Ginkgo from seed

[Brian Van Fleet]

Nice shot of the leaves. Maybe someday they'll stay this small...

 

[Borg]

Amazing thread! I just started some ginko seeds this spring (to see if I could). The oldest/strongest currently is already experiencing some abuse by me... I'm experimenting with the idea of making it into a cascade bonsai... And since I currently have no wire, the pot is on its side, wrapped with some plastic so the soil doesn't fall out, and I have the plant laying against a plastic tube... "Use what ya got,"as my father used to say...lol

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Night shot...

 

[JudyB]

If you find the trick to smaller leaves let me in on it, mine are large and it's totally pot bound. Nice trio there.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Summer update. Done growing for the year and just hanging out in the sun.

 

[AlainK]

Great, great great!

Twenty years of good care, and what a result. I love this approach to bonsai, growing from seeds or cuttings or air-layerings and taking the time to achieve.

Thumbs up mate

 

[AlainK]

If you find the trick to smaller leaves let me in on it, mine are large and it's totally pot bound.

I tried defoliating it once, and it worked reasonably well but it hadn't been repotted for at least 4 years.

I tried it again last year, second year after repotting, and it was not conclusive at all.

So if anyone knows a trick, I'm interested too

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Peak of fall cooler. It will be leafless in a few days. Amazing how much the roots have pushed the soil level up in 1 year.

 

[LanceMac10]

Peak of fall cooler. It will be leafless in a few days. Amazing how much the roots have pushed the soil level up in 1 year.
View attachment 124234 View attachment 124235

The shot in the sun is just glorious!!
Must get some positive comments from your houseguests this time of year....holy smokes!!

 

[JudyB]

Gorgeous!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Must get some positive comments from your houseguests this time of year....holy smokes!!

Depends who's here I guess. My mom is here right now and hasn't even looked out back. Mrs. VF and I are hosting the appetizer course of a progressive dinner next week, and I have already been warned that it better not turn into a tour of the bonsai garden. Not everyone is a BonsaiNut!

 

[MACH5]

Depends who's here I guess. My mom is here right now and hasn't even looked out back. We are hosting the appetizer course of a progressive dinner next week, and I have already been warned that it better not turn into a tour of the bonsai garden. Not everyone is a BonsaiNut!

Beautiful Bian. Love these ginkgos!!


Last year, the husband of a friend of my wife came by. He looked into the garden and said to me: "I don't get it, they're just trees in a pot". He has not been invited here again. After all, he was just a knucklehead in ill fitting pants.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Nekked shot. Not pruned yet, but maybe this weekend.

 

[aml1014]

I've read so many times that ginkgo will not heal large wounds, yet one I collected this spring has already healed all wounds made to the branches and is well on its way to healing the trunk chop. I wonder why people say they don't heal?

Aaron

 

[iant]

Brian,
Your ginkgo is quite impressive.
For comparison, I've had this little ginkgo 14 years and I think it may have been 5 years old when I bought it. So I put it at about 19 y.o.
It's been a little neglected. It never got the best spot in the yard. I never really let it grow out. It's never been in the ground.
It's amazing the difference between a tree in the right place and right conditions versus a tree that's just getting by. I think these 2 ginkgos may only be a year apart in age. Mine has less than a 1 inch trunk.
I thought you might find the comparison interesting.
Ian

 

[just.wing.it]

@Brian Van Fleet
I have a question for you.... awesome tree BTW! very cool!..
While it was growing in the ground for 14 years, did you also "root prune" it with long sharp spade?

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I wonder why people say they don't heal?

Mine heals fast, probably on par with Japanese Maples. All I can think is that when pruned, they do die back to a node, and they do not heal around the stub, so when pruning, it is important to cut flush, or slightly concaved, and I've never had problems with it closing wounds.

I think these 2 ginkgos may only be a year apart in age.
I thought you might find the comparison interesting.

Yes, that is one of the most fascinating phenomenons to me. Thanks for sharing. The 7 seeds from this batch that germinated all ended up very different in growth rates and appearance. One that I had to dig up several times is probably about as big as yours too.

While it was growing in the ground for 14 years, did you also "root prune" it with long sharp spade?

Yes, and more importantly, some very hard, low trunk chops along the way.

 

[Giga]

you have some of the greatest nudes

 

[PeaceLoveBonsai]

A very inspiring thread. Posts like these keep me sane in the winter.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Pruned back...