Hartinez
Masterpiece
Really took my time covering up any bigger cyst with paste in hopes of keeping it fungus free. Will it help? We’ll see!
European White Birch
- Thread starter Hartinez
- Start date
Really took my time covering up any bigger cyst with paste in hopes of keeping it fungus free. Will it help? We’ll see!
Hartinez
Masterpiece
I’ll get a full tree shot later, but the leaves on this tree are looking fabulous. As I hoped also, I’m getting back budding in adventitious areas of the trunk. 
I have a few questions for you Betula growers though. @BobbyLane @MACH5 @Eric Schrader @Colorado @anyone else I’m missing
1)to what level of sun exposure are you giving your tree throughout the year? I know areas will vary, but your opinions would be valuable. I’m in zone 7a here, but our sun can be brutal mid summer. It’s currently in full sun, but I worry about it’s location long term.
2)on this tree in particular would you advise cutting back the runners up top to avoid die back down low? I’ve read on a few threads that if the apex gets too strong it’ll drop low branches in favor of the apical branches.
I have a few questions for you Betula growers though. @BobbyLane @MACH5 @Eric Schrader @Colorado @anyone else I’m missing
1)to what level of sun exposure are you giving your tree throughout the year? I know areas will vary, but your opinions would be valuable. I’m in zone 7a here, but our sun can be brutal mid summer. It’s currently in full sun, but I worry about it’s location long term.
2)on this tree in particular would you advise cutting back the runners up top to avoid die back down low? I’ve read on a few threads that if the apex gets too strong it’ll drop low branches in favor of the apical branches.
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
Theyre a full sun tree https://bonsai4me.com/speciesguides/betula-birch-bonsai/
Ive only heard about die back or dropping branches when not pruned in active growth. pruning when the tree isnt growing is when most problems arise, from what ive gathered. @Paulpash has a good one.
ps they also love a drink, if you live in a hotter climate I would opt for a moisture retentive soil. Ive known of growers here standing birch and alder on water trays in summer
Ive only heard about die back or dropping branches when not pruned in active growth. pruning when the tree isnt growing is when most problems arise, from what ive gathered. @Paulpash has a good one.
ps they also love a drink, if you live in a hotter climate I would opt for a moisture retentive soil. Ive known of growers here standing birch and alder on water trays in summer
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BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
luvinthemountains
Chumono
In Salt Lake I give mine full sun. Only once did I have leaf burn, after making the mistake of fertilizing with chemical fertilizer in mid-summer. Albuquerque is a little hotter, drier, and higher altitude here, though, so maybe a little shade in the afternoon wouldn't be a bad thing.
Hartinez
Masterpiece
Don’t know if there is a “best” but this example is my favorite. Not surprising it’s one of Sergio’s trees.
BIRCH (BETULA KOTULAE)
Originally purchased from Eric Schrader last year. This birch was started as a cutting about 20 years ago by Eric. Hard to believe given the highly plated and rugged looking bark that has already developed. It was originally sold to me as a Himalayan birch but upon further research and positive...
Colorado
Masterpiece
I’d give it some afternoon shade when temps get hotter in the middle of summer, Danny.
MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
Danny, with mine I give it full sun in Spring. Bright shade in Summer. Lots of water throughout the growing season. Vigorous growth capable of producing several growth spurts. If necessary it can take aggressive root work with no problem.
Nice tree BTW!
Nice tree BTW!
Hartinez
Masterpiece
I agree Danny, that tree of Sergio's is way awsome. Are birch easily air layered?Don’t know if there is a “best” but this example is my favorite. Not surprising it’s one of Sergio’s trees.
BIRCH (BETULA KOTULAE)
Originally purchased from Eric Schrader last year. This birch was started as a cutting about 20 years ago by Eric. Hard to believe given the highly plated and rugged looking bark that has already developed. It was originally sold to me as a Himalayan birch but upon further research and positive...www.bonsainut.com
Eric Schrader
Chumono
@Hartinez - That tree has all the characteristics of the birch I grew and sold to Sergio. The golden hue to the medium twigs, leaf shape and small twig dots are all the same. I took cuttings from Sergio's tree before I sent it to him and have one still that I'm growing out. I also purchased a few from the same source that I got the seedling I grew into his; but I can't yet tell if they're the same genetics or not. (was also excited...very excited to see seeds from these trees germinating this spring!)
Our sun here in SF is quite mild compared to a lot of areas, but I also had the tree in full sun in Thousand Oaks and recall it doing fine there. If anything a 30-40% shade cloth in the afternoon would be plenty. I always kept it in an oversized growing container because it definitely liked water!
As for top shoots - I did always find that the top was appropriately more vigorous than the lower branching, so I trimmed it a bit more aggressively. I didn't get as much growth as Sergio has reported - but likely that's because our summers are so cool here.
Our sun here in SF is quite mild compared to a lot of areas, but I also had the tree in full sun in Thousand Oaks and recall it doing fine there. If anything a 30-40% shade cloth in the afternoon would be plenty. I always kept it in an oversized growing container because it definitely liked water!
As for top shoots - I did always find that the top was appropriately more vigorous than the lower branching, so I trimmed it a bit more aggressively. I didn't get as much growth as Sergio has reported - but likely that's because our summers are so cool here.
Hartinez
Masterpiece
Thank you Eric! I’m currently building out some structures to hang shade cloth so hopefully by the time Abq starts to really sweat I’ll have the coverage needed. So far so great though in terms of backbudding and general health.
Come mid summer my plan is to cut back most of the longer shoots I had left at repot, way back, to induce another set of branching more compact in internode length. And hopefully encourage some adventitious buds along the trunk.
Hartinez
Masterpiece
After letting everything go and get healthy I decided to do an aggressive cutback to a better silhouette and to back buds. I did that this last week. The tree has already produced a ton of back budding and adventitious buds I was hoping for. Had to remove quite a few already. This tree really likes my climate so far. A bright future for this one I’m seeing.
Adamski77
Shohin
marking the thread... really nice job so far... they are so popular where I'm from but can't find them here in Shanghai...
Hartinez
Masterpiece
Thank you!
Hartinez
Masterpiece
Thinking I may still chop this section.try and combat that straight section of trunk. I just don’t want to go too low
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
I had a river birch for a few years then it decided to kill the top of its trunk and apex and ruined the whole design. So it became firewood.
I love birches but they are too fickle and too often kill off branches at random which makes them very difficult and a waste of time for bonsai imo.
I love birches but they are too fickle and too often kill off branches at random which makes them very difficult and a waste of time for bonsai imo.
Hartinez
Masterpiece
I heard the same but I continue to see examples that lead me to believe otherwise.
