AusBonsai

Progression thread: Banksia marginata 3

This specimen was purchased from Bonsai World for $16

They need fast drainage, and don't like having wet feet. You will rot the roots if your drainage isn't good.
I add washed river sand to the mix to give it excellent drainage.
You MUST keep a lot of foliage on them at all times and try to ensure all the branching gets a lot of sun otherwise the shaded branches will decline in health fairly soon. Even when you do a trunk chop, try to do it and leave foliage on the tree as well.
I only do root-work when its growing strong in the warmer months and putting out new growth. But wait till the new growth is a little hard before touching the roots, (in my experience).
I usually leave a lot of the foliage on them, even after a heavy root removal.

The branching takes a long time to harden, so they are easy to style. They look really good with the clip-and-grow method instead of wiring.

With this particular specimen, I am yet to start work on it, and have only trimmed it back and separated the roots after its initial root prune.
I have grand plans for this one.
But slow and steady is the way to win these over.
Bonsai is about patience.
29 Sep 2019

10 Jan 2022

I wont say I'm not dissapointed. A gum tree branch snapped off the lower branch on this beauty. I will wait many years until the first section of the trunk thickens a lot more and the scar heals over more before I remove the thick branch to the right. This was repotted in September and is doing fabulously now.

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

Gosh I love this tree.
Its been placed into a Kai Watanabe (Tokoname) Japanese pot.

The plan is still to remove the branch growing off to the right at the base. But I probably wont remove it for another 5 years or so until it really thickens the base and heals the scar. I want it to develop a very thick base to support the entire upper structure. I love tall Banksia, so it needs to have a solid foundation for the future.
17Nov2023

This has been placed into a small PK pot, as I'm leaning more towards having smaller bonsai as I get older.

I don't know what others' experiences with Banksia are, but I have actually found that Banksia marginata is the most resistent to root rot.
Integrifolia isn't as hardy against it. But marginata requires more sun than integrifolia. If you have low sun, integrifolia is the way to go. But if you have good sun, marginata is a dream banksia to develop.

Just remember to always have a lot of leaves on your tree, so its constantly pulling water out of the pot. I don't cut any foliage off after a root prune. NONE.
12Dec2024

really interested to see where you take this one. some good info on Banksias. Marginata's resistance to root rot makes sense, as although they can grow in very sandy well drained soil, they are also often found in marshy heathland, moorlands, wet alpine areas and forests across Tasmania. They don't seem to like moisture quite as much a melaleucas in the wild, but not as much as one would think as they sometimes found growing together.

Hi Rory,

How do they go with back budding? I am finding that mine doesn't. I am thinking of using the same method as I use on Eucalypts to promote back budding.

Peter

Hanro wrote: ↑December 16th, 2024, 12:01 pm Hi Rory,

How do they go with back budding? I am finding that mine doesn't. I am thinking of using the same method as I use on Eucalypts to promote back budding.

Peter

Hi Peter....
What is your method to promote back budding on Eucs?

I have grown about 15 or so Banksia marginata i think by memory over the last 10 years. In the past, some of them have died altogether when I trunk chopped them hard in Autumn months and didn't have good sun. That was when I was first trialling Banksia, but since then I find I'm a lot better at keeping them healthy.

I think the best way I have found for back budding these, is to do a very heavy cut back, but only in Spring, and provided its in full sun and growing well.
Other than that, they can sulk when I've cut back in other times of the year.
If the Banksia is in a slight sulking mode, like when its not pulling all the water out of the pot each day, I never cut back until they do.

But I have found that back budding can be hit and miss. It usually shoots right at the cut, but can also take a LONG time compared to integrifolia. It can take almost 3-6 times the normal time it takes for integrifolia to shoot back quickly after a cut back.

There may also be different variants of this species, because some that I have purchased from nurseries never seemed to do well with cutting back, and seemed to just encourage die back on those poorer quality specimens. But.... I know there is a 'mini marg' variety that I have tried before, and it can be difficult to distinguish the difference, but those 'mini marg' performed poorly for me.

But of the Marginatas that were bushy and growing well that I have owned, I seem to get back budding only back about 10cm or so, provided I cut right at that strong growing period that a warm Spring seems to encourage. But again, it can take a LONG time for the shoots to appear..... like 2-4 months, whereas Banksia integrifolia can easily shoot within 20 days to appear and is a lot more prolific.

But having said that, I never get back budding down low on older growth, unless I do a complete massive trunk chop. Its very annoying. And on this specimen, I was devastated when I lost that lower branch near the base, as I wanted to incorporate it.

Hi Rory

Thanks for that info

My method on Eucs is completely remove all foliage to the secondary branches in November through to December. In my climate the new shoots take around 2 to 3 weeks to start pushing out and then it is new branch selection removing unwanted ones and letting them harden off before wiring. Wire does not stay on long the tips are taken off to develop the tertiary branches. Buy this stage it is end of summer a work is stoped until next season bar a little pinching of new growth

It’s a bit of a process but it keeps my trees a a manageable height

This process I have followed since around 2000


My growing season is short so it’s important to get the timing right

I hope you find this interesting

Regards

Peter

Ps Don’t tell anyone

One day I will put pen to paper a right down what has worked for me

Coming into Autumn now and this hasn't slowed down at all. I will now leave it alone as it is perfectly ready for winter because it is drawing all the water out of the pot each day, which is what you want as you approach winter with these.

Love this species, so much better than B. integrifolia.
12 Apr 2025