Callitris dig

Glaucophylla, Rhomboidea etc
Post Reply
User avatar
Dibbo
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 49
Joined: June 9th, 2013, 6:48 pm
Favorite Species: Ficus
Bonsai Age: 10
Bonsai Club: Newcastle Bonsai Society, Albury-Newie Bonsai Connection
Location: Newcastle
Has thanked: 18 times
Been thanked: 1 time

Callitris dig

Post by Dibbo »

Hi everyone,
This plant was taken out of the ground last year and is throwing out great new foliage. I have been tip pruning the top to encourage more even growth.

It came from the Liverpool plains so I am assuming it is a Black Cypress Pine (Callitris endlicheri) but it could be White Cypress (Callitris glaucophylla). I am hoping someone with more knowledge could give some clarity here please.

My main reason for posting is to ask wether or not I should air layer the trunk? Upon removal it has been noted that the lower 100mm of trunck had been buried and therefore the thicker, outer bark layer has been removed. Will this grow back? If not, I would like to air layer but am not sure if the tree is a suitable candidate for this method. Any advice would be much appreciated.
IMG_6855 web.jpg
12.10.21b web.jpg
12.10.21a web.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
greg27
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 821
Joined: August 28th, 2019, 7:52 am
Favorite Species: Olive & Eucalypts
Bonsai Age: 2
Bonsai Club: SA Bonsai Society; VNBC
Location: Adelaide
Has thanked: 608 times
Been thanked: 452 times
Contact:

Re: Callitris dig

Post by greg27 »

With time the lower part of the trunk should bark up again, but whether or not it catches up to the upper part is hard to say. You could experiment on some sacrificial upper branches - see what happens if you damage them slightly by hitting with a pruning saw, or even rubbing with a bit of sandpaper as Aussie Bonsai Bloke does with olives. The trauma might induce some quicker and thicker bark. Or the tree may not like it and that branch could die off.

I can't say I have any experience with air layering a callitris, but you could always experiment again with growth higher up - air layer that, see how it goes.
shibui
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 7653
Joined: August 22nd, 2009, 8:41 pm
Favorite Species: trident maple
Bonsai Age: 41
Bonsai Club: Albury/Wodonga; BSV; Canberra; VNBC
Location: Yackandandah
Has thanked: 65 times
Been thanked: 1399 times
Contact:

Re: Callitris dig

Post by shibui »

Corky bark does grow back. It is simply the accumulation of each previous year's bark that does not shed as it ages so corky bark will continue to develop as long as the tree grows.
I had a similar problem with corky bark Chinese elms. The best solution was to rub off the corky bark above the narrow section. I know that goes against everything we are told but it does work. Removing the higher cork will restore the natural trunk taper. New corky bark will accumulate every year and in 3 years you will wonder what all the fuss was about.
http://shibuibonsai.com.au/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
boom64
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1105
Joined: November 11th, 2009, 9:03 pm
Favorite Species: Almond
Bonsai Age: 2
Location: South Coast NSW
Has thanked: 274 times
Been thanked: 394 times

Re: Callitris dig

Post by boom64 »

Hi Dibbo ,i have several for over ten years and they are just starting to catch up ,in regards to the barking up of the lower section . They usually get a lot of moss build up during winter and come late spring i clean them up with an old toothbrush and water .I guess i was inadvertently smoothing out the transition area. I would give Shibuis suggestion a go ,actually might try this on one of mine. The foliage on yours looks like it has a blue tinge ,have found them to be a much better species to work with than those with the light green foliage (very coarse ).
Cheers John.
Post Reply

Return to “Callitris”