Melaleuca pustulata

[Brekel]

I don't suppose anyone has any experience with Melaleuca pustulata as bonsai? I was given one in a little tube pot last July that came from the forestry nursery.

About the only information I can find on them is that, unlike most of our Melaleucas, they come from drier areas and only from a very limited area in Tassie.

It's growing vigorously, and I thought it might have some potential.

Thanks,
Brett.

[Keels]

Gday Brett,

I picked up a few from the spring ANPS sale in Canberra last year. I was late to the sale and these were the only ones really left but I'm glad i grabbed them as they seem very interesting. All of mine have been going nuts, ive already started to add a little movement into them while they are still young. I think I've cut them back twice since I've had them as they get out of control.

They look like great potential. They get a beautiful yellow flower, they back bud fairly well and have small foliage. i haven't touched the roots yet so ill see how that goes in spring.

Keep us updated how you go with you trees

[Brekel]

Hey Keels
Good to hear there's some others around

They certainly seem to grow well. When I got it in July I took it out of the 50mm tube pot and put it in 90mm pot.
In the middle of Jan I was away for a couple of warm days, and unfortunately the thing blew over and dried out. After about a week or two the leaves on the end of a few branches dried up. I pulled off the dead leaves, kept it well watered, and on each of those branches between 6-12 new branches shot out in all directions and put on a crazy amount of growth. I've trimmed it back a little since, but not done a lot as when it was given to me I wasn't sure if it was going to go in the ground or become a bonsai. But bonsai it will be.

I was holding off until after winter to touch the roots, but I slip-potted it up to a shortish 130mm pot to make it more stable, and there's roots coming out the bottom 2 weeks later.

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[Keels]

Fantastic Brett. Nice little tree. I always put a saucer under my natives so they never dry out. It might help you as they can get thirsty.

I was researching a little more bout this type of Melaleuca and i found this from multiple sources.

Melaleuca pustulata is declared a rare species under the Tasmanian government Threatened Species Protection Act (1995).

I think thats pretty cool.

[Brekel]

It is pretty cool, particularly as a Tasmanian
I hope yours do well.

[Brekel]

This little tree has been doing well. It had been slip-potted from 90mm to 130mm early May, and I put some wire on late May.
On the weekend I repotted into a 180mm squatter pot and trimmed the roots a bit. The roots were coming out the bottom of the last pot within a couple of weeks of slip potting, so by now it was pretty full. The wire was also starting to bite in so I removed it. It grew pretty well through winter.

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I trimmed the top very slightly, now I'll just see how it recovers.

[Brekel]

Deciding on the future direction of this tree.
I've trimmed of a few branches to open it up a bit, but held back "till I come up with a plan. Sometimes I think just jumping in would be easier than overthinking
As it is now:

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Trying to decide whether to totally remove the left branches, or leave some.
Some quickly edited options:

IMG_20211105_151813.jpg

IMG_20211105_143203.jpg

Always open to other thoughts too.

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[Ryceman3]

For what it’s worth… I like the first image of the edited options you posted the best, but I’d be looking to build the apex a little more over the foliage on the left. As it is, the apex is sitting right over the base of the trunk and I think this subdues the “movement” you would otherwise get.
Just my thoughts…

[Brekel]

Thanks for your thoughts Ryceman. I like your thinking on this.
Whichever option I take I'll need to work on the top a bit. And it may not end up going like I plan anyway

[Ryceman3]

Thanks for your thoughts Ryceman. I like your thinking on this.
Whichever option I take I'll need to work on the top a bit. And it may not end up going like I plan anyway

Don’t thank me too much… I actually just re-looked at your original post and in fact it is the MIDDLE image I like the look of, not the FIRST image like I originally posted.
Apologies for being an idiot, and because it’s a life long condition I’m sure it will happen again so I apologise in advance for that too.
The rest applies though. Good luck with it!

[Keep Calm and Ramify]

If you were really feeling brave enough & with disregard to sentimental attachment - this could be a new starting point.

FireShot Capture 001 - Melaleuca pustulata - AusBonsai - www.ausbonsai.com.au (1).jpg

[Brekel]

If you were really feeling brave enough & with disregard to sentimental attachment - this could be a new starting point.

Hmm, that's quite different but certain an option. Gives it more of an aged/weathered feel.

While it has some sentimental attachment, as the first tree I've started from scratch as a young seedling, I've only had it a bit over two years and it does grow rapidly.

You've given me something to think about, I do like the look of that...