AusBonsai

This Celtis was collected last spring from the bank of a local Brisbane river. I have just removed what was left of the tap root and re-potted it into this training pot, using half potting mix half diatomite, causing the leaves to droop I think. It has an interesting section of dead wood.
Not to sure exactly where to go with this one so any advise would be great,
Cheers

Wow Samegyed

You'll have some real fun with the carving that this tree is calling out for.

Is that spagnum moss round the surface of the pot? Could i pick your brains a little?

Did you do anything to the stump before you put it into the mix like dusting or painting with rooting compound or seasol? how much of the roots did you take / leave?

I have just taken a smaller celtis i dug out and cut off at the tap root. My few leaves all fell off as well. I suppose it depends on how much root you left. The few i have collected all seemed to have a thick tap root. I'd love to see how things look in a few weeks/months.

Good luck and good find!

Stew

Hi Stew,

Yes it is spagnum moss, I'm using it as a sort of mulch layer to keep moister in. Not sure if this is a good thing, it might keep to much moister in. I'm using half diatomite in the mix so drainage shouldn't be an issue. Have you heard of this before ?
When I collected it i left about 100mm of tap root under the soil surface, as there were quite a few fine roots on this section of tap root. I have completely removed the tap root now leaving only the surface roots. About 6 roots in total left, which are all about 200mm long with fine roots at their ends. I'm planning on leaving it this pot for at least 2 years to thicken these roots as they are only 10mm at the thickest. I haven't used any rooting compound just watered it in using seasol to reduce the shock.
Just had two days of rain here in Brisbane and the leaves are not droopy any more, good timing I guess.

Sam