Baby Melaleuca thymifolia - bar branching

[Stevie_B]

G’day everyone,
Happy new year.

I picked up this Mel as I just love the flowers etc. It was originally going into the garden but I wondered about bonsai. It is a dwarf variety so won’t be very big.
Would it be a struggle for a newbie? And if it’s possible to bonsai it, should I remove the bar branching now? There already appears to be some bulging at the joints. Not sure the best time to chop a little native like this, if at all.
Many thanks,
Steve

[KIRKY]

Happy New Year
It’s never too early to remove bar branches or wire natives as they grow and harden very quickly. You can remove them now with no detriment.
Cheers
Kirky

[Stevie_B]

Thanks Kirky, much appreciated. Sorry for the numpty questions. So much to learn

[shibui]

No problem with pruning any time and the common Melaleucas make good bonsai.
Consider cutting the trunk somewhere above a branch to get better taper in the trunk.
Better bonsai are developed gradually over years rather than in one day.

[Rory]

Don’t be too fussed about bulging on this species.
They will naturally bulge quite a bit.
When they develop seed pods. It can often result in bulging or revers taper in that area because the base of the seed pods are fixed into the branch itself.

It’s a beautiful native to work with though.
Where you are at this time of year, you can pretty much do anything to that tree and it should come good.
Just don’t let this species dry out badly.

You can work them hard, but go easy on the roots. I usually don’t take a heap off on one go. Just make sure you leave a decent amount of fine root after a cut back.

[Stevie_B]

Thanks for that. I've already discovered the sensitivity of native roots, so that's a good reminder.
I feel that natives are mysterious and mythical, to be treated with almost sacred reverence.

The more we use them the more we learn.