Murray Paniculata - Tropical members please show images - I need help for Alexandria / Greece

Alexandria,

though I grow them, I am no expert in training them.
Hopefully some of the experts will jump in.

Okay, this shrub is about 65 to 70 years old. Was a gift from a friend [ mother grew it back then ]

Just a trunk.
Anyone else, help.
Until.
Khaimraj

Hello Khaimraj!
Thank you very much!
Tomorrow -hopefully- I will post some pictures of the plant and describe what I have done already.

This is how it was when I bought the plant.
Kind of neglected and let to grow free. Consequently there are a lot of rather thin branches. It simply is leggy.
I have taken my chances and made the repotting in October 14th based on our mild hot weather. The soil was good and I had no problem untangling the roots. I reduced the rootball by more than 1/3. Regarding the upper part I did not cut back as much as I would like, because I wanted to keep some more green foliage which is only at the tips of the branches. I have kept two or three leaflets on each branch so the photosynthesis is enough for the plant to recover. I did not want to risk so the bush is too tall for the time being.
I don't know how it will react next spring regarding its backbudding. As far as I can say from the photos below (newly emerging leaflets) it is a strong plant and I hope it will give me plenty of new growth next spring. So I thought I will cut further back based on its future growth of new buds.


What do you think?
Any suggestions are  highly appreciated.
Thank you very much!

Hi Khaimraj

I collected a large Murraya from a friends garden here in 2007, and have been developing it since then.

I took it to a workshop with Peter Adams in 2009 and I posted all about it in this thread on Ausbonsai, ( note to mods if post this link is against the rules then please delete)
http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=1550

The Tree is developing nicely an I allow the new shoots to develop until the Second set of compound leaves opens, then remove the center shoot. this promotes back budding and ramification.
I wire the tree to put branches into shape and the set in place in only a few months.



I have collected a few more since this one and the are quite easy to care for and develop, so long as you prefer a larger sized tree
Ken

Hello, Ken!
Thanks for your response to Khaimraj's thread (posted in order to help me)

Will you please give me your answer to these questions :
a - As I have said above the plant is too leggy. How easily does it backbud on old wood?
b - Can I cut back leaving no green foliage on the branches? How safe is this?

Thank you very much!

my nellie wrote:Hello, Ken!
Thanks for your response to Khaimraj's thread (posted in order to help me)

Will you please give me your answer to these questions :  
a - As I have said above the plant is too leggy. How easily does it backbud on old wood?
b - Can I cut back leaving no green foliage on the branches? How safe is this?

Thank you very much!

a/ - They backbud very easily.
b/ - When i collected all the ones i have don, i cut them back to bare stumps and they reshoot aplenty.

This is a photo from when i collected it. It had no foliage on it whatsoever


Ken

Hello Ken, and Alexandria,

thanks a million Ken, just took a look over at AusBonsai. Great tree, please keep showing!

Alexandra, all I would add, is make sure it is happy, growing well before you prune.
I also prefer to fertilise for about a month before I prune heavily.

On my side it needs lots if sun and is a 14' to 18 ' [ say 4.3 m to 5.5 m ] tall and a little wider ]
Blooms about 3 times in the rainy season - heavily scented flowers.
More later.
Khaimraj

Thank you both so very much! And the news are really great!
My plant has already flowered after all the interventions it has gone through and the scent is indeed very very sweet!