Melaleuca rhaphiophylla [Pups survivor]

[Steven]

Following is a progression of the M. rhaphiophylla that I acquired from Pup in April 2010.

Originally the tree was collected as part of a clump from a peat swamp in Denmark WA in 1995. The swamp was being bulldozed to make way for a new highway so the trees were destined for death if not removed.

Pups collecting ground 3.jpg

Pups collecting ground 2.jpg

Pups original thread can be read HERE.

The tree/s were first grown in a bonsai pot as a respectable clump as can be see in the following photo from 1996.

12 months after collection 1996.jpg

The large clump became to heavy to manage so Pup decided to split it into 3 individual trees.

Prior to splitting.jpg

Splitting the group.jpg

After splitting - tree 1.jpg

After splitting - tree 2.jpg

After splitting - tree 3.jpg

The original separation thread can be read HERE

It then lived as part of Pup's collection for numerous years before I negotiated for its relocation to Sydney.

24.10.2009 with can.JPG

Pup sent me the following pictures of the tree when we were arranging for its relocation to temperate Sydney;

March 2010 front at Pups.JPG

March 2010 left side at Pups.JPG

March 2010 back at Pups.JPG

March 2010 right side at Pups.JPG

Pup packaged the tree very securely and shipped it via land the 4000km to my place.

April 2010 ready for shipping.JPG

It should have taken 3 days for the trip but unfortunately it was 6 days due to an error by the couriers. Despite the delay, it arrived in top health!

Melaleuca rhaphiophylla 12.04.10.jpg

The original thread covering the packaging, dispatch and arrival in Sydney makes very interesting reading and can be found HERE.

I have been getting to know the tree since it arrived and watching its growth patterns etc. Now, 8 months on it is in real need of a haircut and I feel it is also time to do a bit of work to 'put my mark on the tree'. Here is how it is currently looking;

2010 December 7 - Front.jpg

2010 December 7 - Left.jpg

2010 December 7 - Back.jpg

2010 December 7 - Right.jpg

Part of my plan is to change the front slightly to show more of the deadwood and a wider base;

2010 December 7 - my new Front.jpg

I'll be trimming and wiring over the coming week and will be doing the work under the guidance of Pup so we can all learn as it happens.
Please feel free to offer suggestions, discuss ideas and ask questions.

Regards,
Steven

[Pup]

Looking good Steven, you are going to hate me, another correction coming. It was not a swamp in Denmark. Just a little further north, in Gosnells. Just south of Perth in the foothills. You are right about the highway though it is now well and truly used.

There is a huge gum tree on one of the approaches to it from the north.It is a dead ringer for your avatar. I have tried to take a pic of it but the surrounding trees will not let me get, what can be seen with the naked eye.

As for trimming, like most trees as is needed, leaving alone those you wish to thicken, also the time you have for this. As you have seen when I am pushed for time I use the hedge trimming shears. When I have more time I do trim like I would a Juniper, so you do not get the dead looking grey ends on the foliage.

Just remember this is one of the Melaleucas, that do not like to go past the parallel, so when wiring take that into consideration. Now is the time for feeding also, they do like a regular feed. I use MiracleGro for Azaleas and Camellias, alternating with Yates Fruit and Flower, at the recomended dosage. At least fortnightly both are low in Phosphate, I also use this regime on my Proteaceae, ( Banksias Adenanthos ) as well with good results.

Cheers Pup

[ozzy]

Field of dreams

[Pup]

Field of dreams

A lot were saved but also a lot were lost. It is now part of history. If you are careful there might be some still collectables there. The biggest problem would be Joeblakes as in tiger and red bellied ones.

A careful Pup

[Leevers]

Pup, there are still some hidden wonders out the back there

[Steven]

G'day,

It's been 12 tough months for this Melaleuca.

