Potawatomi13
Imperial Masterpiece
Keep going
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Quick blue oak progression (q. douglasii)
- Thread starter Mikecheck123
- Start date
Mikecheck123
Omono
Buds are popping! It survived the Virginia winter! There's pretty inconsistent information out there about whether this is hardy down to zone 8 or zone 5. Prettty big difference. But these live up in the mountains in California, so I think they're pretty tough. Anyway, not a big surprise that it survived temps down to 11F, but a relief nonetheless.
Mikecheck123
Omono
Time to check the roots. Looking pretty good. I'm a bit disappointed that they didn't fill the whole grow box, though.
Mikecheck123
Omono
So I'm just leaving them alone this year. I'm just going to change the planting angle to hide that ugly root in the back. Better!
Mikecheck123
Omono
I'm just going to grow out the apex this year and try to thicken the trunk. The tree is doing remarkably well with that weird callous at the top. I'll probably cut that all off eventually, but will let it grow strongly for the time being.
Mikecheck123
Omono
One of the biggest mysteries of my life is that all these slats in the grow box used to have little nails in them to hold down the screen. THEY'RE ALL GONE NOW. WHAT HAPPENED????
I take it they all popped out and were lost somewhere between California and Virginia?
I take it they all popped out and were lost somewhere between California and Virginia?
Mikecheck123
Omono
jerzyjerzy
Mame
Mikecheck123
Omono
New growth everywhere, flaking bark, it's about time to style it up for another picture.
AnutterBonsai
Shohin
very pretty tree
Mikecheck123
Omono
My sacrifice branches are going strong, 12-18 inches of growth this year.
But I was wondering--do I have to worry about them being preferred to the detriment of the lower branches?
One thing I've learned about this species is that branches in the shade die back. So I'm trying to keep the lower ones in full sun.
Any other thoughts on that?
But I was wondering--do I have to worry about them being preferred to the detriment of the lower branches?
One thing I've learned about this species is that branches in the shade die back. So I'm trying to keep the lower ones in full sun.
Any other thoughts on that?
Potawatomi13
Imperial Masterpiece
Correct. Get rid of shade. Grow 1-2 tall sacrifices removing low shading branches from these. Same as Telperion Farms Pine trunk development technique. Taller/better
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
Oaks should be in as much full sun as you can get. Shade is your enemy. Shade the grow box when temps get over 95.
Mikecheck123
Omono
After two full seasons in the grow box, I'm not very happy with the root mass. It's just... still so small. I'm going to repot into an Anderson flat and see if that makes a difference.
Mikecheck123
Omono
Trunk aging update after two full seasons with a huge central sacrifice branch.
BrianBay9
Masterpiece
I just got a couple of blue oaks to play with. Can you tell me anything about their response to typical bonsai techniques? Do they back bud well after hard pruning? On the trunk or just branches? Any problem with root pruning?
Mikecheck123
Omono
Hey Brian, hope you're doing well!
Root growth has been very slow for me. So I haven't actually done any pruning yet after 5 years.
One thing I have learned is that mine does not like any kind of shade. It has actually dropped branches that were in shade.
Backbudding seems to be fine, but have just been letting it grow recently.
