Tuckeroo

[EdwardH]

This is another tree I bought yesterday at Flower Power. This one cost $2 Has anyone tried to grow a tuckeroo as a bonsai? I thought that I would give it a go. For $2 it's a very cheap toy for this boy The tree is 1.5m tall though the trunk is only about 2cm across.

09 Jan 5' tall.JPG

09 Jan.JPG

[shibui]

Last time we were on the north coast I noted these trees growing just about everywhere. they appear to be very tough survivors so should make good material for bonsai. None around here though so i haven't tried it as bonsai.

[MelaQuin]

I got a Backhousie two years ago, knitting needle size, like yours. I honestly cannot see that it has thickened at all. It too is a rainforest tree and I was advised to keep it damp all the time. There's been a big increase in foliage but its not doing much for the trunk. Most disappointing as it is in a large pot to give it good growing room.

[EdwardH]

This tree is telegraph pole like for the first 50cm so I think that I will cut it down to about 20cm as there are a couple of branches (I am being VERY gracious in my description) and see if I can induce some movement. From what I've read, it looks as if they do not develop large trunks so literati may be the way to go.

[Ash]

Tuckeroo has compound leaves and widely spaced internodes, the leaves which will stay pretty large so you might want to make it into a big big bonsai.
Which Backhousiea species were you refering too?
Ash

[EdwardH]

Well this is the result of my Tuckeroo experiment up to now. I gave it a chop at about 25cm high in late January leaving a few branches as I didn't know if it would shoot back. Well it sent out shoots every 3-4cm from virtually the bottom of the tree. For some reason that I don't understand, the leaves on the the bottom branch on the left hand side have only grown to about 4cm whilst all the leaves on the other branches have grown to their normal size (about 10cm). I did pinch out the tip so maybe that caused it the leaves to stop growing

10 Feb.JPG

I think that I might leave it for now and prune it back to the bottom left branch in late winter and see if the leaves remain small. Well they ARE small compared to the other leaves on this tree I will also do an Antonio and butcher the roots

[dayne]

the trunks get huge quick up here they back bud like crazy love salt air love to be pruned hard their all pluses for these axept for the leaf size im in a new estate on the beach and we would have about 3 on every footpath of a house.
i didnt think they were a compound leaf though i havnt really looked at that i have to many other trees to bother trying one i stick to figs for natives

[EdwardH]

Time for an update on my Tuckeroo. I decided to chop it hard in mid spring to see what would happen. It threw out buds everywhere aroung the cit similar to how a elm responds to a cut. It is still growing new buds. This is the tree as it looks today, I forgot to take a picture when I pruned it.

034.JPG[/attchment][attachment=1]034.JPG