Help with First Native Bonsai

[alpineart]

Hi James i have collected 12 small ones to 900mm over the last 3 months and when i remove them from the ground i use a pick .Nothing gentle about my method .Then i trim the roots and foliage and pot up .Last one was 8 days ago and it has sprouted after sitting in a flooded plunge bath .Cheers Alpine

[senseijames]

Gday James!

I've taken the liberty of merging your two threads. At the moment it might not make a lot of sense, but when I (or one of the other Mods) get a chance to edit, it will be more clear. Please do not double post in future as it becomes very confusing for everybody, and please try to show a little restraint on the 'bump' thing: there is no emergency here...

By the way, you have received some very good advice all round. I wouldn't be too concerned about removing too much root mass: you can probably get away with removing at least half if you do it carefully in conjunction with a major top prune.

Thanks.

Fly.

G'day Fly, thanks for the advise, I shall take it onboard, cheers.
James

[senseijames]

Hi James i have collected 12 small ones to 900mm over the last 3 months and when i remove them from the ground i use a pick .Nothing gentle about my method .Then i trim the roots and foliage and pot up .Last one was 8 days ago and it has sprouted after sitting in a flooded plunge bath .Cheers Alpine

Thanks muchly alpineart, for the replies, mate, is your Bonsai bath (flooded plunge bath) just a weak solution of Seasol and water, if I may ask.
cheers
James

[senseijames]

thanks craig

given that it is a mel, i would have to say that if James didnt want to grow it on for a few years then a reasonable mini/shohin could be made from this tree, check out pups gallery he has a plethora of mini mels.

jamie

Hi Jamie, thanks mate for your advice, cheers mate.
James

[Pup]

G,day James have been missing in action these last few days so have not had time to reply. But with Melaleucas if you have a pot full of roots there must be some fine roots too.
So by cutting the pot in half you have root pruned now just tease them out.

Here are a few natives, that I have slaughtered the roots on with no ill affects, like all trees when you root prune, there needs to be some TLC, not too much of wind sun rain. Keep it moist a bit of seasol or whatever is your favorite, tonic.

P1010447.JPG

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P1010474.JPG

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[alpineart]

Hi James the plunge bath sits below the pine display bench so any run-off from fertilizers used would no doubt end up in the bath .I dont add anything but i'm sure i wouldn't hurt to give a weakened solution to the pond/tray or bath .Cheers Alpine

[senseijames]

[quote="Pup"]G,day James have been missing in action these last few days so have not had time to reply. But with Melaleucas if you have a pot full of roots there must be some fine roots too.
So by cutting the pot in half you have root pruned now just tease them out.

Thanks Pup for the picture demos and info mate, as a matter of fact, I have just come in from outside after removing half the root mass and trimming, then I did an airlayer of the larger trunk just above the lowest - biggest branch, hoping to get a couple of trees out of the one, then dunked it in a weak solution of seasol 12 ltrs, will put it in the landlords giant hothouse just near my place for a few weeks before planting it into a foam box.Cheers
James