Water Gum [from Nesci demo at Ideas Summit]

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MelaQuin
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Water Gum [from Nesci demo at Ideas Summit]

Post by MelaQuin »

RAY NESCI on Water Gums
From a demo by Ray and Clinton Nesci at the Ideas Summit in July 2009

Tristaniopsis laurina has no relation to eucalypts. It is the common name because the plant grows naturally by streams and rivers and has deep green laurel like leaves with clusters of yellow flowers in the summer. It grows from the tropics to southern Australia in well drained soil and full sun. In a bonsai pot you might need a water tray depending on your microclimate.

Ray Nesci has a special love of water gums . He repots them in August. The plant is a fast grower and you can get a nice bonsai in three to four years. The leaves on a ground grown plant are quite large but they miniaturise extremely well and the Tristani suits shohin bonsai admirably. Ray and Clinton repotted a water gum that is in training for root over rock and Ray had several lovely shohin water gums on display showing the tiny leaves that you can get with pruning and care. Ray’s trick is to keep removing the larger leaves and allowing the tree time to grow smaller ones.

Ray and Clinton worked on a root over rock Water Gum. They took the soil level down to expose the root and then removed the majority of the tree that had been allowed to grow wild to get the roots clinging to the rock faster. Water Gums roots, like trident maples, will gradually ‘melt’ against the rock giving that wonderful, aged look where the root appears to flow down the rock surfaces. For this attribute alone the tree is worth cultivating as a bonsai and when you see who small the normally large leaves can be dwarfed… well why would you go past it.
Nescis Water Gum 1.jpg
Nescis water Gum 2.jpg
Water Gum bonsai.jpg
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Steven
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Re: Water Gum [from Nesci demo at Ideas Summit]

Post by Steven »

Ray sure has some beautiful Water Gums!

Here is some info on another one of his T laurina that won the 'peoples choice award' at the 6th National Exhibition of Australian Plants as Bonsai in Nov 08. Originally posted here but worth repeating :D
Ray%27s%20Water%20gum%20close%20up.jpg
Tristaniopsis Laurina
Water gum

The tree was grown from seed which was planted in 1993. Ray first styled it in 1998.

This tree grew steadily for around 9 years and then developed some rot in the trunk as a result from a cut not being sealed. Ray decided to carve it out and went even further than the rot and hollowed out the trunk creating a really nice feature. Unfortunately neither of these photos show the detail of the extensive carving which really adds to the aged appearance of the gum.

Tristaniopsis’ foliage will greatly reduce through defoliation, which Ray carries out in summer. It has attractive bronze new growth and then through the season it matures to green. The bark also greatly contrasts from young maroon stems to a white mature bark, which starts to peel away with age.

Tristaniopsis have small yellow flowers but they aren’t readily seen on bonsai because of the constant trimming.

Ray repots this tree annually in either March or August.
Ray%20with%20Tristaniopsis%20laurina%20%28Water%20gum%29%20.jpg
Since seeing this bonsai and talking to Ray about the species I have started working on 3 of them. I have found them to respond really well to defoliation, root pruning and container life. If you don't have one in your collection, I encourage you to get one (or 2)!

Regards,
Steven
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Last edited by Steven on July 11th, 2009, 8:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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