Is It Worth It ?

[Ja_De 2.0]

Material with bonsai potential is often hiding in plain sight. I came up on this tree which I believe to be Eastern Red Cedar, while walking home tonight.

Certainly possessed of resilience, but is it worth the collection effort ?

 

[pandacular]

Betteridge's law of headlines - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

I've come across seedlings like this. It's likely that you could just pull it straight out of its moorings. You would end up with a bare-rooted ERC, and you might have enough roots for it to survive. This is where your question comes into play. ERC is notoriously challenging for bonsai culture. At this stage, assuming it survives and recovers, it will be a long process. It's basically as if you're starting from seed. On one hand, you'd have complete control over its shaping, pruning, apex, etc. But it puts you behind the curve as far as appearance of age. Do as much research as you need; you're ultimately the only one who can answer your own question.
But as @pandacular pointed out, you probably already know.

 

[Paradox]

I'd say no.

Pulling it out of the crack in between the pavement and curb as stated above will bare root it and not be a gentle process. That alone could kill it. Also it's color does not look like it's healthy and might even be dead already. Lastly as mentioned, ERC doesn't really lend itself well to bonsai culture and can be notoriously difficult to work with.

 

[rockm]

Looks pretty dead to me. If it's in a street drain, it's probably salt poisoning

 

[Ja_De 2.0]

Thanks all for the replies. The post was to a degree made in jest. I do fear the tree is somewhere between barely alive and almost dead. Collection will undoubtedly have it's challenges. I will likely leave it be. Still the tree's location...

 

[vp999]

Do it ...Worst care you're doing the store a favor since it's gonna get sprayed or pulled out anyway.

 

[19Mateo83]

Looks pretty dead to me. If it's in a street drain, it's probably salt poisoning

This Its dead as a door nail

 

[Ja_De 2.0]

Do it ...Worst care you're doing the store a favor since it's gonna get sprayed or pulled out anyway.

You're correct in a sense. I may try my hand... As noted it doesn't look like I promising but as you say what's there to lose?

 

[vp999]

You're correct in a sense. I may try my hand... As noted it doesn't look like I promising but as you say what's there to lose?

Is this in Salisbury? lol

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

This Its dead as a door nail

The door nail might be more likely to leaf out...

 

[MMJNICE]

Trust me..... there is literally thousands of those things right under your nose. I'm guessing you just got into bonsai in the last year or so because once you start doing bonsai you will notice all kinds of trees you never gave a thought or even a glance at before bonsai.. ERC are not rare by any means and that young there is thousands that look just like that baby tree. Moving right along.... .. . Btw I've never had a problem bare rooting those little guys older trees are much harder to keep alive. I think most people give up on them before they even die and that way they really die.. I've had one for years in a pot. It took 2 years to recover from collecting. But little saplings recover pretty easily fiy

 

[Ja_De 2.0]

What gave the location away ?!! The curb/ walkway in front of SUBRUNNERS is certainly unique but still... You must have a discriminating eye for detail.

Reviewing my photos to identify any obvious "tells" regarding location, that I employed a cig. lighter to establish scale amuses me greatly. Superfluous due to the curb.

 

[Ja_De 2.0]

Trust me..... there is literally thousands of those things right under your nose. I'm guessing you just got into bonsai in the last year or so because once you start doing bonsai you will notice all kinds of trees you never gave a thought or even a glance at before bonsai.. ERC are not rare by any means and that young there is thousands that look just like that baby tree. Moving right along....

I was first exposed to the art of bonsai by two gentleman. Mr. Myagi needs no introduction and the second was my BFF's father. Ty who would become a great friend, mentor and "father" to me in time, first learned of bonsai while studying karate at a Japanese dojo during the 1960's. His method of avoiding becoming involved in The Viet Nam Conflict was successful, productive and a "treasure trove" of great stories of adventure.

These men gave me my initial bonsai lessons somewhat concurrently when I was around 12 or 13 years of age. The first tree I killed, was my first tree that had its place of honor atop the TV set in the living room.

IMO no "SERIOUS" bonsai enthusiast has failed to commit "juni-cide" or something approximating this.

The degree to which I've been involved with this amazing and vastly rewarding artform ( I hope it continues to produce unexpected moments of joy and wonder for me, as this tree has done. ) has waxed and waned over the past 38 years but never have I not been involved in some way.

Sorry to wax philosophical but your erroneous assumption provoked contemplative thoughts. Perhaps due to my completing 50 laps around the Big Bright Light this past weekend... I do agree with much of your insight regarding ERCs. Tomorrow the little guy will come home with me. As the needles are neither dry/ brittle or easily pulled loose there is a sliver of hope...

Thanks for contributing my friend.

 

[vp999]

What gave the location away ?!! The curb/ walkway in front of SUBRUNNERS is certainly unique but still... You must have a discriminating eye for detail.

Reviewing my photos to identify any obvious "tells" regarding location, that I employed a cig. lighter to establish scale amuses me greatly. Superfluous due to the curb.

Sorry to expose the location...Now thousands of bonsai enthusiast are flocking there hoping to get that ERC lol.

 

[MMJNICE]

I was first exposed to the art of bonsai by two gentleman. Mr. Myagi needs no introduction and the second was my BFF's father. Ty who would become a great friend, mentor and "father" to me in time, first learned of bonsai while studying karate at a Japanese dojo during the 1960's. His method of avoiding becoming involved in The Viet Nam Conflict was successful, productive and a "treasure trove" of great stories of adventure.

These men gave me my initial bonsai lessons somewhat concurrently when I was around 12 or 13 years of age. The first tree I killed, was my first tree that had its place of honor atop the TV set in the living room.

IMO no "SERIOUS" bonsai enthusiast has failed to commit "juni-cide" or something approximating this.

The degree to which I've been involved with this amazing and vastly rewarding artform ( I hope it continues to produce unexpected moments of joy and wonder for me, as this tree has done. ) has waxed and waned over the past 38 years but never have I not been involved in some way.

Sorry to wax philosophical but your erroneous assumption provoked contemplative thoughts. Perhaps due to my completing 50 laps around the Big Bright Light this past weekend... I do agree with much of your insight regarding ERCs. Tomorrow the little guy will come home with me. As the needles are neither dry/ brittle or easily pulled loose there is a sliver of hope...

Thanks for contributing my friend.

Really glad to hear you will decide to pull him out it's concrete ,,soon to be grave if it stays where it is.. unless it's in an abandon parking lot. They can grow years and years in those little cracks in the concrete if left to their own devices. If bare rooting i would suggest keeping a wet piece of newspaper or napkin to hold the roots until you can throw it in a pot. Or just bring a bit of soil, water and a pot then immediately pot him or her up right ,,Then and there. If i slightly offended your bonsai honor I do apologize. I've never had anyone personally teach me anything about bonsai so I'd say you got more enough experience in that department. I wish I had someone trained in Japan or karate..to teach me stuff because I've pretty much learned the hard way what to do or not to do. I hope the little guy makes it and I hope you stick with bonsai this time around. For me it's been a life saver.

 

[Ja_De 2.0]

You have no way offended me in the least and so no apology is necessary.

After closer inspection during daylight hours; I don't believe it can be removed without significant damage to the roots. It shall remain where it is.