Brachychiton acerifolius, Illawarra Flame tree
-
Bonsai_madness
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 33
- Joined: October 1st, 2013, 12:22 am
- Favorite Species: Royal poinciana
- Bonsai Age: 4
- Location: Brisbane
Brachychiton acerifolius, Illawarra Flame tree
Just wondering if anyone has had any luck with growing this species as bonsai. I have a few little ones but this is my largest. Im not sure what to do about the large leaves besides constantly trim it.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
Milo
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 59
- Joined: May 22nd, 2009, 5:46 pm
- Favorite Species: banksia, Casuarina, Melaleuca, Euc
- Bonsai Age: 20
- Location: Northern Victoria
- Been thanked: 3 times
- Contact:
Re: Brachychiton acerifolius, Illawarra Flame tree
Hi BM
Acerifolia is not the best Brachychiton to Bonsai, But it can still be a tree in a pot and if your a Brachychiton nut, why not.
Kerry Rathie has just produced a book on Brachychitons and goes into detail on most of the Brachychitons.
You need full sun and the hottest part of your yard, it does not respond to extra water like the bottle trees.
Brachychytons can tolerate phosphorus so I use flowering ferts ,
Kerry Rathie has released a book on Brachychitons which you might find interesting
In his book it states the juvenile leaf is deeply 5 lobed so Im not sure what Brachy yours is.
As with all Brachys you can cut them back hard till the produce 2 stems then cut them back and so on. (Its a must to seal cuts)
Mine is fairly ugly and I have been attempting to air layer.
Milo
Acerifolia is not the best Brachychiton to Bonsai, But it can still be a tree in a pot and if your a Brachychiton nut, why not.
Kerry Rathie has just produced a book on Brachychitons and goes into detail on most of the Brachychitons.
You need full sun and the hottest part of your yard, it does not respond to extra water like the bottle trees.
Brachychytons can tolerate phosphorus so I use flowering ferts ,
Kerry Rathie has released a book on Brachychitons which you might find interesting
In his book it states the juvenile leaf is deeply 5 lobed so Im not sure what Brachy yours is.
As with all Brachys you can cut them back hard till the produce 2 stems then cut them back and so on. (Its a must to seal cuts)
Mine is fairly ugly and I have been attempting to air layer.
Milo
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
Bonsai_madness
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 33
- Joined: October 1st, 2013, 12:22 am
- Favorite Species: Royal poinciana
- Bonsai Age: 4
- Location: Brisbane
Re: Brachychiton acerifolius, Illawarra Flame tree
Looking good... Mine seems to have the same leaves as yours. I think it is beginning to flower to it has a weird stalk growing from its centre, no flowers yet though....
-
wattynine
- Aussie Bonsai Fan
- Posts: 537
- Joined: November 21st, 2011, 7:17 pm
- Favorite Species: bonsai
- Bonsai Age: 10
- Bonsai Club: Backyard Bonsai
- Location: Mackay Queensland
- Been thanked: 4 times
Re: Brachychiton acerifolius, Illawarra Flame tree
Hi guys, second time I have attempted these, the first lot I had for about three years but when I moved to the new house I chucked 'em in the ground, they are very happy there.
the second lot I have grown from seed and are about seven years old or so. I kept them in seedling pots for the first two years and treated them like ####, they still thrived, every two years I have done as the photos suggests below, a big heavy cut back to the beginning of the green to get some branches to form, just getting something from them now and would suggest two to three years they will look OK, they do tend to grow straight up and quite straight. I don't expect they will make great bonsai but ill settle for quite good. I intend to continue to attempt a little forest from the five.
Watty
the second lot I have grown from seed and are about seven years old or so. I kept them in seedling pots for the first two years and treated them like ####, they still thrived, every two years I have done as the photos suggests below, a big heavy cut back to the beginning of the green to get some branches to form, just getting something from them now and would suggest two to three years they will look OK, they do tend to grow straight up and quite straight. I don't expect they will make great bonsai but ill settle for quite good. I intend to continue to attempt a little forest from the five.
Watty
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
