worldjetty
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Hi all!
I live in Southern California (zone 10a) and recently picked up a Colorado Blue Spruce on sale at a local big-box store with the idea of making it a bonsai. Upon researching the species, however, I discovered that it is recommended for zones 2-7 or 2-8. I didn't think about it when I bought the tree, as I assumed a tree sold in SoCal would be able to survive in the area. Will this tree survive in my climate that doesn't have a real winter?
If it does have a dormancy requirement, I read that trees can be kept in a refrigerated environment at just above freezing for 6 weeks to satisfy their dormancy needs. I have a chest freezer with a thermostat control that I can use for this purpose, but the tree will not fit in its current state with a nursery pot. I will need to move it to a bonsai pot and reduce the apex a bit to get it to fit (I would have reduced the apex regardless for stylistic reasons). So my second question: if the tree needs a cold dormant period, when should I repot and when should I reduce the apex? Based on what I've read it seems that the tree will be able to survive another winter without dormancy. I was thinking of styling this year and repotting the next, which will allow me to give it cold dormancy in winter 2019.
Thanks for the advice! I have been an avid gardener for many years but this is my first attempt at bonsai.
I live in Southern California (zone 10a) and recently picked up a Colorado Blue Spruce on sale at a local big-box store with the idea of making it a bonsai. Upon researching the species, however, I discovered that it is recommended for zones 2-7 or 2-8. I didn't think about it when I bought the tree, as I assumed a tree sold in SoCal would be able to survive in the area. Will this tree survive in my climate that doesn't have a real winter?
If it does have a dormancy requirement, I read that trees can be kept in a refrigerated environment at just above freezing for 6 weeks to satisfy their dormancy needs. I have a chest freezer with a thermostat control that I can use for this purpose, but the tree will not fit in its current state with a nursery pot. I will need to move it to a bonsai pot and reduce the apex a bit to get it to fit (I would have reduced the apex regardless for stylistic reasons). So my second question: if the tree needs a cold dormant period, when should I repot and when should I reduce the apex? Based on what I've read it seems that the tree will be able to survive another winter without dormancy. I was thinking of styling this year and repotting the next, which will allow me to give it cold dormancy in winter 2019.
Thanks for the advice! I have been an avid gardener for many years but this is my first attempt at bonsai.
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