Let's see those dwarf Alberta spruce jams
- Thread starter Soldano666
- Start date
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
canadianlights
Yamadori
Considering its May, and the trees I got on sale are filled with new growth, is it okay to do a heavy prune?
RJG2
Omono
Here's mine, I hope it survives. Started as a Christmas tree (and we used it as one), but has been in the ground for 4 or 5 years. No much on interior foliage, but we'll see what happens next year once it settles. Was thinking about a slant style due to the curve, but I'm not sure the roots will allow it. I'll start a thread if I make it to styling...
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
How on sale were they?
I usually prune while dormant, I don't think they'll die...but. ..
There's 2 set safe paths IMO.
Don't prune anything (or very little) and pot it the first year. Preferred.
Or Prune hard and wait till it's back to what it was before it's safe to Repot again.
You see how the second way is automatically wasting time? Since you essentially have to wait for it to be back to what it was.
Unless you are actively styling it whilst it is getting back to health, but that usually includes one step forward, two back, and adds quite a bit of time onto when you're safe to Repot again. And by then, them roots have only gotten worse. More set in their ugly ways, more intertwined, more difficult to deal with, which makes the repot more risky.
After you've wasted/used between 3 and 10 years "styling" it.
Best to prune as little as possible and get it potted first, regardless of time, or spring folaige.
Sorce
BonjourBonsai
Chumono
And the timing for repotting (including a 30 % root prune) is after the summer solstice?
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
For 30% sure!
However, the reason I stress this "system", leave the folaige, rain and wane, summer Repot....
Is for the allowance of removing 70% or basically, whatever it takes to get the tree "bonsai potable". Which means, into a basket of the appropriate size to simply slip the entire rootmass into a bonsai pot later, or into a bonsai pot itself.
This way, you have zero worry of a future Repot killing the tree, along with any progress that you have made.
I'd rather kill 6 trees in one year than one in 6!
But they rarely die, only one mugo has died as a direct result of this treatment. And it was effrooted like a Deciduous tree! Another effrooted one lived.
Go Ham!
Sorce
BonjourBonsai
Chumono
Thanks @sorce. I like those numbers!
I repotted a DAS last spring in early March ish. I didn't take off too much of the root mass, maybe 1/3. It pushed a little new growth during the spring but then in August it gave up the ghost. So I'm a little anxious about root pruning the others I have. I think I applied deciduous timing instead spruce steps.
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
My $5 Alberta is the most telling story of well timed abuse, nudged over the edge.
Barely nudged.
....
.Finding and walking that line with that tree is some of what has brought these ideas. It perished so informatively.
Sorce
canadianlights
Yamadori
They were like 60% percent off, at Lowe's in Canada.
If I plan on doing a forest with the trees, how should I go about repotting? The amount of foliage and branches are way too much for what I need currently.
Thanks!
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
That's a tuff one! Catch 22 huh?
I was going to buy the trees for one myself If I found em this year, still never thought about it for mine!
I would probly start by leaving them full and whacking the roots to fit into individual shallow basket, half a pond basket or less. Maybe a couple pairs or 3fers.
Maybe situating the 2 main trees together.
Allow them to recover in the baskets and grow a nice compact shallow rootmass.
Then assemble the forest in 2-3 years.
Lotta "it depends" will go into the building them, since what we know (read, take pics and write Down) about the roots will help determine positions and such.
For example, trees with more roots on the right will go on the left.
But we also have to be concerned with branching.
One very important thing. We haven't gotten over our impatience with forests. The seedlings mashed together and called forest in so many "workshops" poison our mindsets. Funny cuz we preach go slow, and slap together the shittiest forests like, "look ma, trees!"
It's quite ridiculous.
You either have to not think at all, which involves my trick of tossing change into a pot and placing the trees where the coins lay.
Or actually taking more than a day to put one together. Actually putting some thought into the design of one.
Walter Pall has well thought out forests, or not, but they are nice!
Sorce
canadianlights
Yamadori
Atom#28
Chumono
bonsaichile
Omono
Sounds like needlecast to me. It affects old needles but notnnew growth
I like this thread!
Purshased this one as my second tree aiming at bonsai 3 years ago. Ikea sale, less than 2 dollars. Repotted into a big deep pot and have been reducing branches in two steps with around a year inbetween. This spring it has had Good growth and I Think it is time to cut the spring flush now.
As this is my first time reducing das spring growth I am not 100% sure how much I should reduce. There are not many weak buds, but those that are Will be left untouched. But the strong once? 50% or more?
Excuse the sloppy wiering, still newbie.
Purshased this one as my second tree aiming at bonsai 3 years ago. Ikea sale, less than 2 dollars. Repotted into a big deep pot and have been reducing branches in two steps with around a year inbetween. This spring it has had Good growth and I Think it is time to cut the spring flush now.
As this is my first time reducing das spring growth I am not 100% sure how much I should reduce. There are not many weak buds, but those that are Will be left untouched. But the strong once? 50% or more?
Excuse the sloppy wiering, still newbie.
Attachments
Eckhoffw
Masterpiece
Of the 18 Christmas sale DAS purchased in 2019, I have this lone survivor.
Lesson learned. Don’t massacre your trees. Even in winter, mine bled dry.
Lesson learned. Don’t massacre your trees. Even in winter, mine bled dry.
BonjourBonsai
Chumono
@Underdog and @Tropfrog , nice job keeping yours healthy and alive!
I have no such talent or luck. Another Das died in mid summer. I'm starting to think that my techniques may have something to do with this
? I surmise that spruce need small steps, both with roots and styling. Smaller than what juniper can handle and light years less than maples. Either that or they just hate me.
I have no such talent or luck. Another Das died in mid summer. I'm starting to think that my techniques may have something to do with this
? I surmise that spruce need small steps, both with roots and styling. Smaller than what juniper can handle and light years less than maples. Either that or they just hate me.In my conditions authumn prunning seems to be the best. They love beeing wet all summer and moist during winter. Slow steps are always good, but I managed a big cutdown on my first das. A bit too much I must confess. It was my first tree and was eager. I still have it, but not sure if it will ever look remotely as a bonsai.
I also have a 3m/10 feet das growing happy in my clay soil garden. I guess the key here is wet as well.
I also have a 3m/10 feet das growing happy in my clay soil garden. I guess the key here is wet as well.
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