AusBonsai

I bought this lily pilly "sunrise" yesterday because I liked the movement in the lower sections of the trunk, I was just wondering, should I put it in the ground for a few years as it is? Or should I do a trunk chop? I know where I would do it, I've marked that in black on the image, I would prefer to layer the top as I quite like this plant. I've included a picture of the whole plant too. I'm very much a newbie and I don't want to stuff it up. Also if it is no good please tell me, I can just plant it in the garden, I only buy plants I would grow in the garden because I'm lickly to get bad stock, I only have access to bunnings stock.

I can't find any nebari, it just has roots shoot from the trunk at various positions, I put a zip tie on it down in the soil so as it grows it is forced to send out new roots above it, did I do that right too? There is no way I could have fitted it through a CD or washer with all of its roots.

Looks like you gotta plan I think you are on the right track, plant it in the ground and layer the top off. I'd layer it a bit higher then chop off the extra later

But should I let it grow some more before I do a trunk chop?

I'll layer it about where my finger is.

Hi Matt
A zip tie will not cut in enough to create new roots. I would not worry about the roots now - do the air layer and get the trunk to the size you want first. Then have a look at the roots because more will have grown in that time and if needed you could try the toothpick method to improve the roots.

Tony

I took this too a workshop on Saturday, just looking for advice on chopping the trunk and if I had the right spot. A nice lady helped me do this with it, I learnt how to wire and I'm a lot better. It looks better in real life, I should have used a white wall so it stands out more. I don't think its straight on, the front is to the side a bit. What do you think?

Much better
I would cut back to about 1/2 way along the straight section heading up to the right sometime.
this will help remove the long straight section and develop some taper too.

Ken

Hey Matt

Keep an eye on the wiring in the coming few weeks, as with the turn of spring, there is a good chance it will cut into the thickening branches and trunk.

Good luck
stew