Melaleuca pustulata
- Brekel
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 117
- Joined: October 31st, 2016, 1:20 pm
- Favorite Species: Tas natives
- Bonsai Age: 2
- Location: Hobart
- Has thanked: 77 times
- Been thanked: 52 times
Melaleuca pustulata
I don't suppose anyone has any experience with Melaleuca pustulata as bonsai? I was given one in a little tube pot last July that came from the forestry nursery.
About the only information I can find on them is that, unlike most of our Melaleucas, they come from drier areas and only from a very limited area in Tassie.
It's growing vigorously, and I thought it might have some potential.
Thanks,
Brett.
About the only information I can find on them is that, unlike most of our Melaleucas, they come from drier areas and only from a very limited area in Tassie.
It's growing vigorously, and I thought it might have some potential.
Thanks,
Brett.
Nothofagus-Melaleuca-Leptospermum-Lagarostrobos-Cedrus-Acer
- Keels
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 704
- Joined: December 11th, 2012, 12:13 pm
- Favorite Species: Pines, Eucalyptus and Callistemon
- Bonsai Age: 11
- Bonsai Club: CBS, Goulburn & VNBC
- Location: Canberra
- Has thanked: 224 times
- Been thanked: 263 times
Re: Melaleuca pustulata
Gday Brett,
I picked up a few from the spring ANPS sale in Canberra last year. I was late to the sale and these were the only ones really left
but I'm glad i grabbed them as they seem very interesting. All of mine have been going nuts, ive already started to add a little movement into them while they are still young. I think I've cut them back twice since I've had them as they get out of control.
They look like great potential. They get a beautiful yellow flower, they back bud fairly well and have small foliage. i haven't touched the roots yet so ill see how that goes in spring.
Keep us updated how you go with you trees![Thumbs Up :tu:](./images/smilies/thumbsup2.gif)
I picked up a few from the spring ANPS sale in Canberra last year. I was late to the sale and these were the only ones really left
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
They look like great potential. They get a beautiful yellow flower, they back bud fairly well and have small foliage. i haven't touched the roots yet so ill see how that goes in spring.
Keep us updated how you go with you trees
![Thumbs Up :tu:](./images/smilies/thumbsup2.gif)
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
- Brekel
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 117
- Joined: October 31st, 2016, 1:20 pm
- Favorite Species: Tas natives
- Bonsai Age: 2
- Location: Hobart
- Has thanked: 77 times
- Been thanked: 52 times
Re: Melaleuca pustulata
Hey Keels
Good to hear there's some others around![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
They certainly seem to grow well. When I got it in July I took it out of the 50mm tube pot and put it in 90mm pot.
In the middle of Jan I was away for a couple of warm days, and unfortunately the thing blew over and dried out. After about a week or two the leaves on the end of a few branches dried up. I pulled off the dead leaves, kept it well watered, and on each of those branches between 6-12 new branches shot out in all directions and put on a crazy amount of growth. I've trimmed it back a little since, but not done a lot as when it was given to me I wasn't sure if it was going to go in the ground or become a bonsai. But bonsai it will be.
I was holding off until after winter to touch the roots, but I slip-potted it up to a shortish 130mm pot to make it more stable, and there's roots coming out the bottom 2 weeks later.
Good to hear there's some others around
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
They certainly seem to grow well. When I got it in July I took it out of the 50mm tube pot and put it in 90mm pot.
In the middle of Jan I was away for a couple of warm days, and unfortunately the thing blew over and dried out. After about a week or two the leaves on the end of a few branches dried up. I pulled off the dead leaves, kept it well watered, and on each of those branches between 6-12 new branches shot out in all directions and put on a crazy amount of growth. I've trimmed it back a little since, but not done a lot as when it was given to me I wasn't sure if it was going to go in the ground or become a bonsai. But bonsai it will be.
I was holding off until after winter to touch the roots, but I slip-potted it up to a shortish 130mm pot to make it more stable, and there's roots coming out the bottom 2 weeks later.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Nothofagus-Melaleuca-Leptospermum-Lagarostrobos-Cedrus-Acer
- Keels
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 704
- Joined: December 11th, 2012, 12:13 pm
- Favorite Species: Pines, Eucalyptus and Callistemon
- Bonsai Age: 11
- Bonsai Club: CBS, Goulburn & VNBC
- Location: Canberra
- Has thanked: 224 times
- Been thanked: 263 times
Re: Melaleuca pustulata
Fantastic Brett. Nice little tree. I always put a saucer under my natives so they never dry out. It might help you as they can get thirsty.
I was researching a little more bout this type of Melaleuca and i found this from multiple sources.
![Thumbs Up :tu:](./images/smilies/thumbsup2.gif)
I was researching a little more bout this type of Melaleuca and i found this from multiple sources.
I think thats pretty cool.Melaleuca pustulata is declared a rare species under the Tasmanian government Threatened Species Protection Act (1995).
![Thumbs Up :tu:](./images/smilies/thumbsup2.gif)
- Brekel
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 117
- Joined: October 31st, 2016, 1:20 pm
- Favorite Species: Tas natives
- Bonsai Age: 2
- Location: Hobart
- Has thanked: 77 times
- Been thanked: 52 times
Re: Melaleuca pustulata
It is pretty cool, particularly as a Tasmanian ![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
I hope yours do well.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
I hope yours do well.
