Hornbeam, collected March 2017

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I'm starting this thread to eventually become a progression thread. I collected this hornbeam, Carpinus carolinianus March 2017, on the family group owned blueberry farm near South Haven, Michigan.

Cut roots to maybe 4 inches diameter and 2 inches depth. Not much root at all. It sprouted slow and weak, until early July and then it picked up, sprouted more branches.

Today I shortened all the branches to 2 or 3 buds. Reduced clusters of branches to just a single branch on the trunk. Wired and bent the leader to continue with the trunk. I did not shorten the leader, as I want it to bulk up. We'll see how it goes this summer.

Probable front


Back


Side

 

[AZbonsai]

Nice.

 

[Soldano666]

Nice Leo. I have several I dug last year and have been making the same branch reductions, and cut backs this past week. I love this species so far. Mine reacted the same with or without many roots. Real slow to get going after collection.

 

[WNC Bonsai]

I have three collected a month or so ago. No buds pushing yet so I am getting a little anxious. I dribble Rhizotonic over them every couple days in hopes of encouraging them. Maybe a few days basking in the warm sunshine will help.

 

[Tieball]

You have a good strong wire in place. I think I’d bend it more to get a little movement or angle to that top leader growing....unless it’s already to thick to bend. The first movement, slight angle, seems up high (with nothing to measure I’d say about 7”-8” Up). The wire says bending movement...but a line drawn through the actual branch looks perfectly straight. Several people have told me to wire in exaggerated bends because they can smooth out quickly...and straight...if not bent enough. Unfortunately, that higher-up movement area will likely be chopped off when that section of the trunk has grown thick enough. I really don’t know your end expectation or plan so I’m just talking through my observations from a distance. In my area...the Hornbeams seem to grow shoots only from the base of the trunk...way down at root level...or way up high on a new leader...nothing in the middle. Frustrating. But nice muscular trunk definition.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

The first segment of the trunk is slanted, but otherwise straight as an arrow. That segment is almost 8 inches. The first segment has set the theme for the tree, it will be straight as an arrow, with movement coming from the branches.

So with that thought, I bent the leader to continue the straight line. My plan is to finish the tree around 24 to 30 inches tall. The leader was originally at about 30 degrees from the trunk, growing perfectly vertical. It looked unnatural coming off the slanted trunk. It is a young tree. I suppose I could change my mind later. For now I think the straight line is an improvement over the previous.

I believe when I repot, I am going to try to make the trunk vertical for a more formal upright look. By continueing the straight line through the second and subsequent segments, I can change the angle of the trunk in any direction. I'm hoping for more vertical. But we will see if the tree cooperates.