Lucky you! One of mine usually blooms a bit in the fall. No luck this year and with temps down to 31 tonight, it's done.
Flowers 2020
- Thread starter Carol 83
- Start date
Clicio
Masterpiece
@Shibui
Maybe you can help me.
I have killed all Leptospermum, Manukas, NZTeatree, no matter how they call them, I kill every one that reach my hands.
Red, pink, white, any cultivar.
It's not the climate, it's not the care. Last one was doing ok for 8 months, and I went to sleep one night, next noon it was dead. No wilting, no warning, no pests.
Is there a fenomenal secret to grow Scoparium as a bonsai, besides never touching its roots? Thanks for your help.
Below, one of the deceased:
Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
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@Clicio
I've killed a few too. Leptospermum scoparium is notorious for being difficult to keep alive. It is notorious for dropping dead after root disturbance. Somewhere I read a trick, after having given up on the species, so I have not tried it. One grower recommended to keep pots in a shallow tray of water, keep the water deep enough so 2 or 3 cm of the bottom of the pot is submerged. This means it is kept wet rather than just moist.
But the warning is, I have never tried this myself. I do not know if it works. I killed a couple and quit trying years ago. Other species of Leptospermum are supposedly not as difficult as L scoparium.
I've killed a few too. Leptospermum scoparium is notorious for being difficult to keep alive. It is notorious for dropping dead after root disturbance. Somewhere I read a trick, after having given up on the species, so I have not tried it. One grower recommended to keep pots in a shallow tray of water, keep the water deep enough so 2 or 3 cm of the bottom of the pot is submerged. This means it is kept wet rather than just moist.
But the warning is, I have never tried this myself. I do not know if it works. I killed a couple and quit trying years ago. Other species of Leptospermum are supposedly not as difficult as L scoparium.
Clicio
Masterpiece
Well, thanks Leo, that's a trick I have never used on Scoparium. In fact I was mostly afraid of overwatering them until I found they die in less than 6 hours if you let them dry out.
The point is, they just love to die on you!
But...
I"ll try again using the wet tray and will post the results here. Thanks again!
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
Not sure that I can help directly as I only have one Cv of scoparium in pots. Thy do have a reputation for not tolerating root reduction but I have not seen that (yet).
They definitely like water. In a modern, open mix I don't think they can be overwatered but it is quite easy to kill with lack of water and my guess is that is what has happened. The problem is compounded by rapid root growth. Pots quickly fill with roots and it becomes difficult for water to soak in then the roots get slowly drier and drier despite normal watering.
Do you have access to other types of tea trees? I've had a lot better results with other garden cultivars based on different species. The pink flowered ones with green centers are particularly good and very attractive in flower - Leptospermum 'Mesmer Eyes' and L. 'Aphrodite' are a couple that seem to be better than scoparium varieties. That's probably because they are hardy Aussies, rather than soft little Kiwis.
Clicio
Masterpiece
Oxalis latifolia
Weeds can be nice looking!
Weeds can be nice looking!
Flowerhouse
Chumono
Almost open, the first Zygo of the season.
Clicio
Masterpiece
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
They have just started flowering down here.
I think this one is called 'Aphrodite'
It seems to tolerate root pruning without any problems. I've removed 75% of the roots without harm to the trees. I have not yet tried pruning to bare wood but this one could be a candidate for a trial this year.
I think this one is called 'Aphrodite'
It seems to tolerate root pruning without any problems. I've removed 75% of the roots without harm to the trees. I have not yet tried pruning to bare wood but this one could be a candidate for a trial this year.
Mellow Mullet
Masterpiece
This one thinks it is spring with the cooler weather that we have been having. Most of my azaleas usually throw off a few blooms this time of year but not this many. I hope that it saves some for Spring.
Firstflush
Chumono
Deano
Shohin
Dwarf Barbados Cherry
I guess that's why I have so many, at least one is usually blooming. I like yours, mine all look like shaggy dogs. I didn't want to cut them back too much before bringing them in for the winter.
Deano
Shohin
Thanks Carol, I only have 2 but my other one is a shaggy dog too.
Repotted the shaggy dog a couple weeks ago and first thing it does is throw out flowers, gotta love it.
hinmo24t
Masterpiece
Forsoothe!
Imperial Masterpiece
Approximately Shasta Daisy, but the foliage is different. Maybe the species.
