Posted by SausageTreeSlim on May 25, 2008, 3:01 pm
Hello everyone,
I'm in the UK and and about five years ago I bought a small Queensland
bottle tree (Brachychiton rupestris) from a garden centre and it's been
growing happily in a pot in my front room since then.
As it now stands about 2 metres tall it's reached the ceiling and run
out of room to grow upwards - can anyone advise me if I can trim the
top off without damaging its health?
Or alternatively, would it be happy outdoors from now on? - I think I
read somewhere that they can survive occasional frosts, and UK winters
tend not to be all that harsh now.
Many thanks in advance for any help :)
--
SausageTreeSlim
Posted by Dennis Le Cornu on June 17, 2008, 12:01 am
SausageTreeSlim;794243 Wrote:
> Hello everyone,
>
> I'm in the UK and and about five years ago I bought a small Queensland
> bottle tree (Brachychiton rupestris) from a garden centre and it's been
> growing happily in a pot in my front room since then.
>
> As it now stands about 2 metres tall it's reached the ceiling and run
> out of room to grow upwards - can anyone advise me if I can trim the
> top off without damaging its health?
>
> Or alternatively, would it be happy outdoors from now on? - I think I
> read somewhere that they can survive occasional frosts, and UK winters
> tend not to be all that harsh now.
>
> Many thanks in advance for any help :)
Hi Sausagetreeslim. What is a Sausage Tree ??. I have a Queensland
Bottle tree that I hope to develop as a Bonsai at some stage in its
life. Just wanted to let you know that I have cut it back twice in 6
years to a dormant bud down the trunk and it has sprouted new branches
at that point each time. I have also reduced root ball to expose
roots. The tree has lived outside in semi shade in a plastic garden
pot. We are heading into winter in Oz so I will wait a till just
before spring to reduce the trunk one more time. It is currently about
1/2 metre. I would give yours a spell outside as you are heading into
summer and take to it with your pruning saw. Be brave..you can bring
it back into the house during your autumn/winter period once the new
shoots have come away. dont overwater..that is easy here as we dont
have any water.
Regards
Dennis
--
Dennis Le Cornu
Posted by SausageTreeSlim on June 30, 2008, 8:20 am
Hi Dennis - thank you very much for your reply and the information about
pruning a bottle tree - that gives me the confidence now to go ahead and
give it a good trim!
I heard about the droughts you are experiencing over there and I hope
the rainfall situation will improve for you very soon.
To answer your question about sausage trees (Kigelia africana) - they
are native to tropical Africa and have huge sausage-like fruits which
are a serious health hazard if you are walking underneath the tree when
they fall!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kigelia
--
SausageTreeSlim
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>
> I'm in the UK and and about five years ago I bought a small Queensland
> bottle tree (Brachychiton rupestris) from a garden centre and it's been
> growing happily in a pot in my front room since then.
>
> As it now stands about 2 metres tall it's reached the ceiling and run
> out of room to grow upwards - can anyone advise me if I can trim the
> top off without damaging its health?
>
> Or alternatively, would it be happy outdoors from now on? - I think I
> read somewhere that they can survive occasional frosts, and UK winters
> tend not to be all that harsh now.
>
> Many thanks in advance for any help :)