My Questions Thread

JoeR

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I always have random questions that I would like answers to but don't want to take over other threads, so here's a thread for just my random questions.
 

JoeR

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1) Where do people near the Charlotte area get their soil components? (Lava rock, pumice, etc)
2) Is it too late to start some pre stratified black pine seeds?
3) My blueberry is breaking dormancy and flowering, should I begin airlayer now?
4) I started a layer on a plum I got from lowes, it's leaving out now and I hope I did it right. I peeled the bark, scraped the cambium off, used rooting powder, applied moss and plastic wrap (with holes in it), and finally wrapped tinfoil around it. Yes?
5) When should I approach graft a branch lower on a cherry? (It has flower buds that are about to open soon if it helps)
6) What wood be the procedure for taking a cutting from a shimpaku and kotohime? I've never taken cuttings before.
 
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Eric Group

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1) Where do people near the Charlotte area get their soil components? (Lava rock, pumice, etc)
2) Is it too late to start some pre stratified black pine seeds?
3) My blueberry is breaking dormancy and flowering, should I begin airlayer now?
4) I started a layer on a plum I got from lowes, it's leaving out now and I hope I did it right. I peeled the bark, scraped the cambium off, used rooting powder, applied moss and plastic wrap (with holes in it), and finally wrapped tinfoil around it. Yes?
5) When should I approach graft a branch lower on a cherry? (It has flower buds that are about to open soon if it helps)
6) What wood be the procedure for taking a cutting from a shimpaku and kotohime? I've never taken cuttings before.
1- Bonsai learning center is close to that area, should be able to find most of what you are looking for there

2- you should be fine starting seeds now... Might have been better a couple weeks ago, but shouldn't make a huge difference.

3- go for it

4- sounds about right, some species of Plum may be hard to layer

5- not sure of differences in timing on cherry cvs something else... Probably a fine time for an approach graft... What were you planning specifically?

6- lop off the branch you want use make a cutting from, dip in some rooting hormone, and drop it in some Pearlite. Keep it in medium shade, mist about twice a day if you can, keep it from drying out... Ought to get some roots. Shimpaku root easy, Maples... Maybe A little harder but deff possible...
 

JoeR

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1- Sounds good I visited their site and they had a good selection.

2- So If I started them in about a week maybe less they'd be good to go?

4- I have two plums, the one I layered is a 'Bruce semi dwarf plum'. The other one is flowering so I haven't done it yet. Also have cherries I'm going to layer but they haven't broken dormancy yet.

5- I wanted to bring this one long shoot to lower on the trunk. The tree itself is a one gallon from Brent that is pretty thin but could use lower branches for trunk fattening etc.

6- Do I keep it in a dome?
 

barrosinc

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I put a bunch of JBP seeds for a short cold stratifying period, like a week. Most of them germinated anyways.
 

Stan Kengai

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2) Is it too late to start some pre stratified black pine seeds?
No, even into April should be fine.

3) My blueberry is breaking dormancy and flowering, should I begin airlayer now?
Any time between dormancy and first set of leaves hardening is good.

4) I started a layer on a plum I got from lowes, it's leaving out now and I hope I did it right. I peeled the bark, scraped the cambium off, used rooting powder, applied moss and plastic wrap (with holes in it), and finally wrapped tinfoil around it. Yes?
Sounds solid as long as you got all the cambium off. It's not like roots, you ideally want it to dry out. You can even "kill" it by wiping with alcohol.
 

JoeR

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No, even into April should be fine.

Any time between dormancy and first set of leaves hardening is good.

Sounds solid as long as you got all the cambium off. It's not like roots, you ideally want it to dry out. You can even "kill" it by wiping with alcohol.
Sounds good.

On my blueberries I will try wiping with alcohol. I'm not sure I did a good enough job of removing all the cambium only the plum but we'll see.

I will start the airlayers on my blueberries tonight or this weekend, thanks.
 

