Australian plants as bonsai - What have we learnt ?

[JenniferM]

Hi all

This year at the 5th Symposium, we thought it would be useful to look back over the previous Symposia and Exhibitions and identify what we have learnt about using Australian plants to create bonsai.

So, I am interested in hearing from anyone who attended the Symposia, and particularly those who did workshops, to get information/anecdotes on their experiences with the species we have been showcasing, and any other Australian plants. I'll be using this information in a session on Saturday afternoon which will look back at what we've done, and hopefully forward to where we want to go next..

So if you have any information, lessons learnt or anecdotes, or photos of workshop trees that you're happy to share, please let me know (by PM if you don't want to post online).

Thanks in advance

Jennifer

[bonsaibruce]

Greetings,
Good luck with the native symposium, sorry I cannot be there.
Somethings I may have learnt about Aussie trees.
Cut worms (wichity grubs) will eat roots of any tree. Sharp gravel on soil surface may help to deter egg laying insects.
Australian trees have a very strong osmotic pull, leaves pulling water from the roots to the apex, transpiration.
If you cut a root while the tree is actively transpiring, it may suck a plug of air into the cut root. This air can only get out of the tree via the leaves. Remember Australian trees have waxy leaves that have evolved to slow water loss. This air plug can be stopped if roots are cut under water. Improve the water with some vitamin B, vegemite is ok. If you thought repotting is messy, wait till you try it wet.
Happy bonsai,
Bruce