AusBonsai

Source: SA Flora
Cost: $4

I’m finding this tree very unexciting and I kind of wish I’d entered the mystery possible lepto, especially since it now has new growth.

I also struggle with the “natural” part of the competition. Perhaps I am too literal in its interpretation but all the callitris rhomboidea in nature are boring and look like poorly shaped Christmas trees.

I’m feeling a strong desire to make this a slanting style and possibly windswept tree, like you sometimes see at the edges of properties on a hill crest, even though I can’t find one in nature.

Hi Beano,

Here is a good thread for you

viewtopic.php?f=74&t=15769&start=0

October update: I’ve done nothing but this one is growing regardless. Seems pretty hardy so far.

April update: this one has grown pretty well considering it is in a bonsai pot already. I decided to style it. I may make it windswept yet, but for now, it’s like this.

This one is looking a touch unhappy, it’s gone all pale and some tips are yellow.

I feel your pain. I don’t get enough sun so I gave up on them. This is a pity, as I’ve seen some gorgeous specimens of these as bonsai.

It’s stayed the same for a few days now. I’m assuming it’s like junipers and pines, it’s dead but it’s just not looking 100% dead, right?

Hopefully it’ll live.


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Hi Beano I have found with these species if they are on there way out it will be very quick. The tips will dry out and drop off and then there is not much you can do. However they sometimes will drop a branch or just the end growth for no reason , even on older established trees. Hang in there .
Cheers John.

How has the watering and soil been for the last month or so, is it staying too wet?
I’m still trying to work these out too.
A couple of weeks ago I root trimmed - about 1/4 off - and repotted a few and they seem to be ok, a tiny bit of brown at a few tips but otherwise ok. I’m giving away potting them in hotter weather as my experience is they dry out and up moving on to a ‘better place’.
I do have one (not repotted) that was looking a bit lacklustre with the soil holding too much water. Kept the water back until just damp which seems to have helped.
Fingers crossed with your one.

Boom - good to know. It pretty much looks the same so there is hope yet.

Matlea - The tree is in a small pot though I guess considering how much root system I cut off at original pot date it might be over potted. The soil is wet looking (more than damp) today after watering yesterday, but because it’s been cool I’ve left them 3-4 days without watering. I would have thought it could have dried out rather than being too wet, but despite my alterations to recipes over the years, I still think my soil could drain better.


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October 2020 update:

Still alive, not much achieved though. I took the wire off and it sprung just about all the way back to where it started. I’ve put it in a bigger pot this month.



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New October update: pretty sure it’s dead...


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April update 2021:

Definitely dead.


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