A tree for all zones and styles
Posted: September 8th, 2009, 6:52 pm
Got ya.
Melaleuca's of course. They will grow in any State and in any climate. Even out in the open in Cornwall southern England where they get regular snow falls, and have done since the 19th century.
Melaleuca's are the second biggest in the Myrtaceae family to the Eucalyptus. First discovered in 1660 by the Dutch merchant George Rumf.
In the Indonesian Islands of Ambon and Sulawesi.
The main part of the gathering of specimens was much later. The taxonomy is still to this day being collected and changed. The guess of 250+ species and sub species varieties and forma .
It is thought that the name is derived from the Greek ( Malas meaning black ) and ( Leukos meaning white ). Referring to the lower trunk which is often blackened by fire. With the white above.
There are 48 Melaleuca's referred to as Paperbarks others are mostly referred to as Honey myrtles. All with a qualifying reference as bracelet honey myrtle
or saltwater paperbark.
All of them flower some from new growth some from old wood colours vary from White though to crimson.
The styles you can do any style you wish,from the so called natural to the classical, but understanding you Mel is important.
Some do not like to be wired past the parallel, some will not shoot on old wood freely. As a practice I try first with one that is still being trained. I never cut back beyond greengrowth. That way I have some control over the new shoots.
What I have found is when root pruning I water the tree. Then two hours later I repot and root prune, I very carefully tease out the roots. I have found this works well with all Natives.
I am currently growing 18 species of Melaleuca from the large two man size rhaphiophylla which is my personel favorite, to Shohin. I find them to be just about the perfect native species to work with. They are very diverse in growth habit from inundated swamps to rocky outcrops. Also heath lands from Large trees to small prostrate scrubs. The leaf also varys from lanceolate to needle and every where in between.
My fertilising is once per fortnight using an acid lovers fertiliser MiracleGro for Azaleas alternating with Phostrogen always at full strength.
I finger pinch new growth as required and prune when nessisary, I have been known to use hedge shears when I get behind.
Carving your Mel is much the same as other trees decide where you want to go the slowly slowly. When you are happy with what you have you then need to treat the wood.
Ah but with fire yes fire to harden of the wood then whan you treat it with preservative it has a better chance, and look. I hope this little Essay will help those of you contemplating starting out with our wonderful natives as Bonsai
Here are some pictures to help you along that path. 
Pup
Melaleuca's of course. They will grow in any State and in any climate. Even out in the open in Cornwall southern England where they get regular snow falls, and have done since the 19th century.
Melaleuca's are the second biggest in the Myrtaceae family to the Eucalyptus. First discovered in 1660 by the Dutch merchant George Rumf.
In the Indonesian Islands of Ambon and Sulawesi.
The main part of the gathering of specimens was much later. The taxonomy is still to this day being collected and changed. The guess of 250+ species and sub species varieties and forma .
It is thought that the name is derived from the Greek ( Malas meaning black ) and ( Leukos meaning white ). Referring to the lower trunk which is often blackened by fire. With the white above.
There are 48 Melaleuca's referred to as Paperbarks others are mostly referred to as Honey myrtles. All with a qualifying reference as bracelet honey myrtle
or saltwater paperbark.
All of them flower some from new growth some from old wood colours vary from White though to crimson.
The styles you can do any style you wish,from the so called natural to the classical, but understanding you Mel is important.
Some do not like to be wired past the parallel, some will not shoot on old wood freely. As a practice I try first with one that is still being trained. I never cut back beyond greengrowth. That way I have some control over the new shoots.
What I have found is when root pruning I water the tree. Then two hours later I repot and root prune, I very carefully tease out the roots. I have found this works well with all Natives.
I am currently growing 18 species of Melaleuca from the large two man size rhaphiophylla which is my personel favorite, to Shohin. I find them to be just about the perfect native species to work with. They are very diverse in growth habit from inundated swamps to rocky outcrops. Also heath lands from Large trees to small prostrate scrubs. The leaf also varys from lanceolate to needle and every where in between.
My fertilising is once per fortnight using an acid lovers fertiliser MiracleGro for Azaleas alternating with Phostrogen always at full strength.
I finger pinch new growth as required and prune when nessisary, I have been known to use hedge shears when I get behind.
Carving your Mel is much the same as other trees decide where you want to go the slowly slowly. When you are happy with what you have you then need to treat the wood.
Ah but with fire yes fire to harden of the wood then whan you treat it with preservative it has a better chance, and look. I hope this little Essay will help those of you contemplating starting out with our wonderful natives as Bonsai
Here are some pictures to help you along that path. Pup
Pup
These are, a must have Pup. Your trees are absolutley something else. Id love to see your collection. Yours are a true inspiration to us all. Thanks for sharing them with us. 
