Cork Oak Prebonsai!

[bonhe]

Hi all,
I got this one from Ota sensei in 2009. It was more than 10 years old seedling at that time. I changed its soil in 3/2010.
I am in the mood to show it today
Any comment is always welcome.
Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

Its bark!
Oops, is it keloid or what else?
Bonhe

 

[bonsai barry]

That's awesome! Should be a lot of fun to work with.

 

[Si Nguyen]

Merry Christmas Bonhe! But you forgot to get me a present.. That's ok, I will just take one.

 

[nathanbs]

Very nice! Elliot has a very nice cork oak that Ota grew from acorn I believe

 

[elliott]

your oak

Bonhe
Nice tree. Usualy cork oaks are pretty straight, so when you get one with movement, it's a keeper.
The fissures on the trunk are where growth is happening. When the tree grows and puts out new corking, you get this fissuring. In a few months it will turn grey and blend in with the rest of the bark.
The swelling or wart like ball growing is a gall. It means that probably a tiny wasp has laid an egg, and the tree has grown tissue around it to isolate it in case of a disease or irritation. Similar to a pearl in an oyster from a grain of sand. It can happen to many kinds of trees, but its very common in oaks.
Your tree is either growing under or near a big native oak or was in the recent past. Ted Matson sold me a nice live oak that was full of galls from the big live oak in his yard. I cut the galls off, and since I have no native oaks growing near me, it has not returned.
Please relax, its perfectly harmless. Sometimes they even give an oak a wild character. It will not harm your tree or any others in your yard. If it bugs you, just cut it off.
Is the the person you got the tree from Richard Ota, who currently lives in Riverside Ca?
He is know for cork oaks and pomagranites.
I have a huge cork oak that Richard planted as an acorn along with a few others in the mid 50's. It's gonna be one of the best around when I get the foilage developed again. This tree was being showed in the 70's and 80's, but then had some problem and most branches died back. I am in the process of re-developing it. It's got super old looking corking. The other oaks Richard planted at that time have not survived, and it makes this one very special and I'm very lucky to have it.
Please take care of yours well. Someday it will be a piece of Bonsai history in the USA and California especialy.

 

[jk_lewis]

LOVELY tree but it is overdue for a smaller pot, isn't it?

 

[JudyB]

Really special tree. I have been looking for an oak for a couple years, they are hard to find nice ones of pre-bonsai type.

 

[bonhe]

Thanks all for yours kind responses.

Merry Christmas Bonhe! But you forgot to get me a present.. That's ok, I will just take one.

Thanks Si. Merry Christmas. I think I gave you one of cork oak seedling, did I?

Bonhe
Nice tree. Usualy cork oaks are pretty straight, so when you get one with movement, it's a keeper.
The fissures on the trunk are where growth is happening. When the tree grows and puts out new corking, you get this fissuring. In a few months it will turn grey and blend in with the rest of the bark.
The swelling or wart like ball growing is a gall. It means that probably a tiny wasp has laid an egg, and the tree has grown tissue around it to isolate it in case of a disease or irritation. Similar to a pearl in an oyster from a grain of sand. It can happen to many kinds of trees, but its very common in oaks.
Your tree is either growing under or near a big native oak or was in the recent past. Ted Matson sold me a nice live oak that was full of galls from the big live oak in his yard. I cut the galls off, and since I have no native oaks growing near me, it has not returned.
Please relax, its perfectly harmless. Sometimes they even give an oak a wild character. It will not harm your tree or any others in your yard. If it bugs you, just cut it off.
Is the the person you got the tree from Richard Ota, who currently lives in Riverside Ca?
He is know for cork oaks and pomagranites.
I have a huge cork oak that Richard planted as an acorn along with a few others in the mid 50's. It's gonna be one of the best around when I get the foilage developed again. This tree was being showed in the 70's and 80's, but then had some problem and most branches died back. I am in the process of re-developing it. It's got super old looking corking. The other oaks Richard planted at that time have not survived, and it makes this one very special and I'm very lucky to have it.
Please take care of yours well. Someday it will be a piece of Bonsai history in the USA and California especialy.

Thanks for information, Elliott.
Yes, my sensei is Richard Ota. I love to see your tree, so that I can let my sensei know. Mr. Ota also specializes in tamarix, crabapple and JBP. Believe me, I have kept some of used to be Mr. Ota trees very well in my yard.

LOVELY tree but it is overdue for a smaller pot, isn't it?

Because I still want to train its branches, the large pot is OK for now. However, I plan to put it in the large clay pot next year.

Really special tree. I have been looking for an oak for a couple years, they are hard to find nice ones of pre-bonsai type.

Mr. Ota still has about 5-6 large cork oaks in prebonsai phases!
Bonhe

 

[PaulH]

Very nice tree. Please post updates as it develops.

 

[bonhe]

Very nice tree. Please post updates as it develops.

Thanks PaulH, I will.
Bonhe

 

[Yosemite Goat]

Hi all,
I got this one from Ota sensei in 2009. It was more than 10 years old seedling at that time. I changed its soil in 3/2010.
I am in the mood to show it today
Any comment is always welcome.
Bonhe

Any updates? This a great tree. I am trying to decide on my next purchase....... I have a cork oak I have been eyeing for months!

 

[discusmike]

Thats definently one of the nicer corkers ive seen,hope its still alive

 

[just.wing.it]

Resurrection!

 

[just.wing.it]

Thats definently one of the nicer corkers ive seen,hope its still alive

Agreed!

 

[sorce]

Taper taper taper taper taper....

Sorce

 

[bonhe]

Thanks for asking every one.
I transplanted it to the current pot few years ago. It has been doing fine.
This picture was taken on 8/6/17. Sorry for the bad background.


The scar .


Bonhe

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Nice and full, a little wire and pruning to reveal the trunk, it will be ready to show. Nice work, 5 years of consistent care since the first pictures. Thanks for sharing. Well done.