Water Gum, I want to start out right

[Milehigh_7]

These are pretty rare in the US but I have a bunch of little fellas. I want to train them for bonsai use from the get go. I would really appreciate tips on best practices on things such as back-budding, root work, building taper you know the usual stuff. Thanks in advance!!!

[Gerard]

They are not common as bonsai in Australia although they have good potential. Should be fast growing wire needs to be removed after a short time. Avoid wiring branches below horizontal. Give lots of water and open soil. Repotting works best in early summer do not bare root. Gums tend to lose branches occasionally which makes bonsai design difficult and can discourage. Healthy trees can be cut very aggressively to promote back budding and develop taper.

[Milehigh_7]

Thanks! So far I really love them!

[kcpoole]

They are robust and great trees for bonsai. Repot yearly and trunk chop for taper and movement. They back bud profusely.

Ken

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[treeman]

If you are talking about Tristaniopsis laurina, they have great potential. Multiple trunks with lots of twists suits them. I have one about 20 years old or so which I started from a young seedling. Branches are quite flexible so wiring into any style is simple. They take defoliation extremely well and hard pruning too. The leaves are reasonably large so I would recommend you aim for a tree no less than about 2 feet high. Mine has never flowered probably because I prune too often but I hope to see it start some time in the near future. They love water but can tolerate dryness for short periods. Everything else is standard practice. They should do well in LV.

[kcpoole]

I forgot to add that the leaves reduce very well.
I have 2 on my benches, 1 is shohin size and the other a few inches taller.

Ray Nesci has had one ( shohin Size) down at the Arboretum before and it was highlighted at the Canberra show a few years ago.

Ken

[Milehigh_7]

Thanks everyone! I have about 50 seedlings and I pruned them all back to 2 sets of leaves and they are already starting to back bud. Really lovely little tree so far! I am really getting into Australian natives so I will be needing you all quite a bit. Hope you don't mind.

[shibui]

How frost hardy is Tristanopsis? ANBG says frost hardiness varies with provenance. Las Vegas might be in the Desert but it still gets pretty cold.

I have some lophostemon confertus (I think that's what they are) here. They are fairly closely related and don't like winter very much and it only gets to -4 or -5C here. Got badly burnt the first couple of years but now, with a little protection, just sulk all winter and most of the spring.