Eric's Camellia

Forum for discussion of Flowering and fuiting bonsai - Azalea, Serissa, Apricot etc.
User avatar
MattA
Banned
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:

Eric's Camellia

Post by MattA »

One of several old trees I was given when a friend past away a number of years ago. I have always liked this camellia tho to be honest i dont know why I like it so. Its entire life was spent in a small pot & when I acquired it, had not been repotted in over 10yrs. It was healthy & flowered each year so I left it alone for 3yrs even tho it didnt grow at all 2-3leaves per year.

I finally decided to shorten the branches & crown and repotted into this majorly oversized pot 18mths ago & while it looks like it has not really grown at all, it has actually filled out considerably. This is the first time it has flowered since repotting so I thought I would share.
ericstreef.JPG
ericstreel.JPG
ericstreer.JPG
ericstreeri.JPG
The melaleuca seedlings have come up on there own as they do in any of my pots that have locally collected varieties of moss & lichen.

Matt
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
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"
User avatar
Amanda
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 586
Joined: April 10th, 2010, 2:57 pm
Favorite Species: [color=#008040]Ficus & Natives[/color]
Bonsai Age: 0
Bonsai Club: [color=#FF00BF]AUSBONSAI.COM[/color] [color=#00BF00]۩[/color]

Re: Eric's Camellia

Post by Amanda »

Such a feminine tree, love the gorgeous flowers.
Failure and disappointment is part of the learning process. ~ Paul (pjkatich)
User avatar
MattA
Banned
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: Eric's Camellia

Post by MattA »

A lithe towering woman, I love her gentle curves..

I keep coming back to the first branch & wanting to cut it off or move it or I dont know what but it just jars me...

Any thoughts or suggestions

Matt
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"
User avatar
kcpoole
Perpetual Learner
Perpetual Learner
Posts: 12289
Joined: November 12th, 2008, 4:02 pm
Favorite Species: Maple
Bonsai Age: 15
Bonsai Club: the School Of Bonsai
Location: Western Sydney, NSW, Australia
Has thanked: 18 times
Been thanked: 94 times
Contact:

Re: Eric's Camellia

Post by kcpoole »

I woud shotren that first branch back to the shoot, and grow that as a foliage pad to support lots of flowers

Ken
Check out our Wiki for awesome bonsai information www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki
What is Bonsai? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Bonsai
What should I do now? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Newbie
How do I grow a Bonsai? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... _a_Bonsai?
Visit a Bonsai nursery to see some real nice trees http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... _Nurseries
User avatar
MattA
Banned
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: Eric's Camellia

Post by MattA »

I repotted this one about 12mths ago into a mix of kanuma & basalt chip, it has been growing strongly ever since. The first branch resolved itself during the year with breakage thanks to one of the dogs. :yes:
100_4317rz.jpg
The bend was put in about a month ago and for the first week after it was on the wilt & I thought I had gone too far :palm:

A reposition at next repot, a few more years, a few more bends...

Matt
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
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"
GavinG
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2260
Joined: April 26th, 2010, 11:47 pm
Favorite Species: Maple
Bonsai Age: 0
Bonsai Club: CBS
Location: Canberra
Has thanked: 535 times
Been thanked: 265 times

Re: Eric's Camellia

Post by GavinG »

Good step, I'm damned if I know how you got away with it! I agree with similar big bends further down at some time. Because the trunk goes up quite a way before it goes down, almost parallel, you might consider leaning it over to the left or the right, depending on what the roots will allow. Seems to me it might flow better. Please keep showing where it's going - most camellias are mainly for the flowers, and good trunk dynamics don't happen a lot. Flowers should show well suspended from the pot like this.

Gavin
Last edited by GavinG on March 10th, 2012, 7:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
MattA
Banned
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: Eric's Camellia

Post by MattA »

GavinG wrote:Good step, I'm damned if I know how you got away with it!
More ass than class :lol:
cam1.jpg
This is close to the new planting angle.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
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"
User avatar
MattA
Banned
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: Eric's Camellia

Post by MattA »

Repotted a few weeks ago, its a bit easier to sit on a bench now :D
100_4519rz.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
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"
GavinG
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2260
Joined: April 26th, 2010, 11:47 pm
Favorite Species: Maple
Bonsai Age: 0
Bonsai Club: CBS
Location: Canberra
Has thanked: 535 times
Been thanked: 265 times

Re: Eric's Camellia

Post by GavinG »

That's graceful. Will you be cutting back either of the branches to bare wood?

Gavin
User avatar
daiviet_nguyen
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 959
Joined: November 19th, 2008, 8:41 pm
Favorite Species: Pines, Ficuses, Maples, Azaleas
Bonsai Age: 15
Bonsai Club: None
Location: Melbourne
Been thanked: 3 times
Contact:

Re: Eric's Camellia

Post by daiviet_nguyen »

Hi MattA,

I don't know much about camellia, ( although I have about 10 big ones in yards, ) but this one looks like it has a very small leaves. If so, it is very hard to find. Its flowers are usually smaller too?

The ones that I have on the ground all have large leaves and large flowers -- easily 10 cm in diameter.

You have a very nice one there :)

Cheers.
User avatar
MattA
Banned
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: Eric's Camellia

Post by MattA »

Hey Gavin, no real plans for it as yet :palm: More likely to bend the 2 branches than cut them short, I know camellia shoot well on bare wood but not sure if I want to reduce it that much.

Hey Daviet, the leaves are quite small for a camellia, they do reduce somewhat but flowers dont, this one bears blooms about 5cm dia (small for camellia).
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"
User avatar
MattA
Banned
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: Eric's Camellia

Post by MattA »

The top branch was removed a couple of weeks ago & today I pruned & wired out the remaining growth.
100_4881rz.jpg
100_4883rz.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
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"
User avatar
MattA
Banned
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: Eric's Camellia

Post by MattA »

Last spring I repotted into a sweet Mudlark pot and started raising the roots, it is now time for the next stage, clearing out the dead & fine root to show off these beauties.. the bark really is something special...
roots.jpg
More work has been started & when its done I will update further.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
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"
User avatar
MattA
Banned
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: Eric's Camellia

Post by MattA »

Carve out, bind with jute, an extra layer of rubber tubing .. crank the &^#$ out of it :tu2:
bent.jpg
Give it a while to settle & then on to the next bend...
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
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"
Neli
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1404
Joined: April 27th, 2012, 3:17 am
Favorite Species: Tropical
Bonsai Age: 0
Bonsai Club: Bonsai alaminutte
Location: Lusaka
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: Eric's Camellia

Post by Neli »

When You say rubber tubing, do you mean strips from inner car tube?
I ask lots of questions that sound like suggestions. Please remember I am a inquisitive newbie trying to figure out why You made a particular decision, in order to learn.
I started a blog:http://nelibonsai.wordpress.com/2013/07 ... a-nursery/
Post Reply

Return to “Flowering and fruiting”