Murraya mini-me

[melbrackstone]

Has anyone bonsai'd one of these trees? Would it be the same as the larger version, do you think?

[Raging Bull]

Hi Mel,
About 18 months ago I bought one as a "stick in a pot", probably at the big green shed. I have kept it in a small pot and it hasn't grown much, but is gradually ramifying and the trunk is now a thicker stick . I have pruned it a little occasionally and the leaves have stayed quite small. It flowers every few months, and when it does I bring it into the house for a few days as the flowers have a beautiful scent. I bought it because the fruits, if they get pollinated do look like miniature oranges, they are smaller than a pea.
The attached pic is of it not long after purchase, but I don't have a recent photo. I'll take one for you in the next day or two and post it.
Cheers, Frank.

[melbrackstone]

Thanks Frank.

It went ok with root pruning? I've tried over two seasons to take an air layer off a large one I've grown in the garden for the past 15 years, and it just never seems to take.. so now I'm thinking of digging up the whole tree...

[Raging Bull]

Hi Mel,
I only gave it a slight root trim when I potted it in this pot shortly after purchase. After comparing the two photos I can't see much difference, so it looks like I'll have to put it in a grow pot. I thought by over-potting it in this one it would be sufficient to induce it to grow a bit more than it has. If you have a larger one in the garden to dig up you'll definitely have a good head start. I don't know how leaf size reduction would go as I bought this one as a very small plant to begin with. Good luck with it.
Cheers,
Frank.

[melbrackstone]

They call em mini me because the leaves are already very small, so I'm not too concerned with leaf size at the mo.....it's whether I can dig it up and keep it alive that worries me, since the air layers never did produce roots at all. Maybe I'll just have to think of it as a normal murraya and hope for the best, they do transplant fairly well...

Thanks anyway, and yes, it'll put on a bit of girth if you can give it more root room! Go for it!

[melbrackstone]

lol, I just discovered it's called min a min.. Murraya paniculata min a min

apologies...

[treeman]

This is a little gem of a thing. I'm propagating it because I think it will make outstanding shohin trees. They seem to love being fed and watered. They like heat as well but out of intense summer sun seems to be best. They can flower very heavily when happy....which is not always the case! If you can keep the leaves a nice rich green, you are doing the right thing so keep doing it.

[melbrackstone]

Cheers Mike, glad to hear you think it's worthwhile. I've been told that it's a waste of time trying to grow from the seed this plant produces, because it always reverts to full size Murraya. I've tried two, and I have to say that was definitely the case with those... So I'm guessing you're growing from cuttings?

[melbrackstone]

Well, I dug it up today, here's hoping it survives...

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[Redsonic]

We're going to have to start calling you Murraya Mel

[melbrackstone]

lol, I think you're right Sonya!

[kcpoole]

U have collected a few full sized ones and the roots take well to being cut back hard.
I ssusme the mini versions will be the same so think your one should be no problem

Ken

[anthonyW]

Great score there Mel, suits the pot to.

cheers Anthony

[melbrackstone]

Thanks Ken and Anthony, I'm encouraged by the first large Murraya that survived, and this is the same pot it was in up until a couple of weeks ago! Just noticed it has a crack in it, hope it doesn't fall apart any time soon.

Next tree is a massive Callistemon...don't know what I'll put that into!

[melbrackstone]

It's a pity I can't get confirmation that Murraya paniculata is an Aussie Native. Apparently it's recognised in the Australian Plant Census, but not the Queensland Plant Census... oh well..

Imagine what Ryan Neil could do with this!!!!!!