Progression thread: Melaleuca irbyana
By memory I purchased this from Cool Country Natives in Canberra when I went down to do a presentation on the Symposium for Native Plants at the ANBG in Canberra 2020. Although I might be wrong about where I purchased it from, as I had bought about 20 different varieties that day. (They have a massive variety of beautiful natives to grow and I highly recommend them) Although it may have been purchased from a native nursery up here on the coast if it wasn't Canberra, because I didn't keep a record of the purchases that day unfortunately.
I didn't take an initial photo, but it was just a very small seedling at the time.
It is very hardy and had no problems with a heavy root removal and cutting back.
It happily tolerates a heavier mix and will grow fast if given good levels of sun, although I still add washed river sand for drainage, just not as much so as to keep it with a higher level of water than other Mels I am growing.
My only tip is to not allow it to dry out. I had initially given it a slightly heavier mix - being that its natural habitat is a bit on the wetter side - and this proved beneficial as I once left it too long between waterings...but it thankfully bounced back.
You can watch an interesting video on it, as I hadn't realized it was critically endangered. I merely purchased it because I liked the look of it and the tiny foliage and weeping branches.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu0aWwHW2aQ
10 Jan 2022
Melaleuca irbyana
- Rory
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
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Melaleuca irbyana
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Rory
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus
Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480
Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724
Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995
How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus
Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480
Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724
Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995
How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
- Bougy Fan
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 2597
- Joined: February 9th, 2010, 5:52 pm
- Favorite Species: Bougainvillea, Ficus and Swamp Cypress
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- Location: Brisbane
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Re: Melaleuca irbyana
Hi Rory and Happy New Year. I have one of these - I bought it from a well known native proponent in the Redlands area. I had to modify my mix adding some 3-6mm prescion pine bark to keep the mix wetter. It is very vigorous and you are constantly cutting back shoots along the branches. I love the bark on it as it grows and sheds.
Regards Tony
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"The problem with quotes found on the Internet is that it's hard to be sure of their authenticity." Abraham Lincoln