Some NZ Native projects

[SpOoNzL]

I just bought 2 small Kowhai prostrata at a nursery here in the Netherlands. Really like the look of the branches and the small leaves. Did some minor pruning and put them in bonsai soil.
Any care tips from your experience so far?

Hi there, I haven't really done that much with mine apart from watering/fertilizing as I've been trying to grow the trunk thicker (it seems really quite slow to thicken I guess due to the tiny leaves). It loves full sun, evenly moist during growing season. Since you brought 2 I would stick one of them in the ground(if you can) or a large pot like me so you can thicken one up for a couple of years while you work on the other as a smaller bonsai.

 

[AJL]

Conspicuous by its absence is the notorious Norfolk Island Pine. Does anyone down there have the secret to its management? Many are called, but few are chossen?

Could it be because this thread is entitled New Zealand Native projects ?!( Norfolk Island is an external Australian territory )

 

[Forsoothe!]

Sorry, I thought it was part of NZ.

 

[KiwiPlantGuy]

Sorry, I thought it was part of NZ.

Hi,
No worries, Norfolk Island is part of Australian territory. Anyway this pine has a weird growth pattern as is grows really long extensions between branch sets. Also same wider family as NZ Kauri and Monkey Puzzle genes, only Kauri might be a big bonsai 3-4 foot and maybe grown like Bald Cypress.
Charles

 

[Greenman99]

Few pics of my ever growing bonsai area. Lots of projects I think I'm addicted. I mainly like NZ natives, Deciduous conifers and Maples.

Cosy place, nice variaty of plants Seeing the Manuka, it reminds me of that undescrible scent of the leaves. Think I order some seeds and give it another try.

 

[AJL]

Hi,
No worries, Norfolk Island is part of Australian territory. Anyway this pine has a weird growth pattern as is grows really long extensions between branch sets. Also same wider family as NZ Kauri and Monkey Puzzle genes, only Kauri might be a big bonsai 3-4 foot and maybe grown like Bald Cypress.
Charles

Yea I always think Norfolk Island Pine looks a lot like an old fashioned TV aerial- not really the kind of tree I would want to try to Bonsai

 

[SpOoNzL]

Purchased a few more native future projects yesterday. Some of our native trees are really quite unique looking. The ones in the cold glasshouse grow more up in the warmer North Island so I am hoping I can over winter them safely in there. They are Kauri, Pukatea and Puriri trees.

 

[fredman]

Just discovered this thread. Ashamedly I have to admit I don't have much NZ natives. I have a Pohutukawa i've been working on for 10+ years now (will post a pic) and a Kowhai that i'll be chopping down this year. Going to restyle it to it's natural form.
This thread has got me thinking I need to do more NZ species. What draws my fancy most is the beeches. There's 5 of them, but only 3 has smallish leaves.

 

[fredman]

Here she is. I bought it as a stick when I came to NZ in 2004. Grew it in the ground for a few years. I think I chopped it down (to soil level) 3 times over about 5 years...I wanted it's natural multi trunked shape. The hollow is where the last chop was made. Eventually it threw enough shoots to build trunks with. I would've preferred more actually.
I'm working blind as I have no contact with any other people doing bonsai. Just trying to make it look like the Pohutukawas I see around. I'm working from the ground up. Takes time to create the movement in the trunks. Eventually it'll be at least 2ft tall because of the big leaves. In saying that, this is only it's 2nd year in a shallow pot. Still working the roots...hope the leaves reduces some...will see in time.
This year it's putting out air roots again.
Don't mind the tie downs. I have no one to impress

 

[SpOoNzL]

I've been busy repotting my trees on the few weeks here are some update pics on some of my NZ natives.

 

[fredman]

@AJL was enquiring about this.
It is the prostrata isn't it?

 

[SpOoNzL]

@fredman That one is called Sophora "Little Twister" different from the one AJL was asking about. It's a new cultivar that came from Prostrata.

 

[fredman]

Ah I see. They sure are twisters
Love the one flower on your Kowhai. I hope it makes a seedpod for you. Looks very cool with it hanging there
@Woocash will also appreciate your twister.

 

[KiwiPlantGuy]

Hi,
Really like your Corokia and Kahikatea? (big single trunk).I will be curious to see how you go with branches on the NZ white pine.
I am learning how to create forests too, and I think NZ has some great species for them including Totara, Rata, and all Northofagus. But with your forest, I think you may need to re-arrange yours with closer gaps, so it looks like a group/stand not a plantation etc. Food for thought?
Are you planning to come up to Timaru in October or is it November for the SI show/demos? I am unsure if I will do a long day on Saturday or if work consumes me and I will give it a miss etc.
Charles

 

[Woocash]

Ah I see. They sure are twisters
Love the one flower on your Kowhai. I hope it makes a seedpod for you. Looks very cool with it hanging there
@Woocash will also appreciate your twister.

Funny, I was just perusing this thread and then I saw you’d tagged me. Thanks! I spotted the kowhai further up too. Looking good, I’ll be watching this thread closely.

This is a nice collection @SpOoNzL I do find myself being drawn to the Oceanian species in general because a lot of them are just so different from anything we have over here.

 

[SpOoNzL]

Hi,
Really like your Corokia and Kahikatea? (big single trunk).I will be curious to see how you go with branches on the NZ white pine.
I am learning how to create forests too, and I think NZ has some great species for them including Totara, Rata, and all Northofagus. But with your forest, I think you may need to re-arrange yours with closer gaps, so it looks like a group/stand not a plantation etc. Food for thought?
Are you planning to come up to Timaru in October or is it November for the SI show/demos? I am unsure if I will do a long day on Saturday or if work consumes me and I will give it a miss etc.
Charles

Thank you, yes the big single trunk is a Kahikatea, As for the forest I do see your point the photo is pretty bad (not taken from the front) makes it looks like a 5 planting group when in fact there's actually 7 trees. The two trees on the right have a gap on about 3-4cm so they are not that far apart I think it the fact the trucks are to skinny, I'm hoping with good feeding this season the trees will grow well and maybe spring 2021or 2022 ill repot this group as its only a year old.

I wasn't planning on going to Timaru as I had not heard about the show. Probley to far away for me to think about it.

 

[scubily]

Hi. Any thoughts on this before I do something drastic? It's a totora (podocarpus) in a 14 inch pot. The general plan is to take off the two large branches, which I've been growing out for a few years to thicken the trunk. I thought I might take the top one off later this year, and leave the bottom one on for another year or so. And then think about how to get it into a smaller pot. Any suggestions welcome, including best time of year to take off the branches and whether to reduce gradually or just chop 'em off. I'd quite like it to back bud but not sure it will. Cheers.

 

[Forsoothe!]

The pictures are too small to speculate on.

 

[scubily]

Do these help?

 

[KiwiPlantGuy]

Hi,
Unsure where you are located but your Podocarpus looks like it has a nice trunk.
These don’t have any trouble back budding of old wood (bare trunk). You can actually see on your 2nd photos some tiny branches with 4-6 leaves which should be useful also. As for timing, Spring is best, but really they don’t mind any chops and so long as you have a few branches left after chopping both branches then go for it. Otherwise safety says what you were thinking re one a year etc. They don’t have any trouble growing a new root system, but unless you want big scars you could try and heal (close) the wound. Lol, they are slooooow growers though. Just thinking as their wood is really hard a couple of jins would be cool. 50 -75 year timber tree here.
Charles