First "collected" specimen. Big Sage

[bonsaiBlake]

I pulled this little guy up out of, the term field is used lightly here, behind my work. I love the way sage looks and smells so i wanted to try to bonsai one of them, im not to stressed about killing it as sage is in abundance where i live and i can just harvest another. I dug this guy up with a good amount of roots, no root ball as the soil was so sandy it just fell away. Ive repotted it in a blend on about 50/50, sand/potting soil. Any tips on care, styling, etc. would be much appreciated. thanks guys.

 

[jk_lewis]

I used to work for The Tri-City Herald in Kennewick. That was in my pre-bonsai days, so it was a LONG time ago. Checking the ABS site, I see there still is no bonsai club for the area. Too bad.

Sage is very difficult to keep alive in a pot. If I were you I'd trim that bush top quite a bit so the roots don't have to work so hard. Maybe cut it back by a third.

Be very careful about water. They are a dry land plant as you know, like all the native on the eastern side of the mountains, and hate wet feet. Let them get all but dry before you water again.

 

[bonsaiBlake]

Thanks for advice jkl. Since you used to live out here are there any particular species you would recommend for this area? I don't think people realize there is a climate like tri-citites has in Washington. I was thinking a russian olive would look cool too. I attached a before and after of the trimming you recommended.

 

[Poink88]

A few of my dead sage...all are sidewalk pick up, yanked by landscapers off the ground with chain and truck.

If the same opportunity arises, I will try to use 100% pumice on it.

 

[Cypress]

A few of my dead sage...all are sidewalk pick up, yanked by landscapers off the ground with chain and truck.

If the same opportunity arises, I will try to use 100% pumice on it.

Wow, what a bummer it must have been to watch those bite the dust, some really interesting trunks!

 

[bonsaiBlake]

thats some really nice looking material. i hope they pull through. looks like youve got some new shoots coming in there

 

[Vin]

A few of my dead sage...all are sidewalk pick up, yanked by landscapers off the ground with chain and truck.

If the same opportunity arises, I will try to use 100% pumice on it.

That first photo looks like a snake coiled around a trunk with its head near the base. Squint your eyes and you'll see it. It's a shame they died.

 

[Poink88]

Wow, what a bummer it must have been to watch those bite the dust, some really interesting trunks!

It was (very painful). I have been watching these for a year actually and should have asked for them. When I saw them all uprooted, I was mortified and glad at the same time. I wished at least one would live but I wasn't lucky enough. BTW, there were 21 of them.

 

[bonsaiBlake]

It was (very painful). I have been watching these for a year actually and should have asked for them. When I saw them all uprooted, I was mortified and glad at the same time. I wished at least one would live but I wasn't lucky enough. BTW, there were 21 of them.

Thats too bad. not sure if your interested in some wild seed but i was thinking about doing some seed collecting when in season, id be more than happy to mail you some.

 

[Poink88]

Thats too bad. not sure if your interested in some wild seed but i was thinking about doing some seed collecting when in season, id be more than happy to mail you some.

Thanks. There are lots of landscape plants here but nothing close to the ones I picked-up. I actually have 2 smaller ones going right now.

I do appreciate the offer.

 

[bonsaiBlake]

Thanks. There are lots of landscape plants here but nothing close to the ones I picked-up. I actually have 2 smaller ones going right now.

I do appreciate the offer.

not a problem. if u have experience with sage i would love some advice. u can see the one i harvested a few days ago in the pics from earlier posts. all i have done is potted and very lightly trimmed the new growth.

 

[bonsaiBlake]

did a little pinching and styling on the little guy seems to be doing really well and responding good to being potted, well see what happens. what do u guys think? trying to come up with a direction for styling.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

I have a eastern hemlock I collected last spring. It is showing new buds this spring, but I will probably wait another year before considering further styling options. Although hemlock and sage are very different plants with very different requirements, they are both known for being very finicky around the roots. And although, discretion is the better part of valor, there is something to be said for taking risks in order to learn the limits for for the species. I guess my point is not to get too attached until you get the water/soil thing down, because many have tried, but there are not too many successfull sages out there(that I know of). Not to discourage you as much of my initial inspiration for bonsai came from a trip around the U.S. When i was 12, featuring many magnificent sage specimen..
I think the pure pumice (w/ maybe a touch of orchid spaghnum) strategy sounds viable with more regular watering.

 

[bonsaiBlake]

I have a eastern hemlock I collected last spring. It is showing new buds this spring, but I will probably wait another year before considering further styling options. Although hemlock and sage are very different plants with very different requirements, they are both known for being very finicky around the roots. And although, discretion is the better part of valor, there is something to be said for taking risks in order to learn the limits for for the species. I guess my point is not to get too attached until you get the water/soil thing down, because many have tried, but there are not too many successfull sages out there(that I know of). Not to discourage you as much of my initial inspiration for bonsai came from a trip around the U.S. When i was 12, featuring many magnificent sage specimen..
I think the pure pumice (w/ maybe a touch of orchid spaghnum) strategy sounds viable with more regular watering.

so ive been told. I am nervous, but at the same time not too worried. Not that i want to kill a bunch of plants, but i have plenty of wild stock i can harvest anytime, to keep practicing with until i get one to take. everyone keeps talking about spaghnum, what exactly is it and whats the best brand to get?

maybe i'll pull some more and just leave them untrimmed for a couple years. i really want to get good at and learn how to collect native species. I figure having a plant native to the climate will give me a higher chance of success. Its very sunny, windy, and dry here, and single digits are not uncommon during the winter, with triple digits being the norm end of july-agust.

any reccomendations for plants that can handle these relativly extreme conditions? I would like to keep as many as i can outdoors year-round.