First time trunk chopping a bc and curious about this color change in the foliage

[Pigskin Pete]

I bought a bc from a local nursery. Unfortunately I don't have a great pic of it pre chop. Here is what I've got, just to show the height and foliage it had.

Nothing special. It was very affordable so I wanted to learn on it.

On April 29th, I chopped it. I did mess up the chop a little when using my hands away, as you can see. Please note the foliage.



After the chop i just left it in full sun and watered as usual. Still in the nursery soil, which didnt look exceedingly bad.

Based on everything I've read about the apical growth of bc, I expected the shoots to start pointing upward. They have, but they have also changed color. Please take a look.



They appear to have browned just a bit. Just curious if this color change is indicative of anything worth worrying about, i.e. should I run and get another cheap tree to chop for more practice

 

[19Mateo83]

@Cajunrider

 

[Cajunrider]

Looks normal to me. Keep the tree in part shade. It wasn’t in great health before the chop and now it is stressed.

 

[rockm]

The color is from sun exposure. Needs some shade in the afternoon.

 

[Pigskin Pete]

@Cajunrider @rockm @19Mateo83

Thanks guys. Most of what I have read up and studied on is your posts, works, and trees in the BC and other threads. Yall sharing your knowledge the way you do is immensely helpful to a young padawan such as myself.

I'll move it to a spot where it gets morning sunlight, both direct and filtered through a neighbors tree leaves, until about 11-noon. That's when the shade takes over in that spot

 

[19Mateo83]

@Cajunrider @rockm @19Mateo83

Thanks guys. Most of what I have read up and studied on is your posts, works, and trees in the BC and other threads. Yall sharing your knowledge the way you do is immensely helpful to a young padawan such as myself.

I'll move it to a spot where it gets morning sunlight, both direct and filtered through a neighbors tree leaves, until about 11-noon. That's when the shade takes over in that spot

I get the bronzing on a couple of my smaller ones, I actually just noticed one doing it today. Its in a tub that stays wet so I’m confident if it scorches it will recover, if it was on one of my bigger, nicer ones, I would give it more shade as mentioned above.

 

[Pigskin Pete]

I moved it to a spot where it gets sun from about daybreak until noon. Put it out near the bench for an update photo.


Looking better already.

 

[Pigskin Pete]

After following CR's advice and reducing the amount of afternoon sun this BC was getting, I was rewarded with lots of new growth and a beautiful green color.



This tree is now displaying vigor and I am going to move it closer and closer to all-day full sun a week at a time unless more knowledgeable BNutters advise against it.

 

[Cajunrider]

After following CR's advice and reducing the amount of afternoon sun this BC was getting, I was rewarded with lots of new growth and a beautiful green color.

View attachment 548820View attachment 548821

This tree is now displaying vigor and I am going to move it closer and closer to all-day full sun a week at a time unless more knowledgeable BNutters advise against it.

No need to move to full sun. 5-6 hrs are best. Remember when they are in the swamp, they grow close to one another and have to compete for sunlight. They shade one another out.

 

[Pigskin Pete]

No need to move to full sun. 5-6 hrs are best. Remember when they are in the swamp, they grow close to one another and have to compete for sunlight. They shade one another out.

Roger that, I'll keep him where he has shown that he's happy.

You think I'm good to let this run all growing season without worrying about selecting a leader?

 

[Cajunrider]

Roger that, I'll keep him where he has shown that he's happy.

You think I'm good to let this run all growing season without worrying about selecting a leader?

Yes to letting it grow so the roots can get established.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

No need to move to full sun. 5-6 hrs are best. Remember when they are in the swamp, they grow close to one another and have to compete for sunlight. They shade one another out.

I have the one I got from you in full sun, I'll see if I have to move it when it's Louisiana or Texas hot in MI.

 

[Pigskin Pete]

This baby is just exploding with growth and is the most exciting tree in my garden right now. Just one week from the last pics.


Because I'm an idiot, the bigger and greener it gets, the more I'm tempted to give it more sun. But I'm going to be good and play the patient game with this one.

Here's one more with the bc bench buddy. They really are such a magnificent species.

 

[rjr9603]

The BC is looking great!

 

[BThibodeaux]

I quite enjoy seeing your BCs progress. You have peeked my curiosity.

What style are you going for eventfully. Id love to see photos of what the end product may look like.

 

[Cajunrider]

This baby is just exploding with growth and is the most exciting tree in my garden right now. Just one week from the last pics.
View attachment 549737View attachment 549738

Because I'm an idiot, the bigger and greener it gets, the more I'm tempted to give it more sun. But I'm going to be good and play the patient game with this one.

Here's one more with the bc bench buddy. They really are such a magnificent species.
View attachment 549739

Time to buy a cement mixing tub at Lowes or Home Depot and dunk the pots. Next spring move them to shallow grow boxes or tubs. You will chop the root balls to half of current height then.

 

[Pigskin Pete]

I quite enjoy seeing your BCs progress. You have peeked my curiosity.

What style are you going for eventfully. Id love to see photos of what the end product may look like.

This is my first BC. Honestly, I'm learning as I go with it and don't have too much of a plan, except to keep it alive and try some sort of informal upright or mimic the flat top look. Since I haven't grown them, I don't know what to realistically expect or base a plan on.

I plan on starting a progression thread on this one, just to make a record of it.

 

[Pigskin Pete]

Time to buy a cement mixing tub at Lowes or Home Depot and dunk the pots. Next spring move them to shallow grow boxes or tubs. You will chop the root balls to half of current height then.

Do you mean to fill the tub with water and submerge the current pots in that water, like halfway or so?

I have the tub already because I figured this BC would need to be repot in one for some time before thinking of a refinement pot.

 

[Cajunrider]

Do you mean to fill the tub with water and submerge the current pots in that water, like halfway or so?

I have the tub already because I figured this BC would need to be repot in one for some time before thinking of a refinement pot.

Yes.

 

[Pigskin Pete]

Alright, got 'em dunked. I will have to get another tub for my other tree; that one will be black. I can cover this one in duct tape if for some reason the clear plastic is an issue.

From here I will just water as normal and keep this tub topped off. I will allow the foliage to grow unimpeded and unperturbed. I will keep it in the same light spot thatcit has been loving where it gets light until about 1 pm then shade.