Collected Melaleuca Cuticularis

[Patmet]

*Not collected by me*

I don't have any experience with collecting at this stage, it's something I hope to learn more about in the future.

I aquired this Mel Cuticularis in May this year, from a good friend who is very experienced at collecting these in our local area.

Shockingly, living in south west WA, this is my first Mel Cuticularis after doing bonsai for roughly 5 years now. Being the number one species for collection here, I always figured I'd collect one eventually and for some reason haven't come across them in local nurseries.

After aquiring it raw from collection I cut it back fairly conservatively. I then cut it back pretty hard in July, leaving more foliage down on the lower small trunk.

I've been fertilising and free growing since then, and it's now back on my radar for another round of work. It's going to be one of my christmas break projects. I'll update again after I do the work.

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Raw collected material

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First cut

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Second cut

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Dec 2023 growth

[Patmet]

Gave this a first styling today with Tony Bebb. Very happy with where it's headed. Trying to encourage, and hoping for some shoots along the bald side of the trunk.

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Before

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After

[ACooke]

Beautiful tree.
I think the secondary trunk you've let develop looks great with the design; I doubt I'd have had the foresight to do so.