bonsai barry
Omono
Wish I had seen this post about a month ago!
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Coast Live Oak from Santa Cruz
- Thread starter PaulH
- Start date
Wish I had seen this post about a month ago!
Poink88
Imperial Masterpiece
Missed this but don't your oak at least drop some leaves at spring? Our live oaks here does, some go totally leafless and some just drop some percentage of leaves. My small one still have about 50% leaves and it is budding already.
berobinson82
Omono
PaulH,
Any chance we could see this winter sillouette?
Any chance we could see this winter sillouette?
PaulH
Omono
Yes. At least on Coast live oaks and Interior live oaks !
PaulH
Omono
Missed this but don't your oak at least drop some leaves at spring? Our live oaks here does, some go totally leafless and some just drop some percentage of leaves. My small one still have about 50% leaves and it is budding already.
Ours are the same.
PaulH
Omono
Next time I defoliate I'll take some pics. No plan to re-pot or defoliate this year though.
esons
Sapling
how do you go about defoliating? Just pluck the leaves off?
PaulH
Omono
Sometimes, if they are already brown. otherwise it's best to cut them off.
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
Hi Paul, one more defoliation question, how do you know when the tree is ready for it? Will the new buds show up and swell, or do you just take them off when you're ready to repot, and then the buds show? My cork oak still has all it's very green leaves...
PaulH
Omono
Cork oaks are a little different, I think. I've never completely defoliated mine. I have done a partial defoliation where I removed all the old and larger leaves and it responded well.
As far as being ready for defoliation there are to times and reasons for defoliating live oaks that I know of. The first is at collection, Which for live oaks is best in spring when the weather is warming up. Defoliating at this time helps the tree survive by stopping transpiration and giving the roots a chance to get going. Note that this would kill a lot of species, but live oaks (and olives too) seem to have a ton of stored energy and it works well. The second time I defoliate is in summer on very healthy trees to increase ramification. Though I have completely defoliated trees in summer it weakens them and its probably best to partially defoliate to remove too large leaves and allow light into the tree's interior.
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
Thank you, I will wait a bit and see what the tree decides to do, I may not repot this year in any event. I imagine if it wants to shed old leaves it will.
esons
Sapling
So I've just defoliated and dug up an oak. It's a weird little one, has a ton of little branches all over the place. Should I cut some or most of these back now? Or is it important to let it heal first.
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
If this tree has just been dug up and defoliated I wouldn't do anything else to it now. Unless you hear from someone else with experience with this tree who tells you otherwise now is the time to let it recover.
Poink88
Imperial Masterpiece
I always say concentrate new growth where you want it. Remove anything you do not need (as long as the tree species will allow it).
Not sure what Oak it is but that is what I do on my Live Oak. I even stump chopped 2 live oaks with ZERO leaves or branches left. The timing is perfect too...weather wise and since it is defoliated already anyways.
Good luck!
PaulH
Omono
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
Man that is sexy. Thanks for that shot.
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Looks great Paul. I have an affinity for Max Braverman pots...I think it goes back to my rec.arts.bonsai days. This one is sweet, and a very good pairing with the oak.
berobinson82
Omono
That's one good looking birthday suit!
