stops everything from elongating too much.

Lots of ferts and and trimming gives lots of growth which gives lots of new buds and branches which eventually gives smaller and more compact growth.

I think that B integrifoila of yours is the best I have ever seen and it was a delight to work on. I am glad it went back to you in good health and that you were happy with our stewardship here.

Grant

[craigw60]

Indeed I am happy Grant its just a matter of maintaining all the good work you did.
Craigw

[Grant Bowie]

Hi craig and everyone,

sorry it took a while to get back to you about the small size leaves I get on my banksia.

Firstly here are an older and current photo of my Banksia integrifolia.

B integrifolia var compar.Feb 2009.jpg

B integrifolia var compar nov 2010.JPG

as you can see the Banksia is much fuller just 18 months on. It gets fed very regularly and trimmed.

[Grant Bowie]

Banksia integrifolia 1 (2).JPG

Banksia integrifolia 1.JPG

Banksia integrifolia 1 (5).JPG

Of course B integrifolia leaves are normally up to 100mm or 150mm. Mine are now quite small.

[Grant Bowie]

At the base of the new vertical growth you can see what look like tiny little leaves or buds.

They are in fact the bud covers that have opened as the new growth pushes out. However you can cut back to these "buds" and almost without fail they will start budding and grow. By constant fertilizing, trimming, regrowing etc the Banksia have bulked up and the leaves have become much smaller.

I do the usual trimming method with natives which allows the sideways growth new foliage to extend and maybe get trimmed once to against 3 times you might trim the upright strong growth. It is a mistake to constantly trim out the vertical growth completely as it doesn't allow the tree to bulk up.

I hope that helps. It is the method I use at home and at the collection and I am pleased to see that i was able to surprise an experienced grower of real bonsai with our work on his tree at the collection.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

Potting mix update for Banksia.

I have been growing a single Banksia serrata in a new potting mix for about 6 months and this particular tree looks better than I have ever seen it health wise. It is such a lovely dark green. I have had this tree for about 15 years from seed I germinated and have used it in various Banksia demonstrations; so I know the tree well.

The mix is the same as I have been using and trialling on other trees this year;
40% Diatomite
20% Zeolite or Blue metal or Gravel etc
20% Coco Peat
20% Pine bark Mini Nuggets

I will get my Banksia integrifolia into the same mix over the next month or so and see how they go as well.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

Hi all,

Just about to repot and tidy up this Banksia for the forthcoming CBS show; next weekend.

Here is the before shot.

October 2011 - Copy.JPG

Grant

[siddhar]

Grant, what a fantastic looking Banksia .. I absoulutey love it mate

That tree would take pride of place in anyones collection

[Grant Bowie]

Thanks,

Well I have repotted the tree down into a shallower, oval pot of the same make and it looks amazingly big in the pot.

Once I started to thin it out I couldn't stop and haven't finished yet.

Pics later.

grant

[Bretts]

Hi Grant

I wonder if it would be worthwhile for you to give us your latest take on the process for re potting Banksia. I think your old article suggests re potting infrequently with a few years of slip potting and reducing the roots only after say 5 years.
Is this still the current procedure ?

I guess it is too late to ask for pictures of reducing the root ball on your recent repot?

Oh and wish I could make it to the show. I would love to see this one in the bark

[NBPCA]

Hi Grant

I wonder if it would be worthwhile for you to give us your latest take on the process for re potting Banksia. I think your old article suggests re potting infrequently with a few years of slip potting and reducing the roots only after say 5 years.
Is this still the current procedure ?

I guess it is too late to ask for pictures of reducing the root ball on your recent repot?

Oh and wish I could make it to the show. I would love to see this one in the bark

Hi Brett,

This particular Banksia is well past the grow on and thicken stage and is now into long term maintenance mode. The above technique certainly did its job and the base on this Banksia is enormous.

The root system was a very fine and very healthy mat on the bottom of the pot and not a hint of Proteoid roots anywhere.

I cut the root system quite hard to get it down into a shallower pot and the corners(in the old rectangular pot) stuck out past the shape of the new oval pot so I removed heavy roots at each corner so to speak.

I should have taken more photos but I was on my own with this one and it was sunny and breezy that day.

PS. I am thinking of eventually growing it in a more Penjing style. I have not wired this tree (if at all) for many years and would like sparser foliage and more movement.
Grant

[Andrew F]

Potting mix update for Banksia.

I have been growing a single Banksia serrata in a new potting mix for about 6 months and this particular tree looks better than I have ever seen it health wise. It is such a lovely dark green. I have had this tree for about 15 years from seed I germinated and have used it in various Banksia demonstrations; so I know the tree well.

The mix is the same as I have been using and trialling on other trees this year;
40% Diatomite
20% Zeolite or Blue metal or Gravel etc
20% Coco Peat
20% Pine bark Mini Nuggets

I will get my Banksia integrifolia into the same mix over the next month or so and see how they go as well.

Grant

Great write up, but im particularly thankful for this section.

Thanks grant.

[Grant Bowie]

Banksia integrifolia var compar Coast banksia 15th October 2011.JPG