[SYANBS] Discussion thread for the Six-Year Australian Native Bonsai from Seed Competition

[Matt_W_NZ]

Hi Promethius and Ryceman,

Thanks for the feedback. I was going purely on the pretty pictures on the vendor’s website when I was lured into the nesophila. I’ll still give it a go, nothing lost other than my time ultimately.

I collected some causarina seeds today, will give them a go too.

I saw an amazing Wallum Banksia (B. aemula) at the Bonsai Northwest show today - how are banskia to grow from seed?

[Trimmy]

Some of my seeds arrived today. Melaluca and Leptospermum seeds are incredibly small. Practically dust. I hope they don't blow away in the wind.

[GavinG]

The bog method is useful with very small seeds, as you don't need to water from the top. just stand your pot of seeds in a shallow water bath.

Gavin

[Trimmy]

The bog method is useful with very small seeds, as you don't need to water from the top. just stand your pot of seeds in a shallow water bath.

Gavin

Ahh, I see. I will do that.

[Kedron Brook]

Looking forward to this. I will enter some melaleucas and ficus'.

[Kedron Brook]

With a little help from the Microsoft AI, I might just grow a melaleuca 10 meters tall and 6 meters wide! The ficus will be a wishy-washy 6 meters tall and 3 meters wide

Maybe we could run an AI-Guided growing challenge

[Promethius]

Newsflash!

I’ve been contracted by a very generous ceramicist, who was interested in the competition and whose work I’ve been a fan of for some time.
Long story short - I have a really cool pot sitting in my garage for the next 6 years, which will suit lots of natives, and we now have a prize for a judged category in addition to the popular vote.
A shohin category has been suggested previously, which I am leaning towards. Thoughts?

[legoman_iac]

Newsflash!

...A shohin category has been suggested previously, which I am leaning towards. Thoughts?

I'm also keen to try some shohin, but do they have to be "leaning"? Bahaha ... I'll see myself out.

[Matt_W_NZ]

A shohin category has been suggested previously, which I am leaning towards. Thoughts?

I support this idea!

[shibui]

I saw an amazing Wallum Banksia (B. aemula) at the Bonsai Northwest show today - how are banskia to grow from seed?

Banksia generally very easy to germinate. No pre treatment required though it can be more difficult to actually get seeds out of the cones of some species.
After germination some Banksias can be a bit tricky. Many do not like wet roots, especially most WA species.
Most Banksia species are very susceptible to root fungi like Phytopthera.
And you will need to be careful with fertiliser containing high P.

My recommendation for us Easterners is to stick with the more common B. serrata or B. integrifolia. They have proved to be the hardiest and fastest growing species for bonsai.

[Jan]

A shohin category has been suggested previously, which I am leaning towards. Thoughts?

Yes, please!
I'm a Shohin fan for many reasons, including, I can fit more of them in my bonsai area (I'm always weakening, acquiring more plants/cuttings/pots), and, as I get older (70 now), I can lift them!

Banksia generally very easy to germinate. No pre treatment required though it can be more difficult to actually get seeds out of the cones of some species.
After germination some Banksias can be a bit tricky. Many do not like wet roots, especially most WA species.
Most Banksia species are very susceptible to root fungi like Phytopthera.
And you will need to be careful with fertiliser containing high P.

My recommendation for us Easterners is to stick with the more common B. serrata or B. integrifolia. They have proved to be the hardiest and fastest growing species for bonsai.

Thanks Shibui, I've recently acquired some banksia seed locally (from a friend's property) and, as I only have 8 seeds, wanted to be sure I'm doing the right thing come spring to get at least 1 plant out of them.
I had it in mind to use my "soft drink bottle propagator" to keep my seed raising mix (they seem to grow in very sandy soil locally) at just the right constant moisture level (moist enough to germinate but not wet). Am I on the right track?

2009-05-15_Propagator.jpg

Thanks,

Jan

[anthonycocco]

Newsflash!

I’ve been contracted by a very generous ceramicist, who was interested in the competition and whose work I’ve been a fan of for some time.
Long story short - I have a really cool pot sitting in my garage for the next 6 years, which will suit lots of natives, and we now have a prize for a judged category in addition to the popular vote.
A shohin category has been suggested previously, which I am leaning towards. Thoughts?

Very keen for a shohin category.
Will help with the variety of growth rates from the wide range of species in the competition - many slow growing species will be disadvantaged otherwise.

[shibui]

I had it in mind to use my "soft drink bottle propagator" to keep my seed raising mix (they seem to grow in very sandy soil locally) at just the right constant moisture level (moist enough to germinate but not wet). Am I on the right track?

Your propagator seems to use some principles from the much used 'bog' method to maintain constant soil moisture but adds extra humidity. It should be a great method but I'd be on the lookout for damping off given the high humidity and lack of air circulation. I think early pricking out into individual pots would be advised and I'd also have some good fungicide on hand just in case.
As you mentioned, banksias don't like wet roots so the constantly damp soil after the roots start might cause issues. Again, early transfer to individual pots is probably a good idea.

I think B. marginata is the only local endemic banksia in the Goulburn area but could be any species if the seed is from garden banksias.

[Jan]

Your propagator seems to use some principles from the much used 'bog' method to maintain constant soil moisture but adds extra humidity. It should be a great method but I'd be on the lookout for damping off given the high humidity and lack of air circulation. I think early pricking out into individual pots would be advised and I'd also have some good fungicide on hand just in case.
As you mentioned, banksias don't like wet roots so the constantly damp soil after the roots start might cause issues. Again, early transfer to individual pots is probably a good idea.

I think B. marginata is the only local endemic banksia in the Goulburn area but could be any species if the seed is from garden banksias.

Thanks, yes. I usually only have the top bottle/glasshouse for plants that are prone to wilting or when I spread very fine seed on the surface to stop the wind drying it off. I'll try the open top version for some of the seed when the weather warms, we can do SERIOUS FROSTS/SNOW here so won't be sowing till Sept/Oct.

These are wild Banksias so yes, I think B. marginata.

Jan

[BonsaJas]

I've been thinking about this and the conclusion I came to was a six year comp is the perfect time to muck around with wattles. I know they aren't long lived as some other species, but I'm ok with that.

So today I've purchased some seeds

• Acacia drummondii ssp drummondii - (Dwarf Wattle) - I am curious if I can use this as an accent plant...

• Acacia hubbardiana

• Acacia pravissima

• Acacia cognata

• Acacia baileyana purpurea (Purple Leaves!)

Jas