Title image above is copyright © Kelly Trevisan
First published 25th June 2025
Kel and I first “met” when she rang one afternoon from Queensland, to discuss Air-Pot bonsai containers and her new baby, a Western Australian Saltwater Paperbark (Melaleuca cuticularis). This was a week before Cyclone Alfred hit early March this year 2025, and the stories she had about that! We kept in touch as best she could under the circumstances — I just wanted to know she was ok — but they make them tough Queensland-way, and she, her family and her 160 bonsai (!) all made it safely through to everyone’s relief.
160 bonsai!!
Kel, by the way, is the one who shared that oh-so-obvious-in-hindsight tip of lining the base with fine coir to stop a fine potting mix falling through! That was quite the game-changer for me, thanks heaps Kel!
Here is her bonsai mix — she uses a 2:1:1 or 1:1:1 mix of akadama:scoria:pumice, of 3-6 mm particle size, and will sit a more water-loving plant in a shallow tray of water.
Kel’s bonsai mix
copyright © Kelly Trevisan
Here is the saltwater paperbark when first potted up on 18th March 2025 into a 9.4 L Air-Pot bonsai training pot.
Western Australian Saltwater Paperbark (Melaleuca cuticularis) in a 9.4 L Air-Pot bonsia training pot, 18th March 2025
copyright © Kelly Trevisan
On 31st May came this excited news:
I have something exciting to show you!
Yes progress from the 18th March so far!
Like whoooow incredible Kristi!
So I will send you the before pic when I planted my Saltwater Paperbark into your pot using the mix I told you then will send you the pics I have just taken now to show you the progress!
I am blown away hunny!
And boy were they most impressive photos!
From this on 18th March (yes this is the same photo as above):
Western Australian Saltwater Paperbark (Melaleuca cuticularis) in a 9.4 L Air-Pot bonsia training pot, 18th March 2025
copyright © Kelly Trevisan
To this on 31st May 2025:
Western Australian Saltwater Paperbark (Melaleuca cuticularis) in a 9.4 L Air-Pot bonsia training pot, 31st May 2025
copyright © Kelly Trevisan
And tardarrrrrr…
Look at those healthy roots hunny
Western Australian Saltwater Paperbark (Melaleuca cuticularis) in a 9.4 L Air-Pot bonsia training pot, 31st May 2025
copyright © Kelly Trevisan
Western Australian Saltwater Paperbark (Melaleuca cuticularis) in a 9.4 L Air-Pot bonsia training pot, 31st May 2025
copyright © Kelly Trevisan
When I went to work on the plant I was blown away by the growth since 18th March!
From memory I put a small amount of coir mix in the bottom of Airpot then mixed Akadama, Scoria (I use Black), Pumice with Coir mixed thru it and potted my Saltwater Paperbark from WA into the Airpot.
As you will see the Akadama, Scoria and Pumice alone would have fallen thru the bottom holes without mesh hence is why I used pure Coir to prevent that from happening and I didn’t have any mesh at the time of potting Saltwater up…
Kel’s bonsai mix
copyright © Kelly Trevisan
Thanks so much for sharing Kel, your tree is an absolute stunner and to die for!
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1 Comment(s)
What a great read. Cannot believe the growth of the W.A Saltwater Paperbark in a few months. I will be trying a smallish bougainvillea I have had in a pot for the last couple of years with a new Airpot. Also some great ideas on making your own bonsai mix. Have some tomatoes and cos lettuce I will also try in the Airpots. Will interesting to see the results with hopefully some nice weather coming into Spring.
Hi Ross, only now seeing this comment sorry, but I'm wishing you every success! Once you see roots like Kel's it's pretty hard to use anything else :) And you've inspired me to dig out a rather neglected bougainvillea here of my own now spring is here and I see new growth on it, thank you! Maybe your own photos may feature down the track? I'd love to share any. I do recommend very regular liquid fertilising of your tomatoes and lettuce, as those roots will become very dense in an Air-Pot and ever hungry for nutrients. And water - definitely they will need more water than if in regular pots as they grow so fast, plus summer will have a drying effect as well. But the results are so worth the extra effort! All the best with them all!
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