Kunzea ericoides advice

[Mickeyjaytee]

Heya all,

Long time no post! I was wondering if anyone has any advice they can give me on the kunzea ericoides? I did manage to get some seed a couple of years ago (you just cannot find this plant anywhere in WA) and grew a few, separated them and grew on. Apart from thrips, which I treated, they have done really well.

I repotted a few the other day for initial root work and it ain’t good. 2/3 are definitely goners and the third might be swinging that way too. They just all wilted after the repot where I gave them fresh soil, untangled a few roots and gave the roots a trim. I had then placed them in a water tray in the shade.

I found just removing the soil initially was causing wilt nearly straight away so for the other two I made sure they were nice and moist before and during root work.

I have a couple left and am now scared to touch them. Is there any advice anyone can give me on dealing with this species? I absolutely love the dark green of the leaves and the contrast of the white trunk. I’m worried if I lose these others, I’ve got nothing left to work with I did take some cuttings but, kunzea and leptos have a very low strike rate, at least for me anyway.

I placed one in a large garden pot and it is doing so well. Looking forward to seeing it flower and loving the dark green leaves.

Thanks for any advice

[shibui]

I'm surprised to hear that kunzeas have been difficult to transplant. Normally they have no problem with repot or root pruning. I'd normally do them in Late Oct or Nov when temps are a bit higher but in Perth you should be OK now.
Sounds like you did everything right so I'm stumped why the rapid decline.

Kunzeas and Leptos are also relatively easy to strike as cuttings here too.

[Rory]

My first advice is to switch to Baeckea, which is arguably the most suited of all the native trials I’ve undertaken for Bonsai.

My second advice would be that you’re possibly going a bit harder than you thought? K. ericoides is quite hardy, and I’d been quite rough on them and never really had any significant issues.
I don’t like repotting a dry mix, I usually make sure the roots are at least sprayed periodically with water while working them, especially in hot weather. There is no problem with heat and repotting but just make sure the roots are kept somewhat damp.
I’ve repotted in 40 degree days and didn’t have an issue.
If you have the spray on a strong setting, you might have damaged the coating of the roots and they’ll need to sit and repair themselves. But otherwise I came here to reply with the same advice as Neil, in that that is a very hardy material.
Something else must be at play with your repotting technique, or they weren’t healthy to begin with?

Baeckea is the number 1 recommendation I give people now when they ask what native I recommend to grow.

Backea are hardier than Mels or Leptos or Casys or Eucs, and can survive both poor drainage and drought conditions far better than all those genus. Most of them have small foliage and are simply perfect for Bonsai.

[Mickeyjaytee]

Thanks for the replies lads, I appreciate it.

I'm surprised to hear that kunzeas have been difficult to transplant. Normally they have no problem with repot or root pruning. I'd normally do them in Late Oct or Nov when temps are a bit higher but in Perth you should be OK now.
Sounds like you did everything right so I'm stumped why the rapid decline.

Kunzeas and Leptos are also relatively easy to strike as cuttings here too.

Hmm. As Rory said maybe I went too hard. When I think about it though. Older baxteri I’ve never had an issue. Younger baxteri where I do the initial root prune and untangling, I kill a lot. I’ve never worked on older Ericoides but, the young saplings yes. I must be doing something wrong in this process. I use those smaller pots, the square one size up from a tubestock and even then, I notice the roots bunched down the bottom. Maybe I’m taking too much off initially or perhaps the plants are too young.

It’s definitely been warmer much earlier in Perth. A 29, 27s etc. I’m getting sunburnt in September anyway, I figured it’d be ok to do them now. As for cuttings yeah, I don’t have much luck with Leptos or Kunzea. I don’t use a green house so that’s probably why

My first advice is to switch to Baeckea, which is arguably the most suited of all the native trials I’ve undertaken for Bonsai.

My second advice would be that you’re possibly going a bit harder than you thought? K. ericoides is quite hardy, and I’d been quite rough on them and never really had any significant issues.
I don’t like repotting a dry mix, I usually make sure the roots are at least sprayed periodically with water while working them, especially in hot weather. There is no problem with heat and repotting but just make sure the roots are kept somewhat damp.
I’ve repotted in 40 degree days and didn’t have an issue.
If you have the spray on a strong setting, you might have damaged the coating of the roots and they’ll need to sit and repair themselves. But otherwise I came here to reply with the same advice as Neil, in that that is a very hardy material.
Something else must be at play with your repotting technique, or they weren’t healthy to begin with?

Baeckea is the number 1 recommendation I give people now when they ask what native I recommend to grow.

Backea are hardier than Mels or Leptos or Casys or Eucs, and can survive both poor drainage and drought conditions far better than all those genus. Most of them have small foliage and are simply perfect for Bonsai.

Haha yes, I have quite a few baeckeas in grow mode. Very hardy little buggers even in the dry heat here. I did some big root work on one earlier in the year which I was worried about but, she powered on through and is growing profusely.

I have a soft spot for Ericoides though. The dark green and whitish trunk look amazing. I’ve also never seen one over here I have a few left so I’ll try be very gentle. It’s kind of hard though cause the roots are always such a mess with a big tangled clump at the bottom which I end up having to cut off. I’m not sure how to get around this.

Thanks again

[Mickeyjaytee]

Ok so I did another ericoides and really took my time and was gentle. A little wilting afterwards so I guess we’ll see. I kept the roots moist throughout the process.

Hey Rory, have you ever tried Sannantha tozerensis? Very similar to the Baeckea virgata but the leaves are slightly bigger. I have a few in prebonsai stage. Quite the solid little plant and pretty too.