[squizzy] callistemon viminallis

[squizzy]

Plant Callistemon viminallis

Source Garden
Height-1100mm
Cost $0

[squizzy]

Not a lot to report with the progression of this bottle bruch but I thought it best to document the progression of where i am at in the production of this tree. I hav dugg around the top of the rootball and cut the main surface roots, back filled with a potting mix and given the tree a drench with seasol. Fingers crossed.

Squizz

[squizzy]

Hi all,

Just an update on the bottle brush.

I had to quickly get this plant out of the garden to make way for my new planter box so it may have come out of the ground a little earlier than anticipated. I just crossed my fingers and hoped that it would survive the transplant. I was sure I had killed it up until about 3 weeks ago when a little shoot started to appear. I am not sure it has a great deal of potential but I will persist.

Cheers

Squizz

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[EdwardH]

Potential? Sure there is. Where there is life, there is hope. 12 months or so of TLC and anything is possible.

[squizzy]

we have some growth. Not a lot but its a start. ( about 2 months too late)

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[squizzy]

Hi all,

Things are looking up for this little tree.

really confused as to where to go from here but we do have some growth. maybe some sort of extreme windswept or literati?

cheers

Squizz

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[squizzy]

Just a light prune and wire for this one.

Not really that happy with its shape though. I have found it hard to style from the start. Normally I would cut a tree like this lower but that would negate it from any chance in the comp so I will persist and probably cut it harde after next October

Cheers

Squizz

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[squizzy]

Everytime I look at this tree I just get more confused as to what to do with it. So for now I am just letting it grow and continuing to procrastinate about its style.

Cheers

Squizz

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[squizzy]

Ok,

Update on this tree is I have changed my mind about the style again. Its funny how looking at something over and over again will result in totally different ideas and designs. 4 months ago I gave this tree a snow fakes chance in hell of becoming anything other then a peice of firewood. It must have heard my thoughts, pulled its head in and started growing with some intent.

I have put quite a sharp bend in the main trunk line and started creating an informal upright out of it and it seems to work I think. I havent had a lot of experience with Callistemons ( none infact) but I imagine this will sit as is until next spring when I can hopefully produce some branch ramification and more tweaking in the shape. Not bad considering it came out of the ground no more than a large cutting with little hope.

Cheers

Squizz

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[squizzy]

The update on this one is not good news.

I push the bend a bit to far and lost the top of the tree. so back a step now and training up a new leader.

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thats the downside of pushing the boundries of time and bending.

Not too worry

Squizz

[marcela]

Hi Squizz,
Thanks for posting your progression on this little gem,hope it pulls through,I'm becoming more interested in natives so any knowledge I gain is most helpful.I think I may have the same species which I bought at a sale day not labelled and was told to that I can chop back hard but have also been told to leave a bit of growth for health the only problem is that all the growth is quite high and I would like to bring the overall size down,would it be safe to cut it down around now?
Thanks,any advice appreciated.

[squizzy]

Hi marcela,

I dont know if this is the place to post questions as this is a current competition section. It doesnt bother me but it may clutter the thread for the purpose of judging later.

Anyway to answer your question. I would not normally cut the tree down now as its not the season for new growth ( too cold) but having said that I hack these trees in my backyard all the time and they never seem to mind as they always re shoot.

To put it in a simple answer. If you feel it needs to be cut now due to time restraints than you should cut now but if you have plenty of time just be safe and cut next spring. It will take to a good hack. This tree of mine came out of the ground with no roots, no leaves and somehow its kicked on so I would say they are as tough as nails.

Squizz

[marcela]

Hi Squizz,
Thanks for you reply,I'm in no hurry so happy to wait but the more opinions I get the more knowledgeable I become.
Good luck with yours,hope it bounces back alright.

[squizzy]

update on callistemon

DSC04369.jpg

Cheers

Squizz