Quercus virginiana

[Jay Wilson]

Yes Clyde, the video really helps to show what you have done.

Brian has got it. Do as he says, and you'll come out fine.

I find it interesting that the leaves you have are the juvenile form of the live oak. Mature leaves will not have the points and will have a bit of a cup to them.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[mcpesq817]

Looking good! In a day or two, as the branches relax a bit, go back in and try to exaggerate the movement in the first couple inches of each primary branch coming off the trunk. 3-4 years from now, you'll be very glad you did. 2 reasons:
1. As branches thicken, the movement softens.
2. You are developing a bonsai, one section at a time, the first few inches in those primary branches are the next section, anything presently beyond that area serves to develop that section, and will be removed later, in favor of tertiary growth coming off those primary branches.

Yeah, I wouldn't worry about wiring out all the ends of the branches and fine branching at this point, since, as Brian says, you'll be removing all that growth later (so you're wasting wire doing all that detail wiring now). Important thing is to get the initial movement (inch or two) off the trunk in the right direction.

One thing I did do was to wire the initial inch or two, then make sure that the branch ends were pointing up - that seems to give them added vigor.

 

[grouper52]

That video is quite nice, both as a video, and in terms of what it shows.

Well done video, and very well done baby bending. You have really got the 3D gnarliness idea down!

I wouldn't worry about over-doing the baby bending too far out - I used to do that as well. It's fun, gives extra experience, and if you unwrap and re-use the wire rather than cut it off - as our little group up here does - it costs you nothing.

Again, great work. Gonna be a nice tree!

 

[milehigh_7]

This tree is a VERY strong grower. After only a few weeks the wire had bitten in quite deeply. Also one of the large branches that I tried to get some bend into broke. (no big loss it was too big) So I pruned it back again after I took the wire off so I could get some shoots I could work with off the first ones. After the pruning I have 3" shoots and the apex shoot is 8" in a week. Darn humic acid...

 

[milehigh_7]

Baby bending part deux

First, this thing is so aggressive. You can see how much growth it has put on from this post a week and an a half ago.

http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?10623-Where-art-thou-spring!&p=135830#post135830

to this last night:
You can see just a bit of wire on it. I thought I better get a pic of it before the disaster struck. (I am pretty bad at wiring)

By the way, many say live oak don't make good bonsai and I can't for the life of me figure out why.

 

[milehigh_7]

Mind you, all that growth came after I gave it its first big root prune. Last winter. I flat cut a bit more than 1/2 of the root mass with my sawzall and rinsed all the nursery mud out of it.

I plopped it back in it's pond basket and gave it some good soil.


Here is what I did to it last night. The branches should set in about a week. Then I will have to cut the wire off to prevent scaring. Yes it grows that fast.

 

[JudyB]

That's a good problem to have. I love oak bonsai, but don't see many of them. I'm acquiring a cork oak next week from Bob Potts, can't wait!!

 

[my nellie]

Any updates available, please
Thank you!

 

[milehigh_7]

Any updates available, please
Thank you!

A sad tale of self-inflicted life wounds. The last time we lost everything, (house, job, wife had just been diagnosed with cancer) this was a casualty. Still haunts me as to what might have been. Just lost my collection for the 4th time. It's getting old. I have no idea if I will ever keep more than a few trees again. We shall see.

 

[my nellie]

@milehigh_7 I feel guilty that I asked this question....
Painful memories reverting to your mind...
Please, accept my apologies BUT good thing is you are still here!
I wish the best to your wife and I would like to kindly ask you to cut one or two fragrant leaves of your Vitex and offer them to your dearest half with all my heart felt encouragement.

 

[milehigh_7]

@milehigh_7 I feel guilty that I asked this question....
Painful memories reverting to your mind...
Please, accept my apologies BUT good thing is you are still here!
I wish the best to your wife and I would like to kindly ask you to cut one or two fragrant leaves of your Vitex and offer them to your dearest half with all my heart felt encouragement.

No worries, life is full of memories. Some good some bad but ultimately they are all what you make of them. Thank you so much for the kind words! I have fostered my 2 of my Vitex and my Emperor Pom with @AZbonsai! So thankful for good friends.

 

[AZbonsai]

@milehigh_7 Glad to do it Clyde! I will do my best to keep them going. They can stay as long as you like. I would offer this to @bonsainut
I hope when the soil wars are raging, and the nastiness is rearing its ugly head on your site, and you feel like pulling the plug, you will also take into account the community of people that has come together through your efforts. A community of people who offer knowledge, support, prayers and resources to total strangers whose only connection is the title of fellow bnutter. I hope that knowledge gives you a good feeling deep inside, because it should!
Long live Bonsai Nut!

 

[Potawatomi13]

A sad tale of self-inflicted life wounds. The last time we lost everything, (house, job, wife had just been diagnosed with cancer) this was a casualty. Still haunts me as to what might have been. Just lost my collection for the 4th time. It's getting old. I have no idea if I will ever keep more than a few trees again. We shall see.

Most sorry. Hard to imagine such loss but have always tried not to live beyond poor means so as to avoid.

 

[milehigh_7]

Most sorry. Hard to imagine such loss but have always tried not to live beyond poor means so as to avoid.

I have battled severe depression for years. Unfortunately, when crossed with pride it prevents you from admitting the source of the problems and seeking help. I do believe I have a handle on my life for the first time ever so we shall see. I am choosing to make this a positive experience.

 

[my nellie]

@milehigh_7 Glad to do it Clyde! I will do my best to keep them going. They can stay as long as you like. I would offer this to @bonsainut
I hope when the soil wars are raging, and the nastiness is rearing its ugly head on your site, and you feel like pulling the plug, you will also take into account the community of people that has come together through your efforts. A community of people who offer knowledge, support, prayers and resources to total strangers whose only connection is the title of fellow bnutter. I hope that knowledge gives you a good feeling deep inside, because it should!
Long live Bonsai Nut!

Bravo! Bravo!

 

[my nellie]

... ...I do believe I have a handle on my life for the first time ever so we shall see. I am choosing to make this a positive experience.

Yes, Yes, Sir!
We shall see you standing again!
We shall see you supporting your beloved half through her difficult road!
We shall see you sharing your work and future projects for your trees here with all the rest of us!
God bless you and your family!