[Ryceman3] Leptospermum Laevigatum

[Ryceman3]

Hi Ryceman ,great work with the little fellow ,has the makings of a cool tree. Cheers John.

Thanks John, that's high praise coming from you - I've seen your Kunzea ...

[Ryceman3]

Just a quick photo update from today on this tree (since TT asked!)
Growing out recently and plenty of buds ready to go when the world warms up a bit ...

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[Thymetraveller]

Going nice, Ryceman3!
I think we're all waiting for spring now....
Good luck with that ground layer btw - as I understand it with tougher species timing is less crucial, but it may take longer for the roots to appear. This is a patient art!

[Ryceman3]

So I had this tree out for a trim today .. which I began - but the further through the work I got, the less interested I was becoming ... I didn't really feel like I had a plan that was worth commiting to.
So, I stopped hacking at it and just looked for a bit, and this is what I am now thinking ...

As it is now ...

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And this is what I'm thinking ...

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What do you reckon? Of course, there'll be a pot change etc at some stage in the near future where I'll be looking to reduce the size of the root ball and then move it into a smaller home. Any and all thoughts welcome.

[melbrackstone]

I don't see why you couldn't achieve that shaping in time. It's one of my fav styles, tbh.

[ReDirtBonsa1]

I like the tree as it is. Just a tidy up and a few tweaks. But also like the suggested drastic change for it as well
I have a similar tree to this and it’s been a helpful thread. Thanks.

[MJL]

R3 - I’m with RDB1’s comments in that existing style is ok but.... I have a view that vision and creativity is a big part of the equation and if your bored with the current design the tree will end up bland and bored too.

So if you will be more committed a radical redesign - bang - redesign away. [THUMBS UP SIGN]


Bonsai teaches me patience.
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[Pearcy001]

Hey Riceman,

Personally if I had it and I wasn't happy, I'd be putting it in a grow pot and thickening it up and growing it tall. You'll get plenty more options that way. Then you can come back down the line and reassess it with a fresh outlook and new options. I've put both my trees from the competition back I to longer grow pots to try advance the trees.

Cheers,
Pearcy.

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[boom64]

Hi Ryceman3 ,I agree 100% with Mark if you are not happy just move on to another style. The new proposed design looks fantastic ,lovely ark with a small amount of foliage ,very eye catching.. Cheers John.

[Ryceman3]

Thanks all for your responses, always good to hear the thoughts of others. As it is currently just isn't exciting me so I think the best thing for me to do is change it. Growing it on as Pearcy suggests would certainly open up a few more options I'm sure, it's either that or change direction - I think if I was to do that I will go down the path of my virt (thanks for the words of encouragement Boom64, MJL, RedDirtBonsa1 and Mel)... I might give it a bit of time and see if the idea continues to feel like the next move before I get the branch cutters out.
Your input was much appreciated.

[Ryceman3]

Been a while since I updated this tree ... probably because in the end I didn't really do anything with it! I did repot (back into plastic) in late spring 2019 and since then it hasn't really been shown much love ... just a trim every now and then. It did have a lot of die back around a year ago (I feel like it might have been fertiliser related ... all new growth shrivelled and turned brown), but it has shot back so today, rather than give it a cut back like I had planned I decided I'd give it a pot. I've left the foliage essentially alone to help in recovery, probably removed around 65%+ of the root mass. It's back in a water tray for a month or so.
Pot is by Roman Hussman for anybody pondering that. I picked it up from Bonsai Island during one of my lockdown binges ...

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[greg27]

Love it, nice work R3. Feel free to post the previous bonsai pot to me if you're done with it

[Ryceman3]

Love it, nice work R3. Feel free to post the previous bonsai pot to me if you're done with it

Ha! nice try Greg ... but if you look at the Melaleuca Linarifolia I have in the "Natural" competition, you might see a container that looks a bit familiar.
viewtopic.php?p=291229#p291229

[greg27]

Haha I see I commented on the pot in that thread too. Thought it looked familiar!

[Keep Calm and Ramify]

I like the tree R3 - but a smidge deeper? (too much root?)