AusBonsai

Any advice would be much appreciated!
Luke

luke

Good start cutting it back hard. Instead of proping up the new leader think about wiring it up, and adding some actual movement to it.

It should pop some lower buds and if it does, it might pay to leave one to help get some more taper to it. But it depends how big you want this tree to end up. You say shohin, how tall is it now?

All that jezz said! + Now while its young get in there and give those roots a thrashing! If you can set up a good spread now and grow on for a year or 2, you will achieve a Flared base and thicker well proportioned trunk. These practices should be used regardless of size.

Jarrod wrote:Good start cutting it back hard. Instead of proping up the new leader think about wiring it up, and adding some actual movement to it.

It should pop some lower buds and if it does, it might pay to leave one to help get some more taper to it. But it depends how big you want this tree to end up. You say shohin, how tall is it now?

Hey Jarrod, cheers for your input man!
Yes shohin is my plan, its 11 cm at the moment. The planned height is around double that, so more taper will be needed!, hopefully i get lower shoots soon... if not i will wait! .
Wiring will come soon, i'm still thinking about an 'air coil' way to do it that is strongly anchored... any advice?
Cheers
Luke

anttal63 wrote:All that jezz said! + Now while its young get in there and give those roots a thrashing! If you can set up a good spread now and grow on for a year or 2, you will achieve a Flared base and thicker well proportioned trunk. These practices should be used regardless of size.

Ant... What sorta grow pot would you recommend? My plan is a 20cm wide nursery pot cut down to 20cm height, with a round tile shaped rock about 5cm under the trunk! What you reckon? Also....Have you got any wiring technique ideas?
Cheers Mate
Luke

That size pot sounds good, if ya cutting down to 20cm height 30 wide would be even better. Now if you are paying money for the pot get an orchid pot. My nusery has a recycle bin for peoples pots, so i havent paid for pots in years. Now what do you mean by wire technique? Other than wrap it and bend it to put curves in. Not to anguler.

anttal63 wrote: Now what do you mean by wire technique? Other than wrap it and bend it to put curves in. Not to anguler.

Ways to wire young growth as to not cause damage? or ways to avoid damage?

I would 'nt wire the foliage till it hardens off. Other wise 1mm alum. wire with care. The trunk line for now is enough.

I have some and am fascinated by this plant. Here in Brazil we have two varieties, one erecta and another similar one to the wepping…


Shalom Luciano.
http://bonsaistudio.forumvila.com/index.php
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=4 ... o.benyakob

luciano benyakob wrote:I have some and am fascinated by this plant. Here in Brazil we have two varieties, one erecta and another similar one to the wepping…

yes! so am i! very much! thank you for posting!!!! Callistemon is many many types.... (captain cook) is the best in my thinking!
Have you many callistemon in bonsai training luciano?
thanks.
luke

Hey peoples, some growth photos.... no training action yet, just free growth and deciding future style. Its still in the original pot its a bit root bound and needs to be root culled and put into a grow box!..... i just wana get all my facts right first......

anttal63 wrote:All that jezz said! + Now while its young get in there and give those roots a thrashing! If you can set up a good spread now and grow on for a year or 2, you will achieve a Flared base and thicker well proportioned trunk. These practices should be used regardless of size.

Great advice!, i am willing to bet that i can repot callistemons most of the year in south east QLD but im going to guess that spring would be the best time to thrash them? hey, do you, or anyone, know if they prefer a more organic soil over inorganic?
cheers


luke

you are in a humid enviroment and therefor need inorganinic more so than me. I did mine in early December. They are in, Diatamite, scoria, aus native potting mix. Equal parts. never been better!

I just did a small Little John
I used about 10% manure
they like a bit of that
the rest is sand and bonsai soil from Tess at Bonsai N/S

I am always seeing them with leaves eaten ...
by a tiny grub from a moth...
I used malathon with sucess but it is a bit nasty to use

anyone have a better treatment