WOOHOO... I have wanted a monkey puzzle tree for soo long, today I found a couple in a local nursery & didnt resist. Not much to show at the moment, in a 20cm black pot & about 30cm tall. To look at its not much different to my Araucaria bidwilli just larger leaves.
It will be a lifetime project but one I am so excited to be starting.
Matt
Araucaria araucana
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MattA
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Araucaria araucana
42 Mice ~Imperfection
"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards." ~ Vernon Sanders Law
"All the knowledge I possess everyone else can acquire, but my heart is all my own." ~ Johann Wolfgang Von Goeth
"Bonsai becomes great when growers start trees they know they will never see in a pot"
"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards." ~ Vernon Sanders Law
"All the knowledge I possess everyone else can acquire, but my heart is all my own." ~ Johann Wolfgang Von Goeth
"Bonsai becomes great when growers start trees they know they will never see in a pot"
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Joel
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
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Re: Araucaria araucana
And you intend to bonsai it? Rather surprised. The needles are HUGE!!!!!!! Texture is course. Branchlets are thicker than the trunks on some of my trees! I imagine it will be a very large bonsai.
If anybody doesn't know the history of this tree, google it. I believe there are only about 50 left in the wild or something crazy like that.
Joel
If anybody doesn't know the history of this tree, google it. I believe there are only about 50 left in the wild or something crazy like that.
Joel
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MattA
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Re: Araucaria araucana
Of course 
I have bidwillii & heterophylla already, I reckon araucana will be no harder, it's the hardiest of all the Araucaria so horticulturally it should be easier. They hold the needles for 10-15yrs it is one you simply cannot rush.My bidwillii are 8 & 6 yrs old & still have most of the needles ever grown! Brutally sharp & oh so much fun to do any sort of work with... But they do reduce & I dont see why the older ones cant be pruned off like we do with other species.
I am aiming for a big tree with naturalistic shaping, IE tall straight trunk with an umbrella crown. Then again it could be fun to turn it into a twisted mess that really would puzzle a monkey.
It is for trees like this that I got intrigued by bonsai all those years ago, knowing I could never have the room to grow all the ones i wanted in a garden unless it was many acres! I can have the same in a suburban yard in pots.
I have bidwillii & heterophylla already, I reckon araucana will be no harder, it's the hardiest of all the Araucaria so horticulturally it should be easier. They hold the needles for 10-15yrs it is one you simply cannot rush.My bidwillii are 8 & 6 yrs old & still have most of the needles ever grown! Brutally sharp & oh so much fun to do any sort of work with... But they do reduce & I dont see why the older ones cant be pruned off like we do with other species.
I am aiming for a big tree with naturalistic shaping, IE tall straight trunk with an umbrella crown. Then again it could be fun to turn it into a twisted mess that really would puzzle a monkey.
It is for trees like this that I got intrigued by bonsai all those years ago, knowing I could never have the room to grow all the ones i wanted in a garden unless it was many acres! I can have the same in a suburban yard in pots.
42 Mice ~Imperfection
"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards." ~ Vernon Sanders Law
"All the knowledge I possess everyone else can acquire, but my heart is all my own." ~ Johann Wolfgang Von Goeth
"Bonsai becomes great when growers start trees they know they will never see in a pot"
"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards." ~ Vernon Sanders Law
"All the knowledge I possess everyone else can acquire, but my heart is all my own." ~ Johann Wolfgang Von Goeth
"Bonsai becomes great when growers start trees they know they will never see in a pot"
-
MattA
- Banned
- Posts: 3112
- Joined: February 13th, 2010, 2:37 pm
- Favorite Species: Lichen
- Bonsai Age: 26
- Bonsai Club: Killing Trees Inc..
- Location: Lower Hunter Valley
- Been thanked: 2 times
- Contact:
Re: Araucaria araucana
As acquired, I estimate its about 2-3yrs old & is beautiful & healthy. I repotted & started sorting out the roots a little, nothing was cut off just untangled & spread out in a larger halfdepth pot. It will be allowed to grow unchecked this season then the fun can begin.
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42 Mice ~Imperfection
"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards." ~ Vernon Sanders Law
"All the knowledge I possess everyone else can acquire, but my heart is all my own." ~ Johann Wolfgang Von Goeth
"Bonsai becomes great when growers start trees they know they will never see in a pot"
"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards." ~ Vernon Sanders Law
"All the knowledge I possess everyone else can acquire, but my heart is all my own." ~ Johann Wolfgang Von Goeth
"Bonsai becomes great when growers start trees they know they will never see in a pot"
