Rulingia Hermanniifolia [greg27]

greg27
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 821
Joined: August 28th, 2019, 7:52 am
Favorite Species: Olive & Eucalypts
Bonsai Age: 2
Bonsai Club: SA Bonsai Society; VNBC
Location: Adelaide
Has thanked: 608 times
Been thanked: 452 times
Contact:

Rulingia Hermanniifolia [greg27]

Post by greg27 »

As seems to be the pattern I picked up one of these after seeing it on the cover of Bonsai with Australian Native Plants by Dorothy & Vida Koreshoff. I was at a hardware store that had a tiny native plant section and this was one of the plants there, so I grabbed it.

There are a couple of threads on this but no real success stories - does anyone have one, or additional tips on avoiding failure?

I think the plant I have would definitely suit a cascade style as on the book cover.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
Ryceman3
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2597
Joined: October 19th, 2014, 10:39 am
Favorite Species: Pines & Mels
Bonsai Age: 7
Location: Melbourne
Has thanked: 1042 times
Been thanked: 1536 times

Re: Rulingia Hermanniifolia [greg27]

Post by Ryceman3 »

Here's a shot of the cover for those wondering ...
RH.jpg
Never tried this species so have nothing to input other than ... clearly bonsai with them is possible, it made the cover!
Good luck with it, wouldn't mind seeing a few more posts as things progress (with any luck).
:beer:
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
shibui
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 7653
Joined: August 22nd, 2009, 8:41 pm
Favorite Species: trident maple
Bonsai Age: 41
Bonsai Club: Albury/Wodonga; BSV; Canberra; VNBC
Location: Yackandandah
Has thanked: 65 times
Been thanked: 1399 times
Contact:

Re: Rulingia Hermanniifolia [greg27]

Post by shibui »

Like you I admired that cascade on the cover of Koreshoff's book.
I've tried these a few times now but none have thrived for me. All have died after a couple of years but I still have not pinpointed the reasons for the disappointing performance.
Good luck with your attempts. I'll look forward to your progress.
http://shibuibonsai.com.au/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
Boics
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2189
Joined: September 27th, 2012, 6:16 pm
Favorite Species: Banksia, Syzygium, Cotoneaster. Leptospermum
Bonsai Age: 7
Location: Victoria Inner City Fringe
Has thanked: 28 times
Been thanked: 16 times

Re: Rulingia Hermanniifolia [greg27]

Post by Boics »

Yep I was one of the failures as well.
Can't remember why either?
One of the fabulous things about growing bonsai is as you get old and decrepit your trees get old and beautiful
greg27
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 821
Joined: August 28th, 2019, 7:52 am
Favorite Species: Olive & Eucalypts
Bonsai Age: 2
Bonsai Club: SA Bonsai Society; VNBC
Location: Adelaide
Has thanked: 608 times
Been thanked: 452 times
Contact:

Re: Rulingia Hermanniifolia [greg27]

Post by greg27 »

Thanks all for the interest. I'm a bit concerned that those with much more experience than me haven't had much luck with this one but I'll see how I go!

This morning I lifted it out of the pot; it's quite pot bound but I only gave it a very light root prune just to fit it into a slightly shallower pot. I cut off a thick branch that I won't need and repotted it at a slightly different angle. I'll leave it to settle for the time being.

The Koreshoff book says that cuttings take reasonably easily, so I took a few and put them in my new tiny greenhouse to see how they go.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
shibui
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 7653
Joined: August 22nd, 2009, 8:41 pm
Favorite Species: trident maple
Bonsai Age: 41
Bonsai Club: Albury/Wodonga; BSV; Canberra; VNBC
Location: Yackandandah
Has thanked: 65 times
Been thanked: 1399 times
Contact:

Re: Rulingia Hermanniifolia [greg27]

Post by shibui »

Cuttings are easy. I can grow new plants no problem. We have also had a couple in the garden for more than 10 years no problems apart from being a bit straggly at times. My only problem comes after extended time in the pot but I haven't worked out whether it is not enough root pruning, too much root pruning, nutrition or lack of, too little water, too much water, wrong soil, too much sun, too much shade, or something else.
http://shibuibonsai.com.au/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
Raging Bull
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 835
Joined: January 3rd, 2017, 9:29 am
Favorite Species: Pines
Bonsai Age: 5
Bonsai Club: Gold Coast-Tweed
Location: Gold Coast Qld
Has thanked: 81 times
Been thanked: 197 times

Re: Rulingia Hermanniifolia [greg27]

Post by Raging Bull »

