Leptospermum Rotundifolia - Semi Cascade Shohin

[Patmet]

This Lepto I have been growing from tubestock for a few years and is mostly natural. I've done very little to it over the years apart from keep it healthy and a bit of clip and grow here and there. I think I may have wired the main trunk when it was very young.

I've just put into it's first bonsai pot, which was made by a local ceramicist from my city of Albany WA. She is a maker of functional ceramics and has only just branched out to making bonsai pots. This one is among her first collection of pots. She's doing pretty awesome in my opinion.

It's overgrown right now. Just going to let it recocer and get settled in and then start refining some more.

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In training pot

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The locally made pot

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It's developed a cool little base.

[GavinG]

Lovely tree, it's a species we don't use enough. You won't get a massive trunk on it, without a lot of trouble, but the sinuous lines and interesting textures make it well worth while for shohin. Small-leafed natives in general can give a large amount of detail in a small space, more than most exotics. I like the way I can see through this, and the way the trunk and branches are intricately involved in the foliage.

Gavin

[Keep Calm and Ramify]

Cool little tree & pot combo but you didn't mention the potters name? Does she wish to remain anonymous or can you give a shout out?

[Hanro]

I have one that is a little more advanced. It started as an entry in a past shohin competition.
Yours looks like a good tree to develop. Look forward to see its progression.

[Patmet]

Cool little tree & pot combo but you didn't mention the potters name? Does she wish to remain anonymous or can you give a shout out?

I think she's open to getting her work out there and trying to make a go of her bonsai pottery. Her name is Michelle Holden. She doesn't have a website or anything at this stage, she does have an instagram page @mishartalbany and also she has been active on the Aussie Bonsai Pot Auction page on facebook putting pots up for sale.

[Patmet]

A few flowers popping up on this now. I am really enjoying them. Ready for some more work when I get time.

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[Patmet]

Update on how this one is going.
July 2024, shortly after the previous post I decided to remove a portion that had been bothering me for a while (highlighted in red in pictures below). I really didn't like the 90° right angle this end part of the trunk was making. It was also long and straight and I wanted to compact it more.

Even though it has made it look a bit odd in the short term, I cut back to a smaller branch behind to grow and take over. After doing that I've come back to it and taken more branches off on the short right side that weren't working for me and also to help tell the story more convincingly. Definitely feel I've made the right choice. Now after some good growth it's starting to improve.

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Before. July 2024. Part I didn't like in red.

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After.

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After good growth and before recent trim April 2025

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After.

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After from slightly different angle