AusBonsai

Progression thread : Leptospermum scoparium 'burgundy queen' 2

This was purchased on 27.08.2016 in an 8inch pot from the Big Flower, at Ourimbah for $9.95
These have been one of my most rewarding projects. The bark, foliage and flowers are equally beautiful.

Tips for growing:
-Leave a lot of foliage on them at all times.
-Don't allow them to get bone dry. (although this subspecies has remarkably better drought tolerance than most people think. The only time I've lost them is from too much root removal, not by being left to dry out. And I have let them go bone dry before, but they eventually recovered.)
-Avoid wiring, because clip-and-grow produces wonderful movement.
-They can grow okay in a heavy mix, but for best results I'd recommend a medium drainage mix (one that requires watering within about 48 hours on a partly sunny day), and I just use slow-release osmocote fertilizer.
-Best to avoid any root work when its below about 7 degrees overnight temps.
-They love water and don't seem bothered by having wet feet.
-They grow very well in both shade, semi-shade or full sun. But for me, best results were from semi-shade.
-Do not remove a lot of roots or foliage in one go ; do it slowly in stages, over a 5+ year period
-Do not use a strong spray hose/jet on the roots, as it can damage the outer layer of the root.
-When doing root work (removal), make sure you remove the flowers/buds straight afterwards.
-For the first ever root work you do, I would actually recommend just easing the roots apart and untangling them. Don't remove much root at this initial stage. You can then simply reduce the rootball over the years that follow.
-You can cut back branches hard, but I recommend cutting back half of the branching in one session, then next year cut back the other half. This ensures you have foliage for good health all year round. They shoot back really well from all areas right up to the cut. However, being only about 3-4 year old stock that I've trialled, I can't concur if they readily shoot back on old wood.

I probably wouldn't recommend this species to a beginner. They aren't too difficult, but you really have to resist the temptation to work them hard.



This photo was taken 27 Sep 2017




This photo was taken 24 Jul 2019




This photo was taken 15 Jan 2021

I can't see the photos Rory

Screw you Google and screw you Google sites

Thanks for letting me know Watto. I give up.
I have a tonne of progression threads to start and upload but I’m over it now. Nothing works.
I don’t like uploading the pics to ausbonsai as I prefer scrolling through the images without having to open each one to see closer. ~sigh~

I can see the photos!?!
Trunk looking good in the latest shot.

Nice

No pictures my way ,shame as pretty keen to check it out. John.

Update: Can no longer see the photos!?!?

No photos my end.


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27 Sep 2017

24 Jul 2019

15 Jan 2021

This one just had a decent root separation, slight reduction and a repot. Its always a nervous time for the next few months.
10 Jan 2022

I didn't repot or cut back any roots this year. I've only cut back the growth. I will wait till Spring next year to do any rootwork. Patience.
There isn't enough foliage on it to warrant touching the roots yet. (this is not a hardy Leptospermum, and knowledge and restraint should always be adhered to with this variety)

I realize its not quite yet 01.01.2023, but its easier to post that its 2023, so looking back people can easily distinguish that its a year apart. Its only 1 day before the actual date.
01Jan2023

Let this be a lesson to those optimists, or masochists out there willing to try their hand at this species.

I have had my first probable casualty from repotting over 100 natives in 2 weeks.

The scratch test says dead as a doornail.
With the other 2 scopariums I have, I didn't take any risk and very carefully took off the old mix, and trimmed the root system very gently - mainly because I adore the structure on those 2 other scopariums. but with this one I have never been deeply in love with it, so I was willing to push the envelope just a tiny bit more than usual. I expected there might have been a little bit of die back with this one. However I went like 5% further and untangled the root system a tad more when I repotted it.

Fairly sure its dead. I definitely did not expect this. I shouldn't have rushed it. I doubt this will pop, but if it does it will only be from the absolute base. But I've never seen this species come back from the brink only to shoot from just the base. They usually die, or if they survive, they die-back a certain amount and eventually pop from halfway up the trunk or so. But this one I'm afraid is a probable goner.

I'll leave it alone for a year and see what happens.

I haven't tried growing this variety in a pot, but I don't have much luck with them in the ground. I have quite a few Leptos growing well in the ground, scoparium, juniperum, rotundifolium,brachiandrum, grandiflorum, all mostly trouble free, but burgundy queen I can't seem to grow for love or money. Won't stop me from giving it another go though, maybe I need to keep some in pots.