I went to Bunnings today and saw a Melaleuca claret top on their clearance tray for $15.
It is roughly 1.5ft maybe 2ft tall and at the base of the trunk it would be around 3-4 inches thick, it caught my eye. Haven't bought it yet.
Just wanted to know how well they handle being cut back hard before I go back for it?
Cheers - Craig.
Question about melaleuca pruning.
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bonsaibruce
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Re: Question about melaleuca pruning.
Howdy,
Claret tops are used as street art/trees in Brisvagas so they are tough.
I never completly defoliate and when pruning always leave at least two leaves.
They wire ok.
The biggest problem with a bargin tree will be the roots that have wound round and round in the pot. They should be sorted at first repot and prune.
Don't let it dry out.
Good luck,
Bruce
Claret tops are used as street art/trees in Brisvagas so they are tough.
I never completly defoliate and when pruning always leave at least two leaves.
They wire ok.
The biggest problem with a bargin tree will be the roots that have wound round and round in the pot. They should be sorted at first repot and prune.
Don't let it dry out.
Good luck,
Bruce
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Bougy Fan
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Re: Question about melaleuca pruning.
Hi Craig
As Bruce said sometimes the clearance bin doesn't make for good bonsai but I would buy it for the trunk
I just trim mine with hedge shears but never go back past the old foliage. Sometimes they can be reluctant to back bud and of course never where you want them 
Tony
As Bruce said sometimes the clearance bin doesn't make for good bonsai but I would buy it for the trunk
I just trim mine with hedge shears but never go back past the old foliage. Sometimes they can be reluctant to back bud and of course never where you want them Tony
Regards Tony
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Craig.a.c
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Re: Question about melaleuca pruning.
Thanks for replies guys.
I will go and get it tomorrow, if it's still there (will post some pics if i bring it home).
If it dies I can always put it down as a learning curve.
Cheers - Craig.
I will go and get it tomorrow, if it's still there (will post some pics if i bring it home).
If it dies I can always put it down as a learning curve.
Cheers - Craig.
"NARF"
Pinky.
Pinky.
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Craig.a.c
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Re: Question about melaleuca pruning.
Sorry-------One more question. Is it too late to cut it back this time of year?
"NARF"
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Bougy Fan
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Re: Question about melaleuca pruning.
Might be getting a little cool down your way - not sure. I would pot it in a grow box and maybe give it a little trim. Like Bruce said the pot is probably full of roots with no mix left.
Tony
Tony
Regards Tony
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GerhardGerber
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Re: Question about melaleuca pruning.
The biggest problem with a bargin tree will be the roots that have wound round and round in the pot. They should be sorted at first repot and prune.
I got a M. Bracteata recently, definately bargain bin, would've been a very nice twin trunk if the (best) one wasn't dead, leaves more yellow than green and not a lot of it....BUT.....twice the trunk for the same price.
I just cleaned it up a bit and pulled what will be the top half of the trunk into position.
I am quite frankly dreading getting it out of the nursery bag end of August, might be a better idea to ground layer it but I don't want to loose the base.
From the weight of the bag I can guess there's very little soil left, just a mess of roots....
I don't want to kill my first and so far only Aus native!
Cheers
Gerhard
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Re: Question about melaleuca pruning.
Craig
Claret tops makes a great little bonsai. It is getting late to prune in Canberra. I'd be tempted to wait until spring.
The trunk seems like at great one!
I usually prune back to a few leaves, but have pruned back beyond any leaves from time to time. Nearly all branches budded back strongly. Lost only a few, which didn't matter as there were so many. My tree is around 20 years old now.
Claret tops makes a great little bonsai. It is getting late to prune in Canberra. I'd be tempted to wait until spring.
The trunk seems like at great one!
I usually prune back to a few leaves, but have pruned back beyond any leaves from time to time. Nearly all branches budded back strongly. Lost only a few, which didn't matter as there were so many. My tree is around 20 years old now.
