Winter's not so bad

[Bretts]

Winter is not so bad when I get to bring my Tropicals inside out of the cold. It is nice having them inside for a while. This is my Schefflera actinophylla (Queensland Umbrella tree) Commandeered from the Mother in laws place about 4 years ago I think. It had escaped out of the nursery pot into the ground. Although I some times wonder if a different front should have been chosen I think I did ok 4 years ago styling this as a first year newb
Looking a little scruffy and tall at the moment. I am planning some structural changes next season but I think I will just enjoy it how it is for now. The leaves are looking smaller than last year. I have continued to have trouble over the year of long leaf stalks but that seems much better at the moment.
This is pretty close to the view I have of it from the computer chair

umbrella.jpg

[MattA]

Nice work, is that the small or large leaf form, actinophylla is the large leaf, with leaflets up to 30cm long, arboricola is the small leaf with leaflets up to 10cm long. I have seen bonsai from arboricola but really they were far from fitting with traditional styles unlike yours. Wouldnt mind having something like that to look at while on the computer, I just have fish to watch when bored.

If this is actinophylla I am going to talk to one of my neighbours tomorow about a huge one they have cut down, I havent bothered because I didnt think the leaves would reduce enough to make it believable.

Matt

[Bougy Fan]

Hi Bretts
Isn't that an umbrella tree ? I was under the impression the Queensland Bottle Tree was a Brachychiton rupestris ?


Tony

[Bretts]

I am not sure of the species really Matt I just know it as Queensland Umbrella tree but add the scientific name google tells me when I post it
I will dig up a picture of it with large leaves and maybe you could help Identify?
It is uncommon to find this tree in a classic informal upright form. I hope I can keep refining it from here. I would love to pad it out a little.

I noticed Peter Song defoliated one of these coming into Winter at about this time and wondered if that was a way of getting it through the Winter outside?

yes Tony that was a typo Cheers

[Bretts]

Found all the pics I needed
Here is the tree recovering from collection.

umbrella2.jpg

Here is the tree growing wild after the initial styling. I remember taking this picture to show someone on BT chat. They thought it was the species no good for Bonsai by the size of the leaf but to their credit when showed a pic of the trunk they changed their mind. As usual I was not concerned about taking note of the suspected species

umbrella3.jpg

I was very surprised that in the third year I had reduced the root ball enough to fit in a bonsai pot. This was the first year it took residence inside over Winter

umbrella4.jpg

I was told that the leaves on this would not stay reduced and I was not convinced of that advice by what I had seen of the tree to this stage plus other bonsai of this species I had seen. It sure looks to me like they are reducing

[Jan]

While I'm not suggesting that you change your habit of bringing the tropicals in for the winter (they look great), I now overwinter my fig in a 3 foot fish tank in the shadehouse. It acts like a glashouse with its covers on and is a great place to keep my minis and orchids year round - humidity, moderated temp. It works well for me.

Why do I have a fish tank in the shadehouse? Well, like MattA, I too had fish to look at in the computer room - fresh water tropicals BUT... One icy winter morning about 4 am a strange noise woke me; I had to get up to investigate only to find that the wall of the tank had parted company with the base and I had a waterfall in the office! So there we were, freezing, with the window open, bailing then mopping up the flood - they hold a lot of water! Happily, I only had a couple of fish left (I kept short lived fresh water tropicals and was about to refresh my supply so not such a loss as it could have been). Anyway, I'm not doing fish again so I have recycled the tank into a mini glass house; the gravel in the bottom holds enough moisture to keep the humidity just right and, with the seal breached, it drains well so no problems there. I can recommend a fish tank as a mini bonsai environment even where we get serious frosts, and the dendrobium orchids love it. I don't recommend the flood /freezing drama as a way to get one!

The bonsai looks great, Brett, I wouldn't have thought that they could come up so well.

Jan

[MattA]

I am fairly confident it is arboricola(small leaf umbrella tree), both leaf size & growth habit. It is an epiphite & natural growth form is to produce lots of long branchs from the base that then bend out in a fountain shape. Who ever told you they wont reduce & stay small has never worked with them. My own experience with them is that they reduce well (about 1/4 of natural size) & stay reduced as long as you strictly control water and feed.

Schefflera actinophylla (Queensland umbrella tree) naturally grows in a flame shape. It will also reduce leaf size with strict water & feed control but even with that they do not approach the natural size of the small leaf form. As far as my experience with them atleast.

