Baeckea with a twist!!!!
Posted: November 20th, 2012, 5:59 pm
Hi all,
This is one of my favourites, Meet my twisted trunk Baeckea. I have had him for about 4 years now. I purchased him from Ray Nesci's during one of my visits. I have learnt a few things since I bought him but I would love to know more hence this topic.
First picture I have was taken around spring/summer in Newcastle I have had the tree about 3 months by this stage. I love the thick green canopy with the white flowers all over.
It sort of went downhill from here for a while and at one stage I thought I was actually going to lose the whole tree.
I have a theory of what happened now and was wondering if someone could confirm of deny it for me please.
Here we go, after the first flowering had finished, I thought I should cut it back now that would of been around Feb. I cut him back until I had fantastic green clouds all over and the tree looked great
Winter came and went, before I knew it spring was back and flowers everywhere, how hard can this be I was thinking 
As the flowers dropped off and I trimmed him back again for another year, all going well so far.
During that winter and the next spring the tree was growing but I could also see a heap of white scaly thing growing in thru the bark, foliage of the tree and as the tree started to take off for spring I noticed "die back" in some sections of the tree
I had a bit of a read and it was then I realized that I had not re potted him 
My theory is that my tree got sick/weakened because I did not change his potting mix, he was root bound when I did do it, and the tree was touch and go there for some time.
So as explained, I had to cut him right back to get rid of all the scale things. I had to get hold of a soft tooth brush to get into the bark it was so infested. Pulled him out of the pot cut his roots back, soaked him in seasol and repotted him. I had to keep him in a dark place for a while but we survived
I lose a few branches but I think I have learnt heaps.
I actually made it down to Ray's open day this year. One of the many fantastic trees on display was a baeckea, all trimmed, healthy ready to flower. What I would love to find out is how do i have the tree trimmed to such a lovely shape and still get the flower buds read to bloom?? I have been cutting back generally In feb and as I said previously, my tree has grown quite a bit before he flowers the next spring as you can see.
help with this please would be much appreciated
This is one of my favourites, Meet my twisted trunk Baeckea. I have had him for about 4 years now. I purchased him from Ray Nesci's during one of my visits. I have learnt a few things since I bought him but I would love to know more hence this topic.
First picture I have was taken around spring/summer in Newcastle I have had the tree about 3 months by this stage. I love the thick green canopy with the white flowers all over.
It sort of went downhill from here for a while and at one stage I thought I was actually going to lose the whole tree.
I have a theory of what happened now and was wondering if someone could confirm of deny it for me please.
Here we go, after the first flowering had finished, I thought I should cut it back now that would of been around Feb. I cut him back until I had fantastic green clouds all over and the tree looked great
Winter came and went, before I knew it spring was back and flowers everywhere, how hard can this be I was thinking As the flowers dropped off and I trimmed him back again for another year, all going well so far. During that winter and the next spring the tree was growing but I could also see a heap of white scaly thing growing in thru the bark, foliage of the tree and as the tree started to take off for spring I noticed "die back" in some sections of the tree
I had a bit of a read and it was then I realized that I had not re potted him My theory is that my tree got sick/weakened because I did not change his potting mix, he was root bound when I did do it, and the tree was touch and go there for some time.
So as explained, I had to cut him right back to get rid of all the scale things. I had to get hold of a soft tooth brush to get into the bark it was so infested. Pulled him out of the pot cut his roots back, soaked him in seasol and repotted him. I had to keep him in a dark place for a while but we survived
I lose a few branches but I think I have learnt heaps.I actually made it down to Ray's open day this year. One of the many fantastic trees on display was a baeckea, all trimmed, healthy ready to flower. What I would love to find out is how do i have the tree trimmed to such a lovely shape and still get the flower buds read to bloom?? I have been cutting back generally In feb and as I said previously, my tree has grown quite a bit before he flowers the next spring as you can see.
help with this please would be much appreciated