[Sno] Melicytus dentata 'Gruggly bush'

[Sno]

Species: Melicytus dentata
Height: 250mm
Source: bottom paddock
Cost: free



This is a common bush growing around the Monaro region and sub alpine area to about 1500m in NSW. Air layer started in spring 2012 just started to send out roots.the plan is to remove it when the weather starts to warm up again.

[Sno]

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No change here . I haven't checked the roots on the layer . It will be interesting to see if they last the winter. It's had some very heavy frosts on it and a bit of snow.

[Sno]

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Snow shot

[kcpoole]

Chilly

[Sno]

This guy is flowering at the moment . The roots are still not developed enough to remove it . Hopefully when the weather warms up a bit more they will push on . A few more frosty mornings to go .

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[Sno]

This guy has been giving me a bit of grief . The cambium layer has joined twice now and some animal (pretty sure it's bird) keeps ripping into it and pinching all the moss . It has roots but not enough to remove it . Hopefully I've animal proofed it ( lots of wire wrapped around it) . Next time I do this species I will tourniquet around the cut ends . I am getting a nice flare around the root base .

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Cheers Craig

[Sno]

Not sure how much longer I'll keep this in the competition . I doubt it will have enough root to separate before the end date . It's been a couple of years now since I set the air layer and I'm confident that this year or next it will be ready to separate from the original bush . I will leave it in the comp for now because don't know what it will do . Anyway , wild night last night with more turbulence forecast over the next week .

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[Sno]

Unfortunately this tree won't be in a pot for the finish so I'm going to withdraw it from the comp . I'm going to remove it from the mother plant probably in late November when the weather starts to warm up . It amazes me that after nearly 3 years that it still survives , it is actually starting to form flower buds again and the roots are numerous . The roots are quite fine and don't look thick and 'ropey' like they normally look on an airlayered plant . It's growing in the coldest part of the property and in winter it is in a shaded gully which can freeze for days on end due to no sun . I will update when it's in the pot .

[bodhidharma]

Looks like its snowing on your parade Sno. Keep at it, its gotta be worth it.