River Red Gum after repot

[Fluorine]

Hi All,

Just wanted to share a couple of pics of my River Red, it’s about 15 years old and was purchased as nursery stock over 10 years ago now.

Tree has never been wired and has been grown in a box for most of its life. Soil mix has always been 50% sifted native mix and 50% coarse sand. Occasional I add some grit to the mix. Never used liquid fertiliser only slow release fertiliser, which I apply on Mother’s Day and then again on Melbourne Cup day.

One day it’ll be ready for a bonsai pot, but for now I will continue to enjoy it in its grow box.

Thank you, Fluoro.

[KIRKY]

Absolutely stunning Fluoro, one of the nicest reds I have seen
Cheers
Kirky

[Daluke]

Nice tree. How come no liquid feed?

[Fluorine]

Hi Daluke,

I just haven’t really noticed a need to use liquid fertiliser. The biannual application of slow release seems to suit it just fine. I do also mulch up all the leaves and non-woody stems when carrying out an annual prune and reapply that to the plant as a top dressing - my feeling is that aids with maintaining an acidic soil growing environment .

This approach seems to work for me and may not suit all growing conditions.

Cheers.

[Fluorine]

Thank you Kirky, appreciated.

[Rory]

wow

Beautiful effort there mate. Thats the same treatment I give to nearly all my natives too. 50% mix and 50% river sand.
I too no longer use liquid fertilizer.... so much effort, for so little return in my opinion. Slow release much safer for certain genus too.

Well done tho mate, that is going to look very natural as it ages and you get more ramification. One thing I love about River red gums is when their lower branches spread out so long and low that they eventually grow right onto the ground.... if this were mine, thats the look I'd go for

[Keep Calm and Ramify]

That's a healthy beast!
Interested in knowing when / how often you do root trimming whilst you've been growing this on in it's grow box?

[Fluorine]

wow

Beautiful effort there mate. Thats the same treatment I give to nearly all my natives too. 50% mix and 50% river sand.
I too no longer use liquid fertilizer.... so much effort, for so little return in my opinion. Slow release much safer for certain genus too.

Well done tho mate, that is going to look very natural as it ages and you get more ramification. One thing I love about River red gums is when their lower branches spread out so long and low that they eventually grow right onto the ground.... if this were mine, thats the look I'd go for

Thanks Rory, appreciated. They're an impressive site when they get to that stage. This one might have a few more years to go before it's capable of such feats. For now I'll let it take the lead on how and where it wishes to grow.

Cheers, Fluoro.

[Fluorine]

That's a healthy beast!
Interested in knowing when / how often you do root trimming whilst you've been growing this on in it's grow box?

Thanks KCR, appreciated. I root trim every two years around Christmas time for a box this size, typically removing about 60%-70% of roots. I could extend this out to 3 years and may do so next time around.

Cheers, Fluoro.