Eastern Red Cedar to Practice On

[CapeCodBonsai]

I killed the tree.

Some of the suspected reasons include:

• I had zero knowledge and didn't understand what the hell I was doing.

• I failed to retain any fine feeder roots when I hastily dug it out of the ground.

• That first year out of the ground was a pretty wet one. The poorly draining potting soil/pot combination were probably contributing factors to the tree’s demise.

 

[ETN_bonsai]

I killed the tree.

Some of the suspected reasons include:

• I had zero knowledge and didn't understand what the hell I was doing.

• I failed to retain any fine feeder roots when I hastily dug it out of the ground.

• That first year out of the ground was a pretty wet one. The poorly draining potting soil/pot combination were probably contributing factors to the tree’s demise.

I understand. I killed two ERC trees this summer not knowing what I was doing.
This one:


And this one-



Hopefully my most recent grab will actually make it-

 

[Attmos]

Jeez, yeah all that "abuse" for telling folks that mostly ERC is a waste of time. That fact remains for the most part. The saving grace for yours is that it has a pretty decent trunk on it (highly unusual for ERC).

If you're serious about keeping this tree to work on, I would leave it alone for the next couple of years--no "design work" pinching, pruning bending, etc. for at least a year. More time would be better.

I would also be careful making assumptions that it will be around to work on. Winter collection in Mass. (even on the Cape) is not a great thing to do. Long, long winter ahead. The potting soil isn't not going to help things, especially if you get a lot of moisture this winter. Too wet... I would consider simply heeling the root ball into the ground or large mulch pile and leave the pot and potting soil out of the equation--.

You won't really know if it's going to live until late spring--

FWIW, I do hope you have success. It's a pretty good start.

I suppose my little saplings probly aren't worth the time then..

 

[Attmos]

I understand. I killed two ERC trees this summer not knowing what I was doing.
This one:
View attachment 573560
View attachment 573561
And this one-

View attachment 573562View attachment 573559

Hopefully my most recent grab will actually make it-
View attachment 573563View attachment 573564

Man, how old do you think it is, and when do they start getting their adult foliage?

 

[vancehanna]

Here's one after nearly fifty years of "crappy tree" syndrome*....Hah It will be featured in the National Collection this Fall in Rochester NY. 45" from lip of pot to top.

* as a beginner I had no idea this was such a troublesome, worthless, nasty, no good for nothing cultivar. So be careful you just might make something that nobody wants....LOL

 

[Attmos]

Here's one after nearly fifty years of "crappy tree" syndrome*....Hah It will be featured in the National Collection this Fall in Rochester NY. 45" from lip of pot to top.

* as a beginner I had no idea this was such a troublesome, worthless,View attachment 602358 nasty, no good for nothing cultivar. So be careful you just might make something that nobody wants....LOL

Very much appreciated.

 

[Attmos]

Here's one after nearly fifty years of "crappy tree" syndrome*....Hah It will be featured in the National Collection this Fall in Rochester NY. 45" from lip of pot to top.

* as a beginner I had no idea this was such a troublesome, worthless,View attachment 602358 nasty, no good for nothing cultivar. So be careful you just might make something that nobody wants....LOL

It's really beautiful.

 

[Joe Dupre']

And here's one 7 years out of the ground. I was asked specifically by the nursery manager of Underhill Bonsai to put it in the 2025 C'est Bonsai show at his nursery. That was a great honor.

It is obviously (and intentionally) not in the classic bonsai style. It is what the tree gave me, and I went with it.




This is what it looked like on day one after an hour of intense pruning. It was originally 7 feet tall and 3 feet wide.

 

[Attmos]

And here's one 7 years out of the ground. I was asked specifically by the nursery manager of Underhill Bonsai to put it in the 2025 C'est Bonsai show at his nursery. That was a great honor.

It is obviously (and intentionally) not in the classic bonsai style. It is what the tree gave me, and I went with it.


View attachment 602361

This is what it looked like on day one after an hour of intense pruning. It was originally 7 feet tall and 3 feet wide.



View attachment 602368

Ok I guess there's a lot of potential if you're willing to be patient. How tall is it now?

 

[Attmos]

Thanks guys, that helps a lot.

 

[Joe Dupre']

Ok I guess there's a lot of potential if you're willing to be patient. How tall is it now?

It's about 28" tall.