It suffered from a severe attack of thrip as can be read about in THIS THREAD. The following pictures were taken in August 2011;

2011 August a.JPG

2011 August b.JPG

2011 August c.JPG

2011 August d.JPG

Although I very rarely use any chemicals, the tree was treated twice with Rogor 100 and repotted about 4 weeks later once it had regained health. The dead wood was treated with Earles Wood Hardener also. Following are some dodgy phone pictures of the repot;

2011 September 11th (1).JPG

2011 September 11th (5).JPG

2011 September 11th (7).JPG

The following pictures were taken on the 12th of September 2011, the day after repotting;

2011 September 12th a.JPG

2011 September 12th b.JPG

It didn't skip a beat after the severe root pruning and within days was pushing out fresh new growth. It had been pruned back to 2 or 4 sets of leaves all over the tree which had encouraged a bit of back shooting but only towards the ends of the branches. The lowest branch had been cut back to about half way to see if it would shoot again but it was brittle and appeared dead.

2 weeks later and;

2011 September 27th a.JPG

2011 September 27th b.JPG

2 months later and;

2011 December (a).JPG

2011 December (b).jpg

Over the last week I have spent a bit of time in the evenings wiring every branch and yesterday I shaped it. The upper section of deadwood was rotting so it was scraped back to firm wood. It will be reduced in height and refined in the near future.

2012 January a.jpg

2012 January b.jpg

2012 January c.jpg

2012 January d.jpg

I'm really happy that it has recovered from the ordeal it went through mid last year!

So what do you think? Is there still room for improvement? If so, what would you do?

Regards,
Steven

[bodhidharma]

I can understand your dilemma with the correct viewing front (lovely tree by the way) and much prefer the "other front". Well done on restoring its health.

[Craig]

Steven, great work with the recovery operation mate, your rhaph is an awesome tree. I like ALL the fronts and as you have used a round PK pot , it can be viewed from anywhere . i love the deadwood trunk on this one, Great Tree

[Dario]

Hi Steven, I am really glad that this tree recovered after the thrip/foliage dramas. I like the round pot too!
I Have to agree with Bodhi in the proposed front...and that is an advantage of the round pot too I guess!(can always change it).
I prefer viewing some of the hollow as your front view.
If you get the time could you please indulge me with a pic of the back, but turned around another 10 to 15 degrees so the deadwood hollow is more front on?
I am not saying that this is the front, but I would like to see this angle though.
It may even look good with the apex a little over to the left from the current back view too. Not neccessarily any repositioning involved, but a slight triming so that the bulk towards the right of apex is removed and filling it out a little more on the left side and rounding it iff so that it gives the impression of a slight directional change in the apex towards the left....just a thought?
Love it (and the other trees separated from the original clump too). Well done and keep up the good work!
Cheers, Dario.
EDIT posted above remark re round pot and changable viewing options before I saw Craig's post.

[Pup]

Looking nice and healthy now Steven, like the new pot.

Cheers Pup

[Steven]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Re the 'front' dilemma, I agree that the base and deadwood looks the best from the 'other front' however the wood is rotting and despite treatment with Earls, it will not last forever. I have styled it with the idea that the deadwood will not be there forever. The burnt bits are holding up really well but the sections that touch the trunk and can't be singes have deteriorated.

Dario, here are some deadwood shots for you.

2012 January e.jpg

2012 January f.jpg

Regards,
Steven

[Dario]

Thanks for the pics of the deadwood Steven, it has some great texture to it.
I look forward to seeing it with the foliage fuller in time!
Cheers, Dario.

[Greenhorn]

im just pretty upset that they turned that into a highway

[Craig]

im just pretty upset that they turned that into a highway

It's still there mate, dont get toooo upset

[Steven]

Time for an update on this one.

It recovered from the Thrip outbreak and has been growing well ever since. Pup did warn me that the deadwood would eventually rot and he was correct. None of the preservatives I have tried seem to help and at at the rate it is rotting I suspect it will have disintegrated in a couple of years. A sucker has popped up on the opposite side to the deadwood and I'm leaving it to grow so I can have a Grandmother, Mother, Daughter style tree

I repotted last week into the same pot, rotated the front a bit and have stood it up more upright. What do you think?

Regards,
Steven

2013 November (a).JPG