AusBonsai

Yesterday i dug a fairly old Gardenia [Thanks ken ] from a mate's place. It was a one time offer which was ummmed and ahhhed about for so long i didnt wanna miss the chance to dig it...only problem it has to be dug on the hottest day on record lol

So i waited until about 10pm and lifted it, though and behold even with a decent drink before hand, all the soil crumbled away from the roots. Being late at night i misted the roots and bagged them up and popped it away safely. First thing this morning i went to B*nnings and could only find osmocote's azelea mix and 10mm scoria, returned home found a styro box big enough to accomodate all the roots.

Was told my mate had tried everything to kill this tree and year after year it came back fighting, to which i said: "AWESOME!"


Did i mention 2 root balls???



Original trunk on the left, hacked at ground level, years of neglect the trunk laid over and shot out a whole new system of roots, added bonus.




For the record the flowers were white, although wilted from a 40.c day. Plans for the tree are to retain as much of the original branches and dead wood as possible, although it'll be refined to a more pleasing aesthetic.

My method of training, once the tree has recovered and is back in full swing [hopefully] next growing season, is to basically to use palm fiber to bring the lanky trunks together then clip and grow, clip and grow.














Out of the sun and wind, into recovery now its time to administer some serious after care.

Not an azalea, but it is Gardenia instead
They can make very nice Bonsai

Let it recover till next spring before doing any work to it

Ken

kcpoole wrote:Not an azalea, but it is Gardenia instead
They can make very nice Bonsai

Let it recover till next spring before doing any work to it

Ken

Ahhh Thank you kindly for the clarification Ken.

Thats the plan mate, just after care for now.

Do you guys just use a regular fert on Gardenia's? or do they need something special?

Picked up a Gardenia Radicans a couple of weeks ago, but have no real idea how to care for it

(hope you don't mind me asking in your thread Andrew, I didn't want to creat a new one for such a small question )

DENAz wrote:Do you guys just use a regular fert on Gardenia's? or do they need something special?

Picked up a Gardenia Radicans a couple of weeks ago, but have no real idea how to care for it

(hope you don't mind me asking in your thread Andrew, I didn't want to creat a new one for such a small question )

Hi Denaz,

Dont mind at all, anything anyone else can add to the thread would be benefiting me aswell, from what i can tell i think my new tree is a Radicans.

I dare say as far as ferts are concerned you might wanna stick to the osmocote dedicated to azelia/gardenia/roses and anything that wont bump the pH up over 7.

Hopefully one of the more senior members can add to this discussion

Andrew F wrote:Hi Denaz,

Dont mind at all, anything anyone else can add to the thread would be benefiting me aswell, from what i can tell i think my new tree is a Radicans.

I dare say as far as ferts are concerned you might wanna stick to the osmocote dedicated to azelia/gardenia/roses and anything that wont bump the pH up over 7.

Hopefully one of the more senior members can add to this discussion

Thanks for that, I didn't realise that Osmocote included Gardenia's as well, I think I have some at home already

Wow, I had no idea the Radicans got that large! I've never really worked with Gardenia's at all, so am learning everything as I go

Looks like you have some scale on there!!

Jester wrote:Looks like you have some scale on there!!

Duly noted, thanks.

.. Also watch out for mealy bugs (white fluffy things) they like the new growth and crevices. Just spent time this afternoon taking them of my two gardenias and also did a follow up spray.

Nice score too... As ken said just let it grow and recover... Look forward to its progression

matlea wrote:.. Also watch out for mealy bugs (white fluffy things) they like the new growth and crevices. Just spent time this afternoon taking them of my two gardenias and also did a follow up spray.

Nice score too... As ken said just let it grow and recover... Look forward to its progression

What did you spray it with? And thanks

Just used some confidor, but tried to remove / squash most beforehand.

I have 2 and both were collected for a my Mother in laws garden During some Renos a few years ago.
the are both the miniature variety and are slowly getting there.

They get sun most of the day and are fertilised the same as all my other trees. Neutrog Sudden impact pellets on the surface, and Liquid fert every 2 weeks or so.

Both were repotted in Spring as a the flowers started to show and both suffered quite badly. Next year I will wait till later After flowering, and see how they go

Ken

Wow they are looking great Ken, I hope mine makes it thru this next heat wave that is apparently coming thru. Ill take extra care and hyper vigilance to keep it safe.
'
Should i thin the foliage so the roots have less to feed?

You could cout them back a little, but you will propbably find the tree will dispase of them by itself if it needs, the upright one of mine has defoliated itself quite nicely

If it shows any sign of distress you could cut them back

Ken

kcpoole wrote:You could cout them back a little, but you will propbably find the tree will dispase of them by itself if it needs, the upright one of mine has defoliated itself quite nicely

If it shows any sign of distress you could cut them back

Ken

How far should i cut them back? Sorry in advance for all of my noobness.