Any tips on planting live oak acorns?

[Dan92119]

Here are my Oaks. Maybe someone can ID them for me. They are about a month or so old.
They have been growing under lights in an aquarium. Really close to the lights. To me they look very healthy.

 

[theone420]

Where are you located and were they from a wild tree or from a landscape tree?

 

[Dan92119]

San Diego. Landscape tree. There is a hospital near by that has some oak trees. I would get wild ones, but not sure where I would go.

 

[twisted trees]

Dont let the squirrels see where you plant them.

 

[theone420]

San Diego. Landscape tree. There is a hospital near by that has some oak trees. I would get wild ones, but not sure where I would go.

I posted this earlier in the thread but it has great info on where to look for each species in your county or any county for California.

just click on the name of the oak and it will bring up a map of California and if you click on a county it will show known locations for that species in the county you clicked.

you can start here....
https://nature.berkeley.edu/garbelottowp/?p=1749

the picture of the acorn looks like some of the live oaks

 

[rockm]

Tips on planting live acorns for bonsai--DON'T. not worth the trouble, unless you're interested in growing oak saplings for 25 years. Start with larger -over three inches in diameter--established trees.

 

[LanceMac10]

Two straight years of massive acorn production from the Oaks around here........squirrels and chipmunks multiplying daily.....

 

[namnhi]

Tips on planting live acorns for bonsai--DON'T. not worth the trouble, unless you're interested in growing oak saplings for 25 years. Start with larger -over three inches in diameter--established trees.

I think this is true if you want something massive with rough bark. But not everyone wanted that. I just traded three Black pine with these and I enjoyed looking at them quite a bit.

 

[M. Frary]

I dont think there's any special technique. just ask Mr squirrel

I was going to say have a squirrel do it for you.
I'm late.

 

[rockm]

I think this is true if you want something massive with rough bark. But not everyone wanted that. I just traded three Black pine with these and I enjoyed looking at them quite a bit.View attachment 169735 View attachment 169736

Well, um still kind of doesn't support planting an acorn and hoping for bonsai material within a decade. What you've pictured is hardly what you will get from an acorn within five years...just sayin'

 

[Dan92119]

For me it's mostly learning new skills and practice. I didn't think the acorns would even grow! Oaks seem to be tuff trees to keep alive for bonsai (tap root issues).
I bought two 1 gal cork oaks seedlings that I am practicing my wiring on. About 3ft tall $6.50 each. I will practice partial barerooting on them in the spring.
I am also lucky no squirrels here in my yard. I get rats and raccoons!

 

[Cattwooduk]

I've got a few oak seedlings about 10" tall I collected earlier this year. I know the tap roots are a problem, I lost some that I snipped the tap off of, some survived and then I also have a couple I left the tap root and just used bigger pots.

Any advise on the best way/timing to remove the tap without shocking the plant?

 

[Potawatomi13]

I've got a few oak seedlings about 10" tall I collected earlier this year. I know the tap roots are a problem, I lost some that I snipped the tap off of, some survived and then I also have a couple I left the tap root and just used bigger pots.

Any advise on the best way/timing to remove the tap without shocking the plant?

Step by step each repotting remove to good side root and put on rooting hormone for new roots. At Spring/late Winter repotting.