Good to see you've narrowed it down Neil. :lol:
User avatar
MJL
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2840
Joined: October 26th, 2014, 8:47 pm
Favorite Species: Maples, Elms, Cedars and Pines
Bonsai Age: 7
Bonsai Club: Waverley Bonsai Group & Yarra Valley Bonsai Society
Location: Melbourne
Has thanked: 424 times
Been thanked: 643 times

Re: Rulingia Hermanniifolia [greg27]

Post by MJL »

Raging Bull wrote:Good to see you've narrowed it down Neil. :lol:
Image
Greg - good to see you’re managing the addiction well too.... just a little greenhouse with misting capabilities - it’s an entree before taps, timers, solar and battery back ups and a larger greenhouse.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Tending bonsai teaches me patience.
greg27
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 821
Joined: August 28th, 2019, 7:52 am
Favorite Species: Olive & Eucalypts
Bonsai Age: 2
Bonsai Club: SA Bonsai Society; VNBC
Location: Adelaide
Has thanked: 608 times
Been thanked: 452 times
Contact:

Re: Rulingia Hermanniifolia [greg27]

Post by greg27 »

MJL wrote: January 23rd, 2020, 1:28 pm
Raging Bull wrote:Good to see you've narrowed it down Neil. :lol:
Greg - good to see you’re managing the addiction well too.... just a little greenhouse with misting capabilities - it’s an entree before taps, timers, solar and battery back ups and a larger greenhouse.
Already planning to put together a temperature / humidity sensor to automatically turn on the misters. Electronics, programming and plants - that's a tick in every box!
greg27
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 821
Joined: August 28th, 2019, 7:52 am
Favorite Species: Olive & Eucalypts
Bonsai Age: 2
Bonsai Club: SA Bonsai Society; VNBC
Location: Adelaide
Has thanked: 608 times
Been thanked: 452 times
Contact:

Re: Rulingia Hermanniifolia [greg27]

Post by greg27 »

I haven't done much with this, but it's putting out a pretty decent display for spring.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
melbrackstone
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 3442
Joined: December 15th, 2015, 8:05 pm
Favorite Species: the ones that live
Bonsai Age: 28
Bonsai Club: Redlands, BIMER, VNBC
Location: Brisbane
Has thanked: 1191 times
Been thanked: 707 times
Contact:

Re: Rulingia Hermanniifolia [greg27]

Post by melbrackstone »

That's looking lovely! (I had no luck with the one I tried back in the 90's)
User avatar
Keep Calm and Ramify
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 944
Joined: April 1st, 2017, 11:50 am
Bonsai Age: 0
Location: Newcastle NSW
Has thanked: 397 times
Been thanked: 445 times

Re: Rulingia Hermanniifolia [greg27]

Post by Keep Calm and Ramify »

Yippee..:clap: :clap: :clap: it loves you...it really loves you!
User avatar
SquatJar
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 275
Joined: September 26th, 2016, 9:43 pm
Bonsai Age: 5
Bonsai Club: SA Bonsai Society, VNBC
Location: Adelaide
Has thanked: 320 times
Been thanked: 103 times

Re: Rulingia Hermanniifolia [greg27]

Post by SquatJar »

Wow thats impressive change from the first post! well done
Life's too short for boring pots
greg27
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 821
Joined: August 28th, 2019, 7:52 am
Favorite Species: Olive & Eucalypts
Bonsai Age: 2
Bonsai Club: SA Bonsai Society; VNBC
Location: Adelaide
Has thanked: 608 times
Been thanked: 452 times
Contact:

Re: Rulingia Hermanniifolia [greg27]

Post by greg27 »

A bit of a haircut after some design direction from the lovely Matt S (thanks Matt!). This was on Tuesday, and it's already covered in tiny new leaves.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
greg27
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 821
Joined: August 28th, 2019, 7:52 am
Favorite Species: Olive & Eucalypts
Bonsai Age: 2
Bonsai Club: SA Bonsai Society; VNBC
Location: Adelaide
Has thanked: 608 times
Been thanked: 452 times
Contact:

Re: Rulingia Hermanniifolia [greg27]

Post by greg27 »

A little while ago I came to a realisation that I'm sure hits many newbies - I had way too many trees (or sticks/stumps in pots). I sold off everything I could stand to lose, and with what I couldn't bare to part with I went a bit aggressive on the root pruning. If it survives then it's definitely a keeper, if it dies then it's weak and must be eliminated!

Unfortunately for the rulingia it ended up being in the latter group. I did inadvertently go a bit too hard on it so it's not too surprising. All the leaves died off and it did start putting out some new leaves, but those got burnt off in the recent warm weather we've had - most of the recent repots I've done have been in shade but I forgot about this one and left it out in full sun.

I quite liked the look of this plant so I'll probably give it another go if I come across it in a nursery again.
Post Reply

Return to “Rulingia Hermanniifolia”