Banksia Integrifolia and Dryandra Praemorsa

[Boics]

Hi there.

I'm pretty pleased with a couple of native pickups yesterday..
First up I scored them for what I would call cheap and next I think they hold some good future potential.

Considering they were picked up at the same time I'm going to track their progression in this thread.

First up the big boy - Integrifolia..

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Loving the bark and the Nebari on this guy.

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Yep doesn't look like much right now and likely won't for the next few years but I reckon it has a good future.

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Looking forward to summer now so I can start the reduction process.
I've got my ideas of where to cut however where would others consider prime cut locations?

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Next cab off the rank is a long and admittedly leggy Dryandra.

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To be honest I've never heard of this species before but thought I'd see if it would take to Bonsai culture.

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So as with the integrifolia I'll try and keep it alive and healthy until the warmer months and will likely chop down to the lowest branch and see what it does.
The bark and nebari on this one is already starting to look ok for a tiny skinny tree.

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Anyone have any Dryandra?

[Boics]

Well the Dryandra is growing and has recently burst into flowers which are pretty cool I reckon!
I've recently learnt it is now known as a Banksia Undata.

Still undecided what to do but it's certainly going to lend itself to some sort of Bunjin type style.
Looking forward to cutting it back to see what happens but also keen to keep the growth to encourage some girth. So in two minds right about now.

The Banksia just recently got a bit of a clean up of all the weeds and a tease of the pot bound exterior centimetre of the roots. It has been particularly dormant and unhappy looking for months now.
Hoping some sunshine will get it to fire up a bit.

Happy for advise, suggestions / virts.

[shibui]

I find that banksias grow heaps of very fine roots really quickly and get so pot bound within a year that water cannot penetrate the root ball and they just start to go backward. The root tease you have given it will probably help but a good root prune in the next couple of months will probably make a big difference. a feed of something low in P will also kickstart some growth. I pruned some younger ones here a few weeks ago and they have all just started to shoot again - there will be some of them amongst the stock to go to BSV show in October.

All the integrifolias I have pruned have budded and grown back well, even from bare wood so i believe you could cut yours anywher and expect to see lots of new buds.

Hope you got rid of that starweed (first pics) before it spread to your other pots looks lovely but is one of the worst nursery weeds

[Boics]

Hi Shibui.

I've been eagerly watching this Integrifolia waiting for some action and alas.
Nothing!

It's still dormant and I reckon hasn't grown in some 6-8 months.

There is little doubt that it's pretty pot bound and you are right about the fibrous roots.
I was sort of hoping that the "tease" would at least get things moving again with a view to a proper prune/tidy up when things heat up.
It's got a bit of Native Osmocote on it and it would have received a splash of Charlie Carp from time to time but with the tree not growing I've been hesitant to fertilise.

Do you have any advise to get this one to spring to life?

Every other tree that I own is moving along fine and I have some 60 + trees the majority of which are different species (Natives, Evergreens and Deciduous).

Really I'm just looking forward to chopping this thing back but don't want to be hasty....

[shibui]

My banksias are just putting out new shoots now. as long as it is still green it is ok, just let it take its own time.

[Boics]

Well still no movement on the banksia integ.

I'm fed up and have taken to it with the saw.
chopped it above the bottom juncture and raked and chopped the roots by around 20%.
Still very compact in the root ball but I'm confident that it will get enough water in there now.
Having said this im going to poke a few holes in there to let some water penetrate the more blocked areas.

Absolutely Spewing as i broke some of the bark of in the process today which was very careless and stupid.

The dryandra is going okay and growing well at least.
The reduction process is starting and its looking ok.
I've also given it a little shape/wire.

Well throw up some pics shortly.

[Boics]

So perhaps the Integrifolia was going to bud or maybe my frustration forced it to move?
Anyway after aforementioned bludgeoning with saw and root rake the tree has finally come to life.
It's budding at most junctures now and is back on the mend.

See current pic now.

I'm tossing and turning as to which branch to use as the new leader?
Would most welcome some style options.

Still very upset about breaking the bark too I might add.

Also see attached pics of the Dryandra (Banksia Undata) the reduction process is coming along and I've put a few bends in there as well.
Need a bit of ramification and I'm also getting some back budding which will IMO help this one along.

[shibui]

There's still a long way to go with the banksia integ so it does not really matter which branch you use. Personally I'd go for informal upright which, from the front you have showed us, is the right hand leader.

Don't worry about that tiny piece of bark. By the time this tree has grown a bit it will be replaced by new bark.

[Gerard]

Names can get confusing
I believe that all of the dyandras have recently been re-classified as banksias but dyandra praemorsa (banksia undata) is different to banksia praemorsa (cut leaf banksia)

[Boics]

Some pics of the new growth, selected leader and shoots.

My plan is to remove the second largest branch that is currently being used to mask the chop (see pic #2).
Beyond this I am looking to develop the new back branch and even that little bud below.

Hmm the chop...
Now I must say that I find the correct way to do major chops confusing.
I've read the "trunk chop" thread a number of times and I am even more confused.
Have I done this ok and does someone want to comment or provide a virt on any improvement here?

There are also one or two crossing roots.
I don't find them TOO offensive but I wonder if I should chop them out.
I actually think based on the other roots that the crossing ones might mould together in the future as they continue to increase in size?

P.S. I think the Dryandra carked it! The heat just got too much I think - very strange!
I am still hopeful it will bounce back but I have to say I'm not convinced!