Callistemon Pityoides "Sieberi"

[Watto]

Here is the proposed pot I just hope I can get it into it.

[Sno]

This gets better . I hope it fits for you .

[Watto]

An update to the story. Well, that pot wasn't big enough so potting last year was delayed. I looked around for another pot and decided that now was the time, so over the last couple of days here is the result.
The tree has continued to grow quite well, although still slowly. The scar's left by heavy pruning appear to be disappearing so that is a positive.
Anyway, onto the photos........
By the way, the pot is a Pat Kennedy pot of grey/brown glaze that I think looks OK.

[melbrackstone]

Impressive little tree Watto. Looks like it wants to keep shooting from the base though, will you have to keep rubbing off the shoots now your trunk is a good thickness, or will you just let it go each year and only make it presentable once a year or so? I understand that can be a bit of a conundrum when working with Natives that just keep shooting like this?

[Watto]

Mel I think the shooting is a good problem to have. As this is the first time its been in a bonsai pot I expect it will slow down its growth rate and shoot less. Time will tell. Rubbing off a few adventurous shoots will be done though over the coming years and I will see how it goes.
Really just happy to have it in a pot now.

[melbrackstone]

Agree that it's a good problem to have, Watto. Looking forward to seeing how it goes now it's in the new pot!

[Watto]

Last year I was in full concentration mode on this tree and the outcome was I decided that it needed a tweek. A re-work. A redesign. It needed to be smaller. More compact. So in true Watto tradition I put it off until this year.

[Watto]

This year a change in front, a good trim and some wire to give the new look. I'm going to give myself a rap, its an improvement! I want to repot it in the next week or so and I am looking for a pot as the round doesn't really suit it. Hopefully there will be another update very soon.
I hope you enjoy, as always comments, ideas and critiques are welcome.

[terryb]

I like the new front and I prefer the angle in the first photo. It already moves left and tilting furthur doesn't add anything. Nice tree!

[melbrackstone]

If you did tilt it, I'd shorten the branches on the right hand side and lengthen the left. Then pot it into a rectangular pot with the tree on the right hand side

[Jan]

Any update Watto?
You did say that a "nudge" might be required

[Watto]

Sometimes I forget to make updates, so thanks for the nudge Jan.
I thought the round pot looked a bit formal so a repot (and new pot was in order) and this time I made a pot to suit the colour of the bark.
It has grown OK and the next step is to refine the apex, and probably that will happen in the autumn.
This time next year I hope to have it on display at the Australian Plants as Bonsai exhibition in Canberra, cross your fingers for me please.

[GavinG]

Lovely tree, and an excellent progression - this is how it's done, folks!

Sorry to be a pain, but my Melaleuca book now makes a distinction between C. sieberi (larger leaves, faster growing) and C. pityoides (smaller, and as you say, slower) - and claims all Callistemon as Melaleuca, and stuffs their names around as a result. No doubt some botanists won't accept the change, and rubbish and uncertainty will fly in career-building style for years...

So. C. pityoides is now Melaleuca pityoides, and C. sieberi is Melaleuca paludicola. Sigh. Shibui has supplied some very good C. sieberi to Canberra - thicker bark, larger leaves and relatively faster growing.

M. pityoides can have some interesting angles and roots too, if you let them loose. I'll post some photos.

Gavin

[Ryceman3]

Sorry to be a pain, but my Melaleuca book now makes a distinction between C. sieberi (larger leaves, faster growing) and C. pityoides (smaller, and as you say, slower) - and claims all Callistemon as Melaleuca, and stuffs their names around as a result. No doubt some botanists won't accept the change, and rubbish and uncertainty will fly in career-building style for years...

I’m no botanist but as a layman I dispute the homogenisation of Melaleuca and Callistemon. If I can tell the difference with no scientific background/training surely professionals can!
In any case, some lovely progression on the tree regardless. (Not a professional opinion though)

[Jan]

Thanks, Watto, very pleasing little tree.

The pot certainly matches the bark colour and its more organic texture harmonises with the papery bark of this Aus Native.

How are you going for size (I note that the usual size indicator is absent from the image)?

Jan