Callistemon Literati

[Rory]

I could not believe my eyes when I found this mammoth. The trunk is about 2 inches thick. The price tag said $15

When I asked the nurseryman about it, he said it was very, very old and was forgot about, and had branches knocked off constantly, and was always overlooked as too awkward a purchase. Well, for $15, I grabbed it immediately. My eyes instantly saw Literati, my favourite style, and thus, this took its rightful place on my back deck.

When I bought it home a while back, my wife looked shocked, asking what on earth I was going to do with it. Then after I cut it back she fell in love with it. I will attempt to refine it a bit over the next few years and slowly reduce the root system over the next 5 years or so. Will add progression pics each year. The two pics show the before and after.

Let me know what you think. Thoughts / commentary welcome.

[kcpoole]

You could bring the foliage back much further. Callistimon will back bud on old wood easily

Ken

[Rory]

Oh okay. When would it be safe to do so. Whereabouts did you recommend cutting back to? Sorry, I have little experience with Callistemon. Can you create jin on callistemon, or would it be unwise?

[kcpoole]

I mine I would cut back as hard as you like, but if you are a little reticent, then just cut back before the growing tips, and you shodu get back budding, then you can cut back further if you need or want to

Yes you can Jin if desired but it is not common to see Jin on Aussie natives

Ken

[Neli]

How tall is this thing?
You can cut it any where from 10cm above ground.

[Rory]

How tall is this thing?
You can cut it any where from 10cm above ground.

Well, before it was cut back, it was about 2 metres tall. Apparently no one wanted it because of the few that looked at it, they never had a car big enough, and would just buy a smaller one for cheaper. Once I cut it back, it is now probably about 1.2 metres I would say. Once I have styled it I plan to have the upper section bent sharply and then downwards so it will probably end up about 80 - 90cm or so I'd say.

[Neli]

If you want to keep it this long, have U thought of bending the trunk to create some movement?

[Rory]

If you want to keep it this long, have U thought of bending the trunk to create some movement?

Well, I have thought about it, but I actually do like it the way the trunk is at the moment. I tried bending it at the nursery and it is really hard, but you can do it, I might consider this in the future, I'll have to give it more thought, not sure what the best method would be for such a thick trunk.

Anyone's thoughts on when the best time to trim the roots and repot for callistemon and melalueca is?

[lackhand]

Anyone's thoughts on when the best time to trim the roots and repot for callistemon and melalueca is?

When to repot natives

That's a thread with some good info. Seems like bud movement is what you want. As with anything else, I'm sure there are probably a dozen differing opinions.

[Rory]

Anyone's thoughts on when the best time to trim the roots and repot for callistemon and melalueca is?

When to repot natives

That's a thread with some good info. Seems like bud movement is what you want. As with anything else, I'm sure there are probably a dozen differing opinions.

Thanks for that, that had me laughing too. I was puzzled by the 'growing' question, then read the next and laughed very loudly. Yeah I thought it would be buds, but wasn't sure about time of year, so I'll probably trial it on the smaller stock first. Thanks for that lackhand.

[Jason]

Yeah I gave my calli's a chop about two weeks ago, and they are budding like crazy at the moment Was my first serious chop, so its all very exciting for me seeing the buds coming through lol

I chopped my C. Mary McKillop, C. Candle Glow, C. Mathew Flinders (I have a few different varieties lol) and they're all budding nicely now. The Mathew Flinders in particular is budding all over the place!

These threads by pup are what I use as my bible lol filled with heaps of info on mels and calli's (although you may have already read them)

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2091
viewtopic.php?f=55&t=2641

[kcpoole]

Anyone's thoughts on when the best time to trim the roots and repot for callistemon and melalueca is?

When to repot natives

That's a thread with some good info. Seems like bud movement is what you want. As with anything else, I'm sure there are probably a dozen differing opinions.

Also check the Wiki
https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... hould_I%3F

Ken