[Natural] Leptospermum var Australian Beauty - melbrackstone

[melbrackstone]

Thanks Kirky and Ryceman, I agree it still looks a bit skinny, but compared to 2019 it has bulked out quite a bit. This one has lovely flaky bark too, so hopefully that'll be a nice feature as the tree matures.

As for "snow-laden" that's not going to be a style I'll go for much, if ever, living in the sub-tropics as I do! Hail-laden maybe!

[melbrackstone]

I took the final shot before wiring and trimming, and then tried to finesse it. ACCCKKK...this tree is very snappy, and after shoulder surgery a month ago I still can't lift my arm very well, so I've ended up totally losing the apex. So unless I can fix that, you'll get the unwired shot.

It's thickened up reasonably well, from being in a larger container, but I can't see much change from the last update. The foliage has bulked up from being trimmed at least three times since then though. Hopefully I'll be able to build the apex again soon.

Thanks Rory, this was quite the challenge!

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[Ryceman3]

Love the movement in the main trunkline and I think there is a nice synergy between the pot and the tree for some reason.
Hope that shoulder is on the mend Mel and look forward to seeing this one progress.

[melbrackstone]

Love the movement in the main trunkline and I think there is a nice synergy between the pot and the tree for some reason.
Hope that shoulder is on the mend Mel and look forward to seeing this one progress.

Thanks Ryan, I'm looking forward to seeing it progress too!

[Rory]

Wow what a glorious pot. Great combo, and nice little tree Mel.

[melbrackstone]

Wow what a glorious pot. Great combo, and nice little tree Mel.

Thanks Rory!

[terryb]

Looks great Mel, look forward to seeing it covered in flowers!

[melbrackstone]

Looks great Mel, look forward to seeing it covered in flowers!

Thanks Terry, me too! I'll need to stop trimming it for that to happen though.

[melbrackstone]

Well KCAR, here's one of mine, the other is still just sticks.

I've been a bit slow with fertiliser and pruning but this disappointing little tree has managed to survive, but not thrive. I have given it a prune today, and cleaned all the moss off the trunk. It's still as snappy as ever. I did, however, get a couple of flowers over Xmas though!

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[GavinG]

Yes, they can be slow to thicken, but they have good angles and textures! This one feels like it is coming on well. Would there be any milage in leaning it over to the left, so the low trunk and the first branch flow into one another? Then you can arrange the cap - it could possibly be shorter, and make the trunk look a bit thicker...

Just my ideas, based on a photo...

Thanks for posting,

Gavin

[melbrackstone]

Hi Gavin, thanks for your suggestion. It makes sense to make it shorter, for sure, but "arranging" the cap is where I can't manage it, simply because it's so brittle I'd basically destroy the cap. I really do have to go with clip and grow with this little darling.

I'll give your idea some consideration, though, thanks. Easier on photoshop...lol. (Oh, and the pot is way too big now, but that can be fixed.)

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[Promethius]

Could lose or jin the first branch, maybe?

[GavinG]

Yes, ain't Photoshop easy! That's what I thought it might look like. My idea of "arranging" would be to open the top up so it looked much the same density as the rest. Never wiring - perish the thought!

Best of luck however you take it - it's a graceful and complex little tree. I'm always amazed at the amount of dense detail you can get with Leptos, Kunzeas and the like. Very nice.

Gavin

[melbrackstone]

Could lose or jin the first branch, maybe?

Thanks Andy, yes there's some merit in that suggestion too!

I'll think on it and see where it goes.

Cheers Gavin and Andy.

[Luke308]

Hey Mel,

Who is the pot made by?

Cracking little combo. I would love to see it in flower