AusBonsai

Hi all, thought I might start off by requesting information on growing Boab trees in the Newcastle area. I have managed to grow 4 from seed ( easy part ) that was picked up whilst in Katherine NT . Currently they are in a dormant state and they vary in size 3cm - 20cm. Information on pruning, feeding, growing medium etc seem to be pretty hard to find, so I open my account in need of help. I will post some photos when I work out how to.

Hey Busta
I have a couple of seedlings on the go at the moment. One African and one Australian. You are right about getting the seedlings is the easy part. I have killed plenty over the years but I am determined not to give up. I got the most comprehensive information a few years ago on growing these guys but lost it. Now I work of memory.
The first mistake I made was waiting for the cold to make them go dormant. I got frost burn before the leaves dropped. The information suggested to force dormancy when the winter lows dropped below 5 deg. This could be done in a number of ways such as bare rooting the tree and hanging upside down in the shed or bare rooted in a box under the bed was another popular spot. The general idea is to ensure that they get very little little to no light and are kept bone dry. I leave mine in the soil but put them in the laundry cupboard over winter. The leaves will start to drop shortly after Then you wait until the lows stay above 10 deg repot water and the tree will start to grow again. Water infrequently during the growing period letting the soil dry out is healthy for the tree. I would think water one day water and feed the next and then wait for it to dry out before watering again.
From memory I believe you need to let the tree grow to a decent girth before you chop the tap root and trunk but I haven't got that far yet.
I will be very interested in any other members experience with them. I got my mate Pol some seeds recently and one that he grew in the past was much more vigorous than mine but died during the winter without the dormancy trick. I am hoping a collaboration of experience will yield good results.

im about to get a boad and will put it in a hot house will that keep it going or do you have to put them in a a dark place inside ?

I believe they need a dormant period but I could be wrong?

Hiu Bustadog. Come along to the Newcastle Bonsai Club meeting next month. Several of us have them growing. I put one of mine in the garden last autumn to try to get it bigger and will try an areial layering when it starts growing again. Dave 54, it's the one you gave me a few years ago.
Penny.

Would be great if you could put the info up for us all Penny

G'day Bustadog and welcome to AusBonsai!
I have not seen much (if any) information on Boab bonsai. I did however see some beauties for sale at Alpine Nursery's Dural last week. They were about 1.5 meters high and were starting to swell really nicely at the base.
We'd love to see pictures of yours and read about your experimentation so far.
Regards,
Steven

Dam I was going to check out the nurseries on the way out of Ray's the other day but I figured the car was already chockers so there was little point

okay my boab arived today and wouldent mind if there is some info about the place

Hope the photo attachment works. Here is a photo of some of my Boabs. I would like to keep them relatively short and will prune them continually (to an outward growing bud) this growing season in an attempt to get a wide spread in the branches.

question for you guys? queensland bottle tree is this the same tree we're talking about here?

I don't think they are even in the same family Antonio but I could be wrong.

Hi Bustadog.
Newcastle Bonsai club's next meeting is on this Saturday if you want to come along and ask about growing boabs. We meet in the Girl Guides hall at Mount Hutton in Lammington Drive (true name). Come about 10.30, bring your lunch and a tree to work on too.
Penny.

Antonio, the boabab and Brachychiton (bottle tree/Kurrajong) arn't the same. They are in different orders (the one above family).

Australian 'Boab' trees are Adansonia gregorii and closely related to the Adansonia species found in Africa and Madagascar, called Baobab. Brachychiton rupestris is the Qld Bottle Tree, these species do share the similar 'swollen trunk' feature, used mostly for water storage. I would be interested to know if anyone has had success with either of these species