Banksia integ. stock, ideas?

[bonscythe]

Hi all,
Got a nice Banksia integrifolia from Bonsai South for my birthday, I reckon it was a rather good buy for $40 as almost any other species of similar trunk size was over $100.
Obviously it needs a chop or twenty but just wanted rack people's brains for ideas on the future of this tree.
I would like a tree has some height to it (which for me is anything over 30cm at the moment! )
Anyway, here it is as it stands today..

BintegF 24-09-09.jpg

Now a shot from the other side..

BintegB 24-9-09.jpg

Any ideas/virts/opinions greatly welcomed!
Thanks - Pat

P.S - sorry about the photos, remembered to shrink them size-wise but forgot to crop around the plant!

[Jordy]

How big is this tree?

Can we get another photo with a lighter or something next to it for scale?

Thanx!

Jordy

[bonscythe]

It's around 900mm high and the base is 60mm at it's widest point.
Thanks for reminding me about dimensions

[Jordy]

No problems

I have a rough 'initial' idea, but unfortunately because i'm at TAFE at the moment
(hehe i know, i should be focusing on study ),
I can't upload here, they block uploads

But as soon as i'm home I'll upload my very Crude paintshop virt and explain it.

[Jordy]

Ha ha ok so its a VERY bad paintshop image. but you understand it yea?

I am assuming by a tree with a bit of height you are wanting to go with an informal upright?
if so, personally I would get rid of the current leader branch (see the cut)
so we can begin to get that lovely taper we all love so much
and then wire the other branch trailing off to the left to become our new leader

following this, wire the lower two branches for your style (see blue+green lines)
I haven't gone into too much detail... as you can tell
just make sure you keep that lovely triangle shape in your foliage.
you don't need more direction for the trimming do you?
you'll be able to figure that out.

Now you just have to hope and pray that new branches sprout further up the tree to continue the informal upright style for you

AUSB. Edit.1.jpg

• Blue - Finished line of Wired Branches
• Green - Existing line of Branch
• Red - Cuts

[Jamie]

with your virt jordy the way you have done it (i know its rough) will give this tree more of a formal straight up and down trunk.
the trunk chop and leader is right, but i wouldnt stress to much about the branching right now as after the chop it is gonna pop with new buds for branch choice

if this was mine i would do the chop, then get that new leader up, then i would leave it for a couple of seasons to get some vigour into the tree, the more foliage and branching you have the more options you will have!

anyway for that size tree its a good price and a good starter. you just need to have a bit more patience let it fill out then go back to it and think about style

[Pup]

Tip the pot on its side, or should I say tilt, the tree, turn the tree around, look for the best root flare. Then you can start to design the tree.

JMHO Pup

[Jordy]

I forgot to write to wire the curvature of informal upright into my post my bad!

But even still, is it simply through wiring the trunk, or using a bending jack that you achieve that great cross cross that informal upright has? or is there some other trick/procedure?

[Jamie]

yes simple as it is in theory, sometimes the trunks can be to thick to get movement in, being 60mm at the base i would say that where you have given the idea for the trunk chop it would still be quite thick and hard to bend, even with jacks, on another note though, bonsythe might be able to chop back to an even lower branch as a new leader and this will create more taper and make it easier to introduce more movement into the tree.

this is just my opinion though, i am sure there are more experienced people on the forum that will be able to help with that.
i know this is a different species but if you want to get an idea of movement and taper check out anttal's post called "tiny trev takes a turn"
thats a native lilly pilly and has been majorly chopped back, might help a bit

[Grant Bowie]

Here is a photo of an old integrifolia grown mostly by clip and grow(especially the trunk) Some wire was used occasionally on the branches about 15 years ago. Since then no wiring has been needed.

Tip the pot as suggested and try different angles.

I will "bump" an article I wrote a while ago.

My tree in the avatar is also a B integrifolia. As you may guess Banksia are a favorite of mine.

B integrifolia in new pot Feb 2009.jpg

[bonscythe]

Thanks for the opinions everyone!
I am yet to touch anything on this tree except a general tip pinch on the higher spots as the new growth was pushing along pretty quickly up high.
Thanks for the helpful virt Jordy, just as I was about to do the chop I thought about taking some cuttings etc. from the cut-offs.
With that virt, the two lowest branches are signalled to become wired up to 45 degree angles with the trunk (on an upward angle), I was thinking that most lower branches were put on a horizontal path (90 degrees) from the trunk in the upright styles?
I am not too familiar with the various rules for styling though...