Melaleuca Linariifolia Compacta

[Spoony]

Hello,

Just got my second plant for Bonsai, 30cm Melaleuca Linariifolia Compacta. (Which I guess means a dwarf variety.) It was $9 from a local nursery.
I still haven't had any luck contacting the local Bonsai Club, and it seems there is only one. So what I wanted to ask was for some advice in regards to how I should start chopping the tree up?
I have re-potted it since I took the pictures and the root mass took up the entire pot. I managed to untangle most or it when I re-potted it but there is still a fairly large clump in the middle.
Also as our "seasons" up here are a little different, I'm not sure when to cut back, trim roots or re-pot. As we only have a wet and a dry.
Here are some pictures I took any help is appreciated.

Cheers
Paul

[Handy Mick]

Paul, sounds like you need help from Pup.
He is certainly the one to take advice from.

[kcpoole]

Hi Paul
Check out this Wiki page for Mels. https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... =Melaleuca

Mostly they will shoot back on bare wood, but I am always cautios and try to Reduce them back in gradually rather than just the big chop back to nothing.
The roots can be pruned rather hard ( take off about 1/3 ) when repotting

Your seasons are different but all that means as most trees neve go dormant there and you can repot any time really.

Just be aware that in the wet, make sure your pots do not stay wet all the time, but get a chance to dry out a little. You may have to give shelter from the rain even

See if y can hook up with others up there thru the nurseries and such. as well

Ken

[kcpoole]

Also forgot to add, That I wiodu probably take off the left (thicker) branch and then reduce the other one back to above the Second junction / branch up

Ken

[Spoony]

Thanks Mick and Ken,

I have looked through many posts about Mels, most of them being about Melaleuca Linariifolia. Yes, Pup does seem to be the foremost expert on Mels. His trees are fantastic to look at!
Ken just so I am clear of what you suggest I take off, I have marked this picture.

cut positions.jpg

So the yellow mark is where I should remove the left (thicker) branch?
For the reduction of the other branch should I remove at the blue or red branch? Or both?
It's so funny even after reading 40+ hours of posts and the wiki, it seems so counter intuitive to start chopping all the leaves off a tree

Paul

[mickaus]

I would think that kcpoole is suggesting taking off the Yellow and the Blue.

The Red will then be grown on.

[Pup]

G,day Paul your tree is as it said compact in growth, Nana means dwarf in the plant world.
You have not said what style you wish or how big, so I am assuming you wish for a medium size tree, in the natural style( Shizengi ). When pruning Melaleucas I do not go back past live growth, I reduce slowly cut back let it grow then cut back again.

When the tree has reastablished it self after repotting, which by the way up in Darwin, just about any time is good, start to work with the tree.
To establish a frame work then when you have this, pinch new growth back as it grows.

Cheers Pup

[kcpoole]

I would think that kcpoole is suggesting taking off the Yellow and the Blue.

The Red will then be grown on.

Yep that is precicely where i would chop them

Should give good movement for the future

Ken

[Spoony]

Hi Pup, you assume correctly. A medium size tree with the natural style is what I'm after. Saying that, would you agree as Mick and Ken have kindly suggested, that I cut the branches off marked with the yellow and blue? I should on my next day off have a wander through some local bushland to find some Melaleucas au natural. I think I will have to hold off on any major pruning as yet, I don't have any cut paste at the moment. It is on order though.

I'm just not sure what to do first. Do I trim the roots and re-pot (Waiting a spell for it to recover) before cutting back the tree? Or do I cut it back first, wait till I see new budding, and then trim roots and re-pot?

I have just found out also that the Darwin Bonsai Club no longer exists. It would explain why I haven't heard back from them yet. I'll have to put the word out on the social network, and see if anyone knows a friend of a friend whom knows a bit about Bonsai.

Thank you all for your help it really is appreciated!

Cheers
Paul

[Pup]

Hi Pup, you assume correctly. A medium size tree with the natural style is what I'm after. Saying that, would you agree as Mick and Ken have kindly suggested, that I cut the branches off marked with the yellow and blue? I should on my next day off have a wander through some local bushland to find some Melaleucas au natural. I think I will have to hold off on any major pruning as yet, I don't have any cut paste at the moment. It is on order though.

I'm just not sure what to do first. Do I trim the roots and re-pot (Waiting a spell for it to recover) before cutting back the tree? Or do I cut it back first, wait till I see new budding, and then trim roots and re-pot?

I have just found out also that the Darwin Bonsai Club no longer exists. It would explain why I haven't heard back from them yet. I'll have to put the word out on the social network, and see if anyone knows a friend of a friend whom knows a bit about Bonsai.

Thank you all for your help it really is appreciated!

Cheers
Paul

Go through the list of members and look for Graeme up in Queensland he is an ex member of the Darwin club, then send him a PM, he may be able to put you in touch with some one.
As for those suggestions, I have had a bit of trouble seeing what they are doing. When you have got more growth happening lower down, then maybe a chop, but that tree does not look full of vigor. Which it needs before you start serious work.
Never work a weak tree.
Cheers Pup

[Spoony]

Go through the list of members and look for Graeme up in Queensland he is an ex member of the Darwin club, then send him a PM, he may be able to put you in touch with some one.
As for those suggestions, I have had a bit of trouble seeing what they are doing. When you have got more growth happening lower down, then maybe a chop, but that tree does not look full of vigor. Which it needs before you start serious work.
Never work a weak tree.
Cheers Pup

OK, will look Graeme up after posting this.
I have since re-potted after taking those pictures and given in a dose of fertiliser. (There wasn't much soil left and it was all roots.) So fingers crossed it starts perking up a bit soon. Thank you again Pup!

Cheers
Paul

[Sabamiki AKA Craig]

I have since re-potted after taking those pictures and given in a dose of fertiliser

You fertilise your trees after repotting, i did not know you can do that

[Spoony]

You fertilise your trees after repotting, i did not know you can do that

Erm... I didn't know you couldn't. It's just in a bigger plastic pot for now till it cheers up a bit.

[Pup]

You fertilise your trees after repotting, i did not know you can do that

Erm... I didn't know you couldn't. It's just in a bigger plastic pot for now till it cheers up a bit.

You should not start a fertiliser program until you see new growth especially after pruning roots.
Standard practice is 4 to 6 weeks after, seasol is OK, or any thing with Auxins in it like Superthrive, if you can get it.

[Spoony]

You should not start a fertiliser program until you see new growth especially after pruning roots.
Standard practice is 4 to 6 weeks after, seasol is OK, or any thing with Auxins in it like Superthrive, if you can get it.

Oh OK, I see, thank you. I didn't trim any roots because I wasn't sure what to cut yet. The only thing I used was seasol as I have seen it mentioned several times in the forums. Even people soaking the roots in it prior to cutting them back. I did buy a slow release fertiliser yesterday to put in it but haven't done so yet.

I didn't realise seasol is plant viagra. I put some on my miracle berry tree and 2 days later all the leaves had started pointing up! I never thought it looked sad before, but now it sure looks happy!