Nothofagus-Melaleuca-Leptospermum-Lagarostrobos-Cedrus-Acer
- Brekel
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 117
- Joined: October 31st, 2016, 1:20 pm
- Favorite Species: Tas natives
- Bonsai Age: 2
- Location: Hobart
- Has thanked: 77 times
- Been thanked: 52 times
Re: Melaleuca pustulata
This little tree has been doing well. It had been slip-potted from 90mm to 130mm early May, and I put some wire on late May.
On the weekend I repotted into a 180mm squatter pot and trimmed the roots a bit. The roots were coming out the bottom of the last pot within a couple of weeks of slip potting, so by now it was pretty full. The wire was also starting to bite in so I removed it. It grew pretty well through winter. I trimmed the top very slightly, now I'll just see how it recovers.
On the weekend I repotted into a 180mm squatter pot and trimmed the roots a bit. The roots were coming out the bottom of the last pot within a couple of weeks of slip potting, so by now it was pretty full. The wire was also starting to bite in so I removed it. It grew pretty well through winter. I trimmed the top very slightly, now I'll just see how it recovers.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Nothofagus-Melaleuca-Leptospermum-Lagarostrobos-Cedrus-Acer
- Brekel
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 117
- Joined: October 31st, 2016, 1:20 pm
- Favorite Species: Tas natives
- Bonsai Age: 2
- Location: Hobart
- Has thanked: 77 times
- Been thanked: 52 times
Re: Melaleuca pustulata
Deciding on the future direction of this tree.
I've trimmed of a few branches to open it up a bit, but held back "till I come up with a plan. Sometimes I think just jumping in would be easier than overthinking![🤣](//twemoji.maxcdn.com/2/svg/1f923.svg)
As it is now: Trying to decide whether to totally remove the left branches, or leave some.
Some quickly edited options: Always open to other thoughts too.
I've trimmed of a few branches to open it up a bit, but held back "till I come up with a plan. Sometimes I think just jumping in would be easier than overthinking
As it is now: Trying to decide whether to totally remove the left branches, or leave some.
Some quickly edited options: Always open to other thoughts too.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Nothofagus-Melaleuca-Leptospermum-Lagarostrobos-Cedrus-Acer
- Ryceman3
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 2642
- Joined: October 19th, 2014, 10:39 am
- Favorite Species: Pines & Mels
- Bonsai Age: 9
- Location: Melbourne
- Has thanked: 1080 times
- Been thanked: 1632 times
Re: Melaleuca pustulata
For what it’s worth… I like the first image of the edited options you posted the best, but I’d be looking to build the apex a little more over the foliage on the left. As it is, the apex is sitting right over the base of the trunk and I think this subdues the “movement” you would otherwise get.
Just my thoughts…
![Beer :beer:](./images/smilies/Beer.gif)
Just my thoughts…
![My 2 cents :2c:](./images/smilies/2c.gif)
![Beer :beer:](./images/smilies/Beer.gif)
"NO CUTS, NO GLORY"
https://www.instagram.com/r3_bonsai/
https://www.instagram.com/r3_bonsai/
- Brekel
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 117
- Joined: October 31st, 2016, 1:20 pm
- Favorite Species: Tas natives
- Bonsai Age: 2
- Location: Hobart
- Has thanked: 77 times
- Been thanked: 52 times
Re: Melaleuca pustulata
Thanks for your thoughts Ryceman. I like your thinking on this.
Whichever option I take I'll need to work on the top a bit. And it may not end up going like I plan anyway![🤣](//twemoji.maxcdn.com/2/svg/1f923.svg)
Whichever option I take I'll need to work on the top a bit. And it may not end up going like I plan anyway
Nothofagus-Melaleuca-Leptospermum-Lagarostrobos-Cedrus-Acer
- Ryceman3
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 2642
- Joined: October 19th, 2014, 10:39 am
- Favorite Species: Pines & Mels
- Bonsai Age: 9
- Location: Melbourne
- Has thanked: 1080 times
- Been thanked: 1632 times
Re: Melaleuca pustulata
Don’t thank me too much… I actually just re-looked at your original post and in fact it is the MIDDLE image I like the look of, not the FIRST image like I originally posted.
Apologies for being an idiot, and because it’s a life long condition I’m sure it will happen again so I apologise in advance for that too.
![Whistle :whistle:](./images/smilies/whistle.gif)
The rest applies though. Good luck with it!
![Beer :beer:](./images/smilies/Beer.gif)
"NO CUTS, NO GLORY"
https://www.instagram.com/r3_bonsai/
https://www.instagram.com/r3_bonsai/
- Keep Calm and Ramify
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 978
- Joined: April 1st, 2017, 11:50 am
- Bonsai Age: 0
- Location: Newcastle NSW
- Has thanked: 413 times
- Been thanked: 454 times
Re: Melaleuca pustulata
If you were really feeling brave enough & with disregard to sentimental attachment
- this could be a new starting point.
![Whistle :whistle:](./images/smilies/whistle.gif)
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
- Brekel
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 117
- Joined: October 31st, 2016, 1:20 pm
- Favorite Species: Tas natives
- Bonsai Age: 2
- Location: Hobart
- Has thanked: 77 times
- Been thanked: 52 times
Re: Melaleuca pustulata
Hmm, that's quite different but certain an option. Gives it more of an aged/weathered feel.Keep Calm and Ramify wrote: ↑November 6th, 2021, 2:29 pm If you were really feeling brave enough & with disregard to sentimental attachment- this could be a new starting point.
While it has some sentimental attachment, as the first tree I've started from scratch as a young seedling, I've only had it a bit over two years and it does grow rapidly.
You've given me something to think about, I do like the look of that...
Nothofagus-Melaleuca-Leptospermum-Lagarostrobos-Cedrus-Acer