Blue Spruce dropping needles after repot

[jedge76]

Hey folks!

So I continued to do some research on training a spruce bonsai (btw, more research and I have decided that I the little ole guy is an Alberta Spruce) and after watching some videos and reading further, I found that these cultivated trees (cut like Christmas trees) tend to have parallel branching and also circular, wagon-wheel branching that can cause the trunk of the tree to swell in these areas where these branches bunch up and can ruin the tree for bonsai. I went out and looked and sure-enough, there was quite a bit of that starting on this specimen. As the tree seems to be doing well post transplant I thought I'd risk doing an initial light(ish) pruning to get rid of some of those areas where multiple branches were causing swelling to the trunk and to do an initial styling.

I agree with Giga...this is called Italian Stone pine around here, or pinus pinea as Giga mentioned. Definitely, 100% sure it's not Dwarf Alberta spruce. While this tree is probably a goner, try to take a few things away from this experience that all of us newbies do...we work too fast and expect too much from these trees and we pick species that are difficult, or ever poor, choices for bonsai (re:Italian Stone pine). I know with pinea, if you cut the candles, as you would on other pinus species, it will replace that growth with long, almost stringy needles. My fiance' has one that she has in a garden pot as a landscape plant.

Keep learning, listening and researching and some of this stuff will slowly start to make sense Matt!

 

[BosaiMayer]

jedge,

Thanks very much; again I must amend my previous statement. Definitely looks to be a Stone Pine as you suggest.

Also - could be wrong, but it sure seems to be doing fine after the pruning. the upper shoots are still growing rather noticeably.

That said, I've learned enough from all of your comments that if it does pull through that it's better to let'er be for awhile and that's what I shall do!

-Matt

 

[bonsairxmd]

That really looks like an Alberta spruce to me. I know for sure they are pretty heat tolerant, they handle 105+ here every summer, however they always get a nice 3-5mo cold winter dormancy. As long as you get nice cold nights for at least 2mo this tree should do fine.

The afternoon shade is good. I would cut the superthrive, shouldn't really need it. I would stick a bamboo skewer in the soil to monitor moisture however.

I respectfully disagree. Alberta Spruce's don't do well in the heat, drought, and often lack of a long enough or cold enough dormancy period down here in Oklahoma or especially Texas. I don't think he has an alberta spruce though but any type of spruce does not do well down here.

 

[edprocoat]

Matt, dumb? Inexperience is different than dumb, I should know as I am certainly stupid ! Its hard to tell, one plant that would be certain death and yet I have seen massive destruction did top and bottom only to have it grow like a weed. If you have that many roots it may just do well, just leave it alone for a year or so and keep it healthy and you can come back and tell me how stupid my initial opinion was ....
Good luck with it !

ed