JoeR

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7) Can anyone ID this plant?
Small round leaves, flakey bark, very fine twigs, slow? grower. Looks great for bonsai, it has very dense foliage pads naturally.

0320151612.jpg 0320151610.jpg 0320151609.jpg
 

Bunjeh

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The trunk and the leaves look similar to a hawthorn I have growing in the yard.
 

JoeR

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The trunk and the leaves look similar to a hawthorn I have growing in the yard.
Does it bloom?
I think I know what you guys were thinking it was. Crataegus uniflora, which are all over my neighbors land and are blooming now. Big thorns, grey bark, lots of white flowers. Going to find one to collect hopefully because they look interesting.
 

JoeR

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Today I got home from being gone all weekend.

One day it was nice and sunny the other it was cloudy. This juniper has been in full Sun with afternoon shade. It already had some brown tips which I was told was normal and they will go away soon.

I came back today to see alot of new Brown spots on this. I haven't moved it, pruned it or anything except slip potted it. What was the likely cause and what would be the best plan of action for recovery?
0322151041.jpg 0322151040.jpg
 

JoeR

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What species are worth while to start from seed? I'm young and I adore the idea of having a tree I started and I trained all it's life.

I have black pine seeds, one hundred of them, that I'm starting soon here (I know I should have done it earlier).

I was also thinking maybe zelkova after reading that one thread I can't think of right now.

Suggestions?
 

JoeR

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Update on my shimpaku. Pretty sure it's a goner. Super disappointing, especially because I don't know why it died but I'm pretty sure it's not my fault.

Anyway,
8) Does anyone know if the pine techniques described in Dan Bartons book "The Bonsai Book" are accurate for japanes black pine?
 

JoeR

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Update on my shimpaku. Pretty sure it's a goner. Super disappointing, especially because I don't know why it died but I'm pretty sure it's not my fault.

Anyway,
8) Does anyone know if the pine techniques described in Dan Bartons book "The Bonsai Book" are accurate for japanes black pine?
 

Brian Van Fleet

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I don't know why it died but I'm pretty sure it's not my fault.
That's the spirit! No chance it was root raking, repotting, or leaving it unattended for the weekend. Good luck tracking down the perp:rolleyes:.

On a serious note, don't give up on it just yet; it's only been 5 days.
 

Nybonsai12

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What species are worth while to start from seed? I'm young and I adore the idea of having a tree I started and I trained all it's life.

I have black pine seeds, one hundred of them, that I'm starting soon here (I know I should have done it earlier).

I was also thinking maybe zelkova after reading that one thread I can't think of right now.

Suggestions?

Trident maple, J. Maple, zelkova("I'm gonna make brooms" is the thread I think) j. Red pine would be my suggestions in addition to the black pine you already have.
 

JoeR

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That's the spirit! No chance it was root raking, repotting, or leaving it unattended for the weekend. Good luck tracking down the perp:rolleyes:.

On a serious note, don't give up on it just yet; it's only been 5 days.
That sarcasm though. It likely could have been my fault, but I thought the General consensus was that it couldn't have yellowed like it did in such a short time and that due to the way it yellowed it was fungal issues. I'll admit it could have been me, but I just don't think I did anything harsh enough for it to deteriorate so quickly.

It wasn't unattended, I had my brother take care of my trees.

I Alsl didn't root rake the whole thing, just the very bottom maybe half inch or so of the roots to fit in the new container. Compared to The entire root mass that's nothing. It was almost a slip pot but not quite.

Probably 80% of the tree is yellow now. I'll post a pic to make sure but it's probably to The point of no return.
 

JoeR

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Trident maple, J. Maple, zelkova("I'm gonna make brooms" is the thread I think) j. Red pine would be my suggestions in addition to the black pine you already have.
Okay thanks, I will look for some seeds and if it's not too late start them soon. Maybe get overnight shipping or something.

Any reason for suggesting these ones?
 
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