AusBonsai

Hi all,
Here is a few pictures of my evergreen alder (toorak gum)
I bought her from a local nursery for $5 as she was pott bound and sick looking
She was repotted and alowed to grow silly with an occasionall trim back (hedge clipper style) for 2 years.
she was tidied up and repotted about 14 months ago.
would appreciated any feedback inregards to the best way to treat her as have struggled to find much info on evergreen alders and have purchased a dozen seedlings last year which are currently growing in one pot together for a possible future forest.
I like the broom style for this tree but could also use some more styling advice as am worried about the thickness of trunk at the top.
thanks in advance Nora

Nora - I thought you were going to give us lessons in this species? It is a good looking bonsai in its own right, perhaps not a broom style - more an informal upright, but none the less it has quite a few good aspects.

Hi watto, I need a lesson in this species,, perhaps it just grows well as I can't find much info about them and was hoping someone else here may help out with some ideas on what they do / don't like etc..
cheers nora

Noramay wrote:Hi all,
Here is a few pictures of my evergreen alder (toorak gum)
I bought her from a local nursery for $5 as she was pott bound and sick looking
She was repotted and alowed to grow silly with an occasionall trim back (hedge clipper style) for 2 years.
she was tidied up and repotted about 14 months ago.
would appreciated any feedback inregards to the best way to treat her as have struggled to find much info on evergreen alders and have purchased a dozen seedlings last year which are currently growing in one pot together for a possible future forest.
I like the broom style for this tree but could also use some more styling advice as am worried about the thickness of trunk at the top.
thanks in advance Nora

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Hi Noramay,

Here is some basic info about the species itself; http://www.winterhill.com.au/includes/p ... ?tree_id=9

As for growing it as bonsai there are a few thing you should be aware of. First of all Alnus (any) do like a lot of water. They are probably one of the first to show signs of stress. The next thing is that as a mature garden plant they don't mind being in full sun. However as a bonsai protect them from hot direct sun as this will cause burn marks on the trunk and that part will die!
Alnus jorrulensis is a fast growing and needs lots of pruning bit like elms. They can be pruned just as hard too. They respond well to defoliation which I have done in just a few months ago (late winter). I haven't seen any pets and diseases on those Alders .
I hope this help you a bit with how to look after it.

thanx Chris,

yes I've noticed afew of the things you mentioned, 1 it has a burn mark on trunk that happenned a fw summers ago during the fires when we had some very hot days with hot winds. Also this tree is my indicator that I need to water NOW as the tips bend over very quickly when it is thirsty.
I will also defolate this tree next winter - though have noticed that it does thin out alot over winter itself.
N