Hakea as bonsai

[MattA]

I have recently bought a load of different Hakea varieties to experiment with. I have a Hakea propinqua that I have been growing for 3yrs from seed but it has pretty much been left to take care of itself as I am unsure what or if I should feed etc. It was repotted about 2mths ago for the first time & has lots of new buds swelling.

The newly acquired varieties are orthorrhyncha, oldfieldii, sericea, teretifolia, circumalata, gibbosa and oleifolia (tho I think this last one is incorrectly labelled) I have repotted all of them into pure attapulgite & apart from circumalata(which wasnt too healthy to begin with, tho it is holding on) they have survived bare rooting, butchering of roots & top well. Orthorrhyncha is positively powering on with masses of new growth while the rest have lots of new buds swelling.

I did have sericea & teretifolia for many years until both died along with the majority of my collecton at that time (hard to find good bonsai carers). I found them to be pretty tough taking anything & everything we do to our bonsai in there stride. Even growing one as a cascade without too much trouble, as long as the energy is kept balanced.

I am wondering what others experiences have been with Hakea as bonsai....

Matt

[NBPCA]

Ted Poynton had/has a great Hakea suaveolens. It is a really interesting leaf and appears tough.

Grant

[MattA]

Found a photo taken at our show last year, this is propinqua, it is self sown on this glass platter & was just over 2 at the time the photo was taken. I repotted 2mths ago into this oversized traditional tray in the hopes it gains some girth before being put back onto the platter.

Hakearedplatter.JPG

RIMG0444.JPG

Matt

[shibui]

I've been growing a Tasmanian species - Hakea megadeia - for 6 or 7 years. They're not really styled yet, just kept pruned to keep the size down. They, too, have coped with bare rooting and root pruning several times. They're still in 10 cm plastic pots but have produced nice trunks so far.

Hakeas are in the proteacea family - related to proteas and banksias - so high phosphate fertiliser could be detrimental.

[MattA]

Any chance of some pics???

[MattA]

My baby has decided to flower, I had not expected it given I repotted & pruned it about 6wks ago, thought I would share the unfurling blooms. There are a few more buds on other branches, am now wishing I hadnt pruned & repotted it.

R0012825.JPG

Matt

[John Henry]

Hi Matt, tis may be the tree Grant is refering to

[MattA]

Hey John,

thanks for the photo, think I have seen this pic before. Do you own this tree or know who does and could you share any insights into its care?

Thanks
Matt

[Elmar]

I've been growing a Tasmanian species - Hakea megadeia - for 6 or 7 years. They're not really styled yet, just kept pruned to keep the size down. They, too, have coped with bare rooting and root pruning several times. They're still in 10 cm plastic pots but have produced nice trunks so far.

Hakeas are in the proteacea family - related to proteas and banksias - so high phosphate fertiliser could be detrimental.

Shibui,
It's been a while since you posted this... any chance of an update? Pictures, stories anything?


Cheers
Elmar

[shibui]

It's been a while since you posted this... any chance of an update? Pictures, stories anything?

Sorry Elmar, no can do. One of my hakeas was looking good enough to put into a pot but then both of them suddenly up and died I suspect some sort of root rot (phytopthera?) as I also lost quite a few smaller grevilleas and some banksias around the same time. I now have some more seedlings growing but will take a few years to get back to where I was

[Elmar]

Ahh that's sad!
I'm looking to have a go at some that live locally (seeing as my environment is so different to everyone's) rather than trying the ones I like and kill them up here.

Any advice about harvesting, trimming digging up, root pruning, etc?


Cheers
Elmar

[macca66]

Ted Poynton was mentioned earlier in this thread, does anybody have info on Ted?
I used to love going to his nursery.

[Elmar]

Can only find his video in libraries and only about 10 copies!

Must be more available somewhere...


Cheers
Elmar

[shibui]

Ted Poynton was mentioned earlier in this thread, does anybody have info on Ted?

Ted's kids brought him in to have a look at the native bonsai display in Melbourne last month. He's looking very frail but still very much alive and interested in natives as bonsai.

[shibui]

Any advice about harvesting, trimming digging up, root pruning, etc?

The ones I have played with take pruning quite well. I have not tried cutting back to bare wood but they seem to shoot new buds when you leave foliage.
I have only tried fairly gentle root pruning and all of mine were grown from seed in pots so would adapt better to root pruning than ground grown plants. I don't like your chances of collecting wild plants because they tend to have very extensive roots to cope with poor soil and dry times but you will only know if you try. I'd start with smaller, younger specimens and see how they cope before trying larger wild plants.
I'm opposed to taking wild plants from the natural environment because of the potential for damage, loss of habitat and species, etc. Please be careful where and how you dig to limit your environmental damage.