gum tree experiment

[Noramay]

hi all

just thought I might share with you a tree I purchased a few months back, I liked its movement but it was very tall n skinny (but cheap) decided to just have a play an instead of cutting it down I simply broke off all the branches and the top of the tree too (should of taken a B4 pic sorry)
Anyway the tree has been sitting in a bucket of water and has not moved, untill this week .... it has shot buds everywhere right down to the base
so here are a few pics to share with you and perhaps hear of other peoples ideas

cheers Nora

I hope everyone has remembered and not forgotten today is the 11th of Nov

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[Mitchell]

Great stuff! I snapped and burnt of the top of a gum the other week, heaps of new shoots.

Are you going to bring it down any further or develop the tree at that height?

[Noramay]

Hi there Mitchell, I was thinking of snapping the tree again to make the tree alot shorter, but am just enjoying the new buds and trying to decide how short to go, once I snap it I can't go back LOL
Nora

[astroboy76]

why not layer the top portion off? it has some nice bark and movement and many buds to play with. you coudl then end up with two cool trees to play with

[Noramay]

Great idea Astroboy, and I've just had a look at some of Flybri's posts on the subject,
One question though - should I do it now while it is shooting leaves and will it be happy shooting me some roots too?

Nora

[astroboy76]

im not too sure when it comes to aussie natices but the general rule i have learnt is to wait till new growth has hardens odd before applying the layer. hopefulyl someone with some native experience will be able to help here. if not maybe Steve a PM. He works with natives a bit

[makro]

Hi Nora,

you mention that the Gum tree was standing in a bucket of water... pardon the noobie questions but, wouldnt it rot the roots or something to that effect...

[Noramay]

hi Makro

the tree really needs to be repotted and will probably slip pot it soon, as such it has tended to repel any attempts to water it.
to stop it rotting I have been taking it out of the water every couple of days to let it dry out.
I don't know much about gums in relation to how they handle beeing continually wet, and am experimenting with a few now as I look at the local trees alot of which are now water logged and they seem to be loving having there feet wet, I swear you can hear them having a big drink after being so dry over winter...