Bonsai Australian Native Swamp Paperbark Melaleuca ericifolia

Pruning and structural improvement are a regular job when it comes to bonsai and this video focuses on a beautiful Australian native species, the Melaleuca ericifolia or Swamp Paperbark. This video see an overgrown mess get converted into a more structurally sound bonsai ready to take the next step forward in its development.

[@SamDoeckeAussiebonsaibloke]

Beautiful tree. Well done Scott

[@BonsaiMatsu]

Thanks mate

[@jansonsoo9647]

Well done Scott. Another great tree matey .

[@dionysis68]

Loving the videos Scott. Awesome job!

[@erickonigsdorfer544]

What a great tree! Love it!

[@Coltrain561]

What an amazing tree 😮
Will they back bud if you do major trunk chops on the bare branches?

[@BonsaiMatsu]

@@Coltrain561 they may but the branch may also die back. Best to improve the strength of the tree and encourage back budding then reduce the branch length.

[@Coltrain561]

@ ok thanks heaps for the reply.
Should I wait until the start of next spring or would it be safe to start to reduce now?

[@BonsaiMatsu]

@ mine needs a haircut again now so I’ll be doing a prune very soon

[@Coltrain561]

@ I’ll keep an eye out for it.
Cheers Scott 👍

[@mariakellner5429]

I had two of different species both died ,any tops? Your turned out great.

[@BonsaiMatsu]

They do love water so if they dry out too much that will have a big impact.

[@777greglee]

Gday Scott. Do you ever wire these? I have one and I’m thinking of wiring the canopy to create the classic billowy look you see on natives in the wild.

[@BonsaiMatsu]

Sure do mate. This was originally wired for the base shape then I move to pruning for shape

[@Nuggettfaz]

Hi mate, are you pruning that right now as in March 2024? I've been tempted to wait until Spring.

[@BonsaiMatsu]

Yep just completed pruning.

[@aidanfurst8512]

Are we sure this is an Ericifolia? They typically don't have tough looking bark like that, they're one of the very soft papery varieties. Additionally they usually have much shorter leaves than the ones on this.

[@BonsaiMatsu]

@@aidanfurst8512 you’re probably right. Most likely a Melaleuca armillaris??

[@aidanfurst8512]

@BonsaiMatsu That's what I'd been thinking. There are a couple of Armillaris as plantings on my street which look identical to this one. Always hard to be certain with Mels though!

[@angry9901]

🍻

[@laurieellul4841]

Great tree but the music is annoying and couldn't hear a word

[@Jordan23085]

First

[@antm2828]

First!!! 😂