Australian Natives On Display

DavidN

At Bonsai Northwest in Melbourne.

We had a great meeting last night where a guest demonstrator, Craig Wilson, discussed Australian natives as bonsai. He brought in a selection of a few of his natives. He gave us some valuable knowledge about natives as bonsai and what he has learnt.

Here are some photos of a couple of his trees.

First is a big banksia integralfolia.

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DavidN

Here is a banksia serrata.

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DavidN

Here is a lovely coastal ti-tree.

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DavidN

This is our native beech which Craig thinks should not be used as bonsai because of it difficulty with ramification and branch die back.

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DavidN

Here is a she-oak (casurina??)

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DavidN

If anyone is interested in some more photos they can be found out our clubs web page: http://www.bonsainorthwest.com.au/

Some points that anyone grow Australian natives would like to know for best results are as follows:

- repot in summer when it is the hottest
- repotting is not required every year, infact every 3 to 5 years or longer is ok for older specimen trees.
- keep them bone dry in winter
- never repot in early spring
- fertailise with liquid feed, half strength, and use sea based products,
- feed once a week in the hotter months
- folier feed as well.
- don't take off too much roots when repotting
- you MUST pinch and prune continuously during the growing months, the hotter the better, to reduce leaf size and allow internal branches to produce leaf.
- death rate is too high if collecting, use nurseries or cuttings.

If I remember anything more I'll add it.

David

Adam_MA

Great trees!
I like the banksia serrata. The trunk and root base makes it look like an elephants foot. Is the foliage always that color?


Adam

spoonman

wow thanks, just what i need to know. didnt show any eucalyptus' did he?

__________________
"Little laurel trees, your roots can find
No mountain, yet your leaves extend
Beyond your own world into mine
Perennial wands, unfolding in my thought
The budding evergreen of time."
-Kathleen Raine, The Trees in Tubs

DavidN

Adam
The foliage is green on top and a cloudy light green on the bottam. The leaves have serrated edges, hence the name.

spoonman
He doesn't like eucalypts because of the difficulties they provide. They lose limbs for no reason, very touchy with their roots, wire training is difficult and few other I can't remember.

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Bonsai Northwest Inc, Melbourne, Australia

Bonsai Flora Nursery in Yarraville, Melbourne