First thread, first attempted bonsai

[DeeJay]

I had to post my first go right?
Okay, so I bought a Callistemon. The only description was "Slim bottlebrush".
It came in a 3 gallon pot.
I chose this one as it ha a nice central trunk and fine, softer leaves and I don't think it is one of the larger growing varieties.
I chose a garden variety pot and to make it shallower, I placed an inverted 3" ashtray that was about 1 1/4" high.
I anchored it in place with pebbles that fit neatly around it and leveled it off with smaller quartz pebbles.
I then put in a thin 1/2" layer of decomposed granite and topped that off with another 1/2" layer of the final potting media - which consisted of pumice, perlite, decomposed granite and finely shredded compost.
I cut off about 8" of the root ball down to about 2 1/2" to fit to the top of the pot.
Then I tamped the media in around the roots firmish, then trimmed and watered. I will continue to trim but for now, I will just let it rest.
It drained beautifully.
As it stands right now, the total package is 22" tall.
Here's a couple of pics.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Looks good. So far.
The purpose of the bonsai pot is to "frame" or provide "set and setting" for the bonsai tree. Using the terra cotta pot does nothing toward the "bonsai image". But the root ball reduction is important toward future move to a bonsai pot. Horticulturally a good move.

Callistemon can make nice bonsai, they are popular, especially in Australia. I'm looking forward to this.

 

[DeeJay]

Looks good. So far.
The purpose of the bonsai pot is to "frame" or provide "set and setting" for the bonsai tree. Using the terra cotta pot does nothing toward the "bonsai image". But the root ball reduction is important toward future move to a bonsai pot. Horticulturally a good move.

Callistemon can make nice bonsai, they are popular, especially in Australia. I'm looking forward to this.

Thanks for the input!
I believe this is called the "training" stage.
I want to trim out more of the middle twigs but for now, the remaining ones contribute to the general shape - something I have not settled on yet.
I am an ex-patriot Aussie, so the bottlebrush was a no brainer! I did a little research on them first to ascertain their suitability to bonsai.
Upside is they have cute flowers which bees, butterflies and hummingbirds love too.
Might do another one in the future.
I am keen to see how this one works out.

 

[Firstflush]

IMHO, since you did major root work, I would remove the flowers and buds to reduce stress on the tree so it can have an easier time recovering. Also, you are on the right path…open the middle up a little bit so sun can get into the center canopy. I just separated a bottlebrush airlayer from a big yard tree myself….watching how your does!

 

[DeeJay]

IMHO, since you did major root work, I would remove the flowers and buds to reduce stress on the tree so it can have an easier time recovering. Also, you are on the right path…open the middle up a little bit so sun can get into the center canopy. I just separated a bottlebrush airlayer from a big yard tree myself….watching how your does!

Thanks for the tip!
Eventually, I will give it a decent pot - if it goes as planned!
I still haven't decided on eventual shape yet.

 

[Shibui]

Most Callistemon species are great for bonsai. They don't seem to mind root pruning. They respond very well to reduction pruning and will even sprout new shoots on bare wood.
The down side is it's difficult to get flowers because they flower at the tips of the shoots that grew last summer. By spring flowering time we've usually pruned the shoots to keep the shape in check so miss out on flowers. One strategy we're using is to trim like azaleas - prune really hard after flowering with a final trim at the end of summer (exact timing depending on climate and location) then no more pruning or trimming until the flowers have finished. Callistemon under this regime tend to look a bit 'hairy' for a while but flowers are well worth that minor inconvenience.

We've found that Callistemon respond better to repotting and root pruning in warmer weather. Cutting roots when it is cool can set the tree back or even kill it. In warmer (frost free) areas it is possible to repot all year round. I believe Houston is probably in the latter so this spring repot should be OK.

 

[Potawatomi13]

One thing: If wanting decent sized trunk need to let foliage grow free many years. Small pot and major pruning best way to guarantee skinny trunk forever.

 

[DeeJay]

Most Callistemon species are great for bonsai. They don't seem to mind root pruning. They respond very well to reduction pruning and will even sprout new shoots on bare wood.
The down side is it's difficult to get flowers because they flower at the tips of the shoots that grew last summer. By spring flowering time we've usually pruned the shoots to keep the shape in check so miss out on flowers. One strategy we're using is to trim like azaleas - prune really hard after flowering with a final trim at the end of summer (exact timing depending on climate and location) then no more pruning or trimming until the flowers have finished. Callistemon under this regime tend to look a bit 'hairy' for a while but flowers are well worth that minor inconvenience.

We've found that Callistemon respond better to repotting and root pruning in warmer weather. Cutting roots when it is cool can set the tree back or even kill it. In warmer (frost free) areas it is possible to repot all year round. I believe Houston is probably in the latter so this spring repot should be OK.

The new growth on Callistemons tend to stick out like a bad hair day but those are the flower bearers so if one wants the flowers, one has to resist the urge to prune until they are spent. And they can be different lengths - will look untidy on a smaller bonsai.

 

[DeeJay]

I have made a few more bonsais since the first, but this latest one is the most pleasing:-

It's just a little Yaupon Holly but it's so pretty. You can see the little white flowers in there too.
Cute.

 

[sorce]

Nice.

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[DeeJay]

Nice.

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

Yeah this bonsai bug bites hard just like the orchid bug!

 

[Tieball]

When I see your potting results….I would add a suggestion that you keep the roots covered well. Those open roots on the top will just dry out and contribute nothing to growth. However, what I don’t know is that you may have a plan in place for those roots already.

 

[DeeJay]

When I see your potting results….I would add a suggestion that you keep the roots covered well. Those open roots on the top will just dry out and contribute nothing to growth. However, what I don’t know is that you may have a plan in place for those roots already.

Would you put a moss mat on them?

 

[Kanorin]

Would you put a moss mat on them?

Yes, a top dressing of some shredded sphagnum moss would work well for keeping the top layer of roots from drying out.

 

[Tieball]

Would you put a moss mat on them?

Moss can be a good covering but be sure to water enough to pass the water through the moss. Other coverings, in my experience, have a strong tendency to just dry out in the summer sun and wind and this in turn lets the roots dry out. If using moss I would avoid covering the entire top…leave some open area.

What I’ve done if covering with added substrate is a problem because the container is nearly full to the rim….I poke around the soil around and below the roots gently with a wooden chopstick usually the substrate will settle down further. This can give you room for added substrate on top.

I planted a tree to high once before and after realizing the problem I spooned out substrate around the edge. After spooning out I chopsticked the area below the roots and was able to spread out the substrate below the roots more to the sides, then I could move the tree roots down enough to get a safe full-top layer of substrate added. It worked perfect and the tree continued in health. This is my preferred method of handling the problem.

I keep a bag of Turface around to cover tops when needed. It works very well.

 

[DeeJay]

Man, this bonsai bug bites hard! I haven't even scratched the surface of the things you can do - like wires and air layers?!
I have grown orchids for many many years and that is an awesome hobby too, but now I enjoy fiddling with bonsai and find it just as satisfying.
Today I saw some landscapers working on a yard just a few doors down from me and I spotted some Camellias they had dug up so I snagged one that I liked. ATM, it is in tree-age!
Hopefully it survives the brutal treatment it got being dug up like that!
I am also attempting to strike some cuttings.
If I succeed, I will post up some pics