AusBonsai

After spending so much time drooling over Pup's Mels, I have been keeping my eyes peeled for a Mel that I could play around with.

Half an hour at the Big Flower and $9.95 later I picked up this little guy: Before I do anything drastic, I would like to get some advice.

My plan is to chop it almost in half, using the large branch on the left as the new leader and chopping that in half too.

If I make the cuts in 10-15cm segments I could then reuse plant these cuttings to grow a few more Mels, am I correct?
It is starting to get pretty cold here on the Central Coast, so I was going to leave all this work till summer/spring, unless this guy and the cuttings can handle it?
Also, if I can get a few cuttings is there anyone that would like some because I will only have space for 5-10?

I know it's only a young tree, but if I make the right choices right now at the beginning, it'll be better off in the long run.

Jarad wrote: My plan is to chop it almost in half, using the large branch on the left as the new leader and chopping that in half too.

Good to see you ventured to the big flower. Great assortment of stock they have there. If you like Bouganvillea, they have a lot of good stock there too. Bouganvillea are really great stock for conditions on a unit balcony, but good to see you attempting natives. I would chop this one like 10-15 cm above the soil line. Seriously, Quinquenervia will shoot back from anywhere. Don't cut as high as where you are planning, as you'll end up with long leggy stock, and the most amazing aged Quins are thick based and have branches starting low. Be bold and cut low to build strong foundations, so as not to regret it in 5-10 years time. The scar you will get that low on your stock will heal in time, as paperbark are pretty good at healing. Remember, the leaves on Quin are quite large for bonsai, so generally speaking they suit larger stock even with the best leaf reduction.

http://blog.centennialparklands.com.au/paperbark-trees/

Some great inspirations are at Centennial Park in Sydney.

Jarad wrote: It is starting to get pretty cold here on the Central Coast, so I was going to leave all this work till summer/spring, unless this guy and the cuttings can handle it?

Personally, I wouldn't cut back now. Spring/Summer is the best time to cut back hard with most natives, usually preferring summer. Although it probably would sulk doing it now, I wouldn't recommend it. Do a big re-pot and cut back hard in Spring/Summer at the same time. I would lean towards Summer. I easily take off half the roots when repotting Quins from nursery stock. Sometimes you can get lucky from their stock and have a good root system, and other times you may find the trunk goes deeper into the soil line before the roots start.

Next time I head over there I'll check the bougainvilleas out.

bonsaibuddyman wrote: I would chop this one like 10-15 cm above the soil line.

Wow, here I was thinking that chopping it in half was going to be too much.

bonsaibuddyman wrote: Do a big re-pot and cut back hard in Spring/Summer at the same time. I would lean towards Summer.

Spring it is then.

Thanks Rory.

bonsaibuddyman wrote:
Personally, I wouldn't cut back now. Spring/Summer is the best time to cut back hard with most natives, usually preferring summer. Although it probably would sulk doing it now, I wouldn't recommend it. Do a big re-pot and cut back hard in Spring/Summer at the same time. I would lean towards Summer. I easily take off half the roots when repotting Quins from nursery stock. Sometimes you can get lucky from their stock and have a good root system, and other times you may find the trunk goes deeper into the soil line before the roots start.

when you're repotting, are you just sawing off half the root ball? or bare rooting then cutting off like that? I've had a a quinquenervia since last year but all i've done is basically cutting it back and letting it grow, since i couldn't find much regarding root work.

Naimul wrote:

bonsaibuddyman wrote:
Personally, I wouldn't cut back now. Spring/Summer is the best time to cut back hard with most natives, usually preferring summer. Although it probably would sulk doing it now, I wouldn't recommend it. Do a big re-pot and cut back hard in Spring/Summer at the same time. I would lean towards Summer. I easily take off half the roots when repotting Quins from nursery stock. Sometimes you can get lucky from their stock and have a good root system, and other times you may find the trunk goes deeper into the soil line before the roots start.

when you're repotting, are you just sawing off half the root ball? or bare rooting then cutting off like that? I've had a a quinquenervia since last year but all i've done is basically cutting it back and letting it grow, since i couldn't find much regarding root work.

This is just from my own experience....

I don't really understand the concept of sawing off half the root ball, as all you are doing is leaving the same potted tree with half the roots so it hasn't really been repotted. You need to work the roots, otherwise don't bother repotting. Sometimes if it is severely overgrown, you need to get a hose and put it on semi-spray so that it has a bit of force to the flow, and ease the roots apart, cutting off the thick roots and trying to reduce the roots so that you are keeping the healthy feeder roots closer to the trunk. I always use a hose either on moderate or slightly stronger force, and put it on the radial setting so it doesn't shoot out in one concentrated area. Then, I use this natural force to help pry apart tight roots, as I find that digging apart the roots with instruments often pulls out and damages the fine feeder roots that you want to keep. After a long period of time, the soil will eventually (sometimes with a bit of encouragement) naturally begin to fall off and dissipate. This then makes it much easier to spread out or flatten the roots that you want to keep.

Most of the time I do not bare root anything that is about 5cm or more thick in the trunk. Mels may be able to undergo this treatment, but I personally have never bare rooted a Mel other than seedlings.

I recently bought a crab apple that I am look to plant and air layer a branch off the main tree to create a bonsai.


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... ... I chopped the top off a while back...
And it survived!

Oh how devious!
Now I guess you'll need to work the roots as well...


Cheers
EZ
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And just let it grow for 10 years

Jarad wrote:And just let it grow for 10 years

Only if you want big
It is much samller than it was so maybe only 5 years

I assume now waiting till late spring / Summer for warmer weather to repot and find out what the roots are like?

Ken

kcpoole wrote: Only if you want big
It is much samller than it was so maybe only 5 years

I assume now waiting till late spring / Summer for warmer weather to repot and find out what the roots are like?

This is very true, I'll reassess in 5.

Yep and get it in some decent soil and throw it in a larger grow pot.

::EDIT::

I want to do it now just to see what would happen, it has been growing all winter.