Ginkgo from seed

[Brian Van Fleet]

May have some fall color before too long...

 

[JudyB]

so cool this one.

 

[fredtruck]

It is beautiful, and fall colors on gingkoes are out of this world.

 

[Dav4]

There's a hint of yellow in there already... looking forward to the show!

 

[Rambles]

Thank you for this thread! I happened across a forgotten Mariken ginkgo at the local nursery the other day and this thread is inspiring me.

But I do have a question. Most of the full-sized mature ginkgo trees I've seen are wide with a triangular or mound profile, whereas most of the ginkgo bonsai seems to tend toward the flame shape. Is there a particular reason for this beyond personal taste?

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Thank you for this thread! I happened across a forgotten Mariken ginkgo at the local nursery the other day and this thread is inspiring me.

But I do have a question. Most of the full-sized mature ginkgo trees I've seen are wide with a triangular or mound profile, whereas most of the ginkgo bonsai seems to tend toward the flame shape. Is there a particular reason for this beyond personal taste?

It’s probably just a result of how they respond to pruning. I’m going for the wide vase-shape like it’s parent tree has:

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Fall color!

 

[JudyB]

Correction
AWESOME fall color. Great pot for that pop.

 

[Cadillactaste]

You must feel immense pride that you developed this from seed. Spectacular fall show.

 

[JoeR]

Fall color!
View attachment 165997

Like Darlene said, I can’t imagine how awesome it feels to have grown a show stopper from seed. Quite a feat to keep it alive and progressing all those years, amazing.

What mix do you have yours in? Looks pretty coarse whatever it is. How often do you have to repot?

 

[Cadillactaste]

Repotted...
View attachment 96869

Trying to decipher your rhyme and reason to pruning these. I see some you cut way back...and very few you left much longer to keep the shape. Might cut mine back in the spring...so I can go in with a game plan of action.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Trying to decipher your rhyme and reason to pruning these. I see some you cut way back...and very few you left much longer to keep the shape. Might cut mine back in the spring...so I can go in with a game plan of action.

Thick branches are cut shorter, thin branches are left a bit longer. All about balance.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Thick branches are cut shorter, thin branches are left a bit longer. All about balance.

Thank you...that should help me a bit. Been studying your before and after photo. Adair said mine needs cut back hard. was thinking one-two internodes being left on some. It's about naked...will grab a photo and study it.

 

[sorce]

Wow...what a big trunk.....
I wonder what sized Chocolate Brown Bag shaped oval pot with good visual structure this tree will fit in....
Exactly.

12x8x2.5-3?

I haven't been able to get "chocolate brown bag shaped oval" out of my head since it was posted in Caddi's thread.

Then, some of my test tiles came out looking like Straight Hershey.

And......
I don't think I can make a "chocolate brown bag shaped oval" as nice as the previously pictures ones.....

But since this All American tree deserves an All American pot....

I'm going to make "chocolate brown bag shaped oval" pots with good visual structure until I make one you can't help but want to put this in.

And since I'm forcing it on you, I'll make you another if you like.

And that still wouldn't be enough to thank you for being BVF.

So........

How many attempts before success you reckon?

Sorce

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

First, thank you for the kind offer. If it’s what you want to do, I’ll accept your challenge. The current pot is 14” x 11” x 3”, outside dimensions, and it could handle being 1/4” deeper.

Second, like trees; pots show age through the experience of the maker, and through time on the benches. There is no substitute for either (as I was trying to express to Walter yesterday). While I don’t expect you to produce a Gyouzan in your first month, it is what I am shopping for my Ginkgo at this stage.

I say that upfront so you know that I am picky about pots and pairing, so you need to let me know how you want this to go: are you looking for an honest but tough critic until it’s the forever pot, or getting one made that I’ll use for a year?

BTW, some of your glazes are turning out very nice, and many of your pots are nicely proportioned. Unglazed pots are a whole different animal because they are so raw, it’s potter and clay. There is nowhere to hide flaws. Everything has to be perfect; simple, clean, elegant, smooth, and functional. It’s a brave undertaking, but I imagine it can be really rewarding.

 

[sorce]

honest but tough critic until it’s the forever pot

Nice.

There's only one thing left to say.......

Sorce

 

[sorce]

outside dimensions, and it could handle being 1/4” deeper.

What is the planting area depth now?

Or the base thickness and foot height?

Sorce

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

What is the planting area depth now?

Or the base thickness and foot height?

Sorce

If you mean inside dimensions, I’d have to try and calculate that. It’s full of ginkgo right now. Let me shoot some pix with a ruler, but I may not have a chance before Friday.

 

[discusmike]

Not big on the species but yours is nice Brian

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Leafless...

And pruned: