AusBonsai

the Castle Hill Annual Show - is on in a few short weeks - Fri 13th, Sat 14th & Sun 15th March 2015

Entries for the Bonsai Section close on friday 6th March ( next week) and costs $2 per entry.

The Bonsai display is sponsored by Ray Nesci and he will be there most of the time doing demos and looking over the trees. A few members of the School of Bonsai will be relieving him every now and again

If you have a tree or 2 you would like to display then fill out an entry form from the website here
http://www.castlehillshow.com.au/home.aspx

if just want a nice day out with the kids then, come along and see an old time country show in the city

Ken

Not long got home from the show and happy with my effort this year
My Jacaranda won Grand Champion super happy with that

Not as many entries this year, but still a very nice display and lots of public were suitably impressed with the trees on display.

Any one else get along to have a look?

Ken

Congratulations to you and Jac mate, now where are the rest of the pic's mate. You know, the ones of all the nice trees.
Used to really enjoy visiting the Castle Hill Show, when I lived in Sydney.

Lol I forgot to take my camera. These are ones my daughter took on her fone

kcpoole wrote:Not long got home from the show and happy with my effort this year
My Jacaranda won Grand Champion super happy with that

Not as many entries this year, but still a very nice display and lots of public were suitably impressed with the trees on display.

Any one else get along to have a look?

Ken

Hi Ken
Have you ever had the Jacaranda Flower?
JC

Jdceng wrote:

kcpoole wrote:Not long got home from the show and happy with my effort this year
My Jacaranda won Grand Champion super happy with that

Not as many entries this year, but still a very nice display and lots of public were suitably impressed with the trees on display.

Any one else get along to have a look?

Ken

Hi Ken
Have you ever had the Jacaranda Flower?
JC

Nope,
The only flower on the tip[s of the new spring growth so unless the tree is gigantic, or let go to lose shape, the flower buds wil always be removed as the spring growth is rampant

Like many trees, it other attributes are enough to keep me happy

Ken

HI There

That's is really awesome. How old is your tree? I started 2 from seed and they just look all gangly, also been told how unsuitable Jacaranda's are for Bonsai but I disagree now especially after seeing your effort!!

James

Hi Ken,
As James said Jacrandas,by most, seem to be unsuitable for bonsai. So what are your secrets particularly for a relatively small plant. Mainly at keeping the leaves small, which seem to be the major problem with Jacaranda??! Oh congrats on your win and it does look like a champion tree
Cheers RodM

Hi Rod and James

Thanks for the compliments.

Jacarandah are not the easiest to maintian, but they are not hard
They grow well and backbud readily, and the mature bark is to die for.

To develop the trunk, let it grow madly and then cut back hard to force backbudding and give taper. I have done this 4 times on mine to get the trunk as it is.

When you want to develop the branches, Let the new shoots lignify and then wire them to shape. ( get used to wiring cos you need to do it on all shoots. The new growth wants to go to the sky so needs to be wired down.

I let my new shoots get to 2 sets of leaves ( 4 leaves) and then cut back to the first set. The first pair of leaves are always smaller, and when you cut back to them they will not grow much larger. As they get old you can remove them as they look tatty. New one will replace them.

When you cut back you will get 1 new shoot at the base of each leave. Let each extend to 2 sets of branches and then cut back. You can leave a litttle longer and wire them before removal to build ramification.

I get die back randomly over the tree, so just cut them back to live bark and they will reshoot.

Ken

Congratulations old fella. You look pleased, and you should be pleased.

kcpoole wrote:Hi Rod and James

Thanks for the compliments.

Jacarandah are not the easiest to maintian, but they are not hard
They grow well and backbud readily, and the mature bark is to die for.

To develop the trunk, let it grow madly and then cut back hard to force backbudding and give taper. I have done this 4 times on mine to get the trunk as it is.

When you want to develop the branches, Let the new shoots lignify and then wire them to shape. ( get used to wiring cos you need to do it on all shoots. The new growth wants to go to the sky so needs to be wired down.

I let my new shoots get to 2 sets of leaves ( 4 leaves) and then cut back to the first set. The first pair of leaves are always smaller, and when you cut back to them they will not grow much larger. As they get old you can remove them as they look tatty. New one will replace them.

When you cut back you will get 1 new shoot at the base of each leave. Let each extend to 2 sets of branches and then cut back. You can leave a litttle longer and wire them before removal to build ramification.

I get die back randomly over the tree, so just cut them back to live bark and they will reshoot.

Ken

Well done on your win, Ken. I would think this information would need to be included to update the Wiki!?!?!?!! for others to

CoGRedeMptioN wrote:

kcpoole wrote:Hi Rod and James

Thanks for the compliments.

Jacarandah are not the easiest to maintian, but they are not hard
They grow well and backbud readily, and the mature bark is to die for.

To develop the trunk, let it grow madly and then cut back hard to force backbudding and give taper. I have done this 4 times on mine to get the trunk as it is.

When you want to develop the branches, Let the new shoots lignify and then wire them to shape. ( get used to wiring cos you need to do it on all shoots. The new growth wants to go to the sky so needs to be wired down.

I let my new shoots get to 2 sets of leaves ( 4 leaves) and then cut back to the first set. The first pair of leaves are always smaller, and when you cut back to them they will not grow much larger. As they get old you can remove them as they look tatty. New one will replace them.

When you cut back you will get 1 new shoot at the base of each leave. Let each extend to 2 sets of branches and then cut back. You can leave a litttle longer and wire them before removal to build ramification.

I get die back randomly over the tree, so just cut them back to live bark and they will reshoot.

Ken

Well done on your win, Ken. I would think this information would need to be included to update the Wiki!?!?!?!! for others to

Already have doen just that

Ken

Very nice Ken. Now.... to properly emulate its natural look on the side of roads.... let 10 new limbs shoot straight up to the gods, and make it look like the weirdest thing ever.

Seriously though, that's a nice tree mate. I remember a long time ago.... like about 18 years ago I bought a Jacaranda starter, because I knew nothing about the tree, but I knew the name and thought, yeah, that'd be sweet to bonsai. Then I figured obviously it will develop itself so I don't have to be too fussed... and boy was I right. I left it for a few months occasionally watering and such, and didn't get round to wiring, and it just ended up so ugly I gave up. It hardens almost like a bougy but I found it more so with mine. Lovely foliage on these though.