AusBonsai

This guy is now through it's first Winter here which was a little scary as it has been dormant ever since I took possession of it and I did not feel safe until I saw new growth.
It was quite a climate change for the tree and I was not sure whether to protect it some from the cold/frost by putting it in the shade house or to keep it in the sun exposed. I had it in a partly protected area of my bench which was like a bet each way.
In the end at the coldest time of Winter (which was not that bad this year) we decided it might be best to protect it from the frost at night but put it back out in full sun during the day.
I had lost a couple of fine twigs on the lowest/weaker branches but since we started moving the tree out of the cold and into full sun during the day it didn't lose any more.
I had been watching the buds intently for the sign that all was well and finally during the last week or so I can now see definite movement again
Pup has already seen it in it's new Pat Kenedy Pot with the new front and we think it looks great but I would like to try a different pot in the future and it may be leaning back just a little at the moment.
I plan on thinning out the top a little more exposing the great branching there but for now it takes pride of place on one of my new monkey poles and it will be a matter of allowing lots of growth while trying to direct more growth to the lower branches.
Thanks Pup Mate Melaluca preissiana Hows that Joel, see I do listen, or maybe it is just because I notice Pup used a lowercase in the second name

I am very happy for you mate, mine have started to power away which is unfortunate, as I have 40+ of my late mates trees to get ready for sale.
I have also got the Man flu as they call it so I am buggered, as I have just got over Bronchitis for the second time in 4 months. Still I have a good nurse.

Had a guy here looking at your other one and asking, told him it is being held for a mate. So he looked at the ones he was supposed to be looking at.
That's the trouble when your selling some one else's trees.

I have heard a couple of remarks from the other room that are not encouraging, so I will go and watch.

Cheers mate it is looking healthy Pup

Brett, How's this beauty going, is it putting out new growth yet? Did you start thinning out the foliage or anything.

Still just waiting for the buds to extend. They are probly about 2-3mm at the moment. The weakest branch is still worrying me a little

Thanks Brett,

I love this tree. I will be spending many hours in the bush trying to find a similar specimen to bring home. Maybe some years down the track I might have a tree half as good.

Don't wait Ste, Message Pup and organise him to send you one over

It took a while but the buds are now growing strong. I was keen to just let it grow wild for now to establish itself well in the pot but decided it was best to go ahead with my plan to thin the top out some to strengthen the lower branches that have suffered some twig loss which I gather is the main hurdle to overcome with these species.
The bottom of the apex will now become a new left and right pad. The growth is strong out to the right and over time with some back budding I hope to create a new apex center right while strengthening the lower pads.

Something like this,

That is what it needs your stamp, so it becomes Bretts tree.
It is looking good Brett, thanks for sending the members after my trees, the problem now is the ones left are larger and in turn more expensive.

I have had serious enquiries on a certain one, but have had to fight him off with a big stick

Keep up the good work.

Pup former owner

I will be sending over some Big stick extensions shortly

it wasn't me , looks better Brett, good work mate

Hello Brett,

Its nice to see an update on this tree. I have admired this tree since you first posted it and now I have my own little beauty. I an curious to know are you going to wire every little branch as the pads develop or just nip and grow.


Steve W

Steve W wrote:Hello Brett,

Its nice to see an update on this tree. I have admired this tree since you first posted it and now I have my own little beauty. I an curious to know are you going to wire every little branch as the pads develop or just nip and grow.


Steve W

G,day Steve this tree is treated slightly differently to M, rhaphiophylla, as there are a few M, rhaphiophylla on the eastern seaboard now.I
will do when I have time a tutorial, on the different methods of pruning, I use for different size trees also when pushed for time.
Like now looking after two collections, and going to water someone elses while they are on Holidays.
Cheers Pup

Thanks Pup,

For now I will just keep pinching mine and building up some vigour. I look forward to any advice you might be able to give us as I am a little afraid to do too much at the moment. I have wired the new branch on mine just to give a little movement and pinched the new growth for now.

Look forward to talking again soon

Steve W