Matt

Jan I also have an old fishtank for the same purposes, fantastic way to recycle what would otherwise end up as rubbish

[craigw60]

Hi Brett, your tree is looking great. When I was at your stage I had a collection of twigs in pots. Its amazing what the dissemination of information has achieved. you guys are so much further advanced then some of the older growers were when they first started.
I like winter because I can see what has be achieved with the deciduous trees over summer in terms of ramification and root growth, plus I just love to see them bare. I almost like them in that state more than in leaf.
Craig

[Bretts]

Hi Jan
I still have fish in my tank.
We get a decent frost here. Enough to freeze the water features over occasionally. Not all the tropicals come inside for Winter only my favourites I have found my shade house enough protection for the tropicals so far. Maybe I could try a glass house like yours in the future. It might be better than inside
I have moved the odd tropical into the shade house but with recent temps down to 1 deg I am surprised none of the figs and such have shown any damage. I reckon it is about time for a cold Winter so I better not leave it too long to get the rest under cover.

Hi Matt
I think you are right about it being the Schefflera arboricola but that makes it a native of Tiawan. This tree was one of those surprises of hey look I do have a native. Now maybe I don't

Hi Craig
Yes the Internet has shown to be a great tool for Bonsai wannabees. I am sure I would be nowhere near where I am without it.
Although I am starting to appreciate a tree out of leaf more like you experienced guys. I still can't get past the love of lots of lush leaves

Thanks!

[Glenda]

While I'm not suggesting that you change your habit of bringing the tropicals in for the winter (they look great), I now overwinter my fig in a 3 foot fish tank in the shadehouse. It acts like a glashouse with its covers on and is a great place to keep my minis and orchids year round - humidity, moderated temp. It works well for me.

Why do I have a fish tank in the shadehouse? Well, like MattA, I too had fish to look at in the computer room - fresh water tropicals BUT... One icy winter morning about 4 am a strange noise woke me; I had to get up to investigate only to find that the wall of the tank had parted company with the base and I had a waterfall in the office! So there we were, freezing, with the window open, bailing then mopping up the flood - they hold a lot of water! Happily, I only had a couple of fish left (I kept short lived fresh water tropicals and was about to refresh my supply so not such a loss as it could have been). Anyway, I'm not doing fish again so I have recycled the tank into a mini glass house; the gravel in the bottom holds enough moisture to keep the humidity just right and, with the seal breached, it drains well so no problems there. I can recommend a fish tank as a mini bonsai environment even where we get serious frosts, and the dendrobium orchids love it. I don't recommend the flood /freezing drama as a way to get one!

The bonsai looks great, Brett, I wouldn't have thought that they could come up so well.

Jan

When you put plants in a fish tank, the proper term becomes terrarium

Glenda

[Tintop]

I remember winter when i lived in Vic. but that was 9 yrs ago now i suffer with high 20's and low 30's for winter

[MattA]

Brett, sorry my man but its not a native... seeing as such, how bout you pass it along to someone EG me Nah I have seen one growing out the side of a Canary Island date palm trunk, am planning on heading back down to Wyong come spring to get it.. hopefully the developers & council havent been thru before then.

Craig I am with you.. i absolutely love the winter tracery of a deciduous tree, its about all I grew for many years. I got addicted to collecting trees very early in my bonsai life, so they werent just twigs in pots, but they still had not progressed as far as some of the many newer growers here have and you are spot on its about dissemination of information. Even my own trees have progressed more in the last 9mths of haunting this place than they had in the past 5yrs.


Matt

[Bretts]

The English elm gets the Winter display area first this year

Hmm computer Has been down for almost a week. Thought I would do a little post with the iPhone but it has finally let me down. Can't find a way to post my picture.

Ok had to host it elsewhere first

[Mojo Moyogi]

I like winter because I can see what has be achieved with the deciduous trees over summer in terms of ramification and root growth, plus I just love to see them bare. I almost like them in that state more than in leaf.
Craig

Craig, I'm with you there. I love deciduous trees when the branches are bare and you can appreciate the intricate framework of branches that is hidden for the majority of the year. There are plenty of world class deciduous bonsai that look at thgeir absolute best out of leaf, in some cases way better than in leaf. A very famous large Zelkova broom by Kyuzo Murata is one example (see: Four Seasons of Bonsai). I have seen pictures of the tree in mid-summer, when it looks impressive, but a little clunky, a bit too symetrical. In it's out of leaf state in winter, it is gains so much character and grace.

The English elm gets the Winter display are first this year

Brett, do you mean that your English Elms are the first of your deciduous trees to go leafless this year? Has the Elm that you posted in Matt's "A hint of autumn" thread gone full colour yet?

Cheers,
Mojo

edit: OK, you mean your winter display area inside. Gotcha.

[Bretts]

Yes and this is that same Elm.