Show us your Oak (Quercus) Pre-Bonsai

[Bonsai Orange County]

There are some wonderful trees on this thread. Its been fun scrolling through. Thought I would join the fun and post my collected live oak from Bob Shimon. This one will remain in its large trainer for another season, before a repot and look at the roots.

With some trimming, branch selection, and wire I think it will make a wonderful shonin. Still spending time now trying to figure out where to start my "attack." As always, thoughts appreciated.

 

[Alcam]

There are some wonderful trees on this thread. Its been fun scrolling through. Thought I would join the fun and post my collected live oak from Bob Shimon. This one will remain in its large trainer for another season, before a repot and look at the roots.

With some trimming, branch selection, and wire I think it will make a wonderful shonin. Still spending time now trying to figure out where to start my "attack." As always, thoughts appreciated.

Looks like a great candidate. A little cleaning, wiring, and selection does look like all it needs at this stage.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Be mindful this is not time to repot/work roots. Late Winter/early Spring just before growth begins. Active growing needed for root restablishment. This is beginning of dormant time for most trees. If wanting trunk growth at all need to keep in growing container not go smaller and smaller. Also please add location to profile.

 

[Kokosunica]

Este es mi "yamadori"


And this is my goal

 

[Dermot]

Don't have any pics of it in leaf unfortunately. It's in quite poor soil at the moment. The miler clay is just a topping. Will be giving it a repot in spring.

 

[BrianBay9]

My latest coast live oaks, collected this morning.......

 

[John P.]

Nice. I really need to go digging.

 

[Wulfskaar]

I look forward to see what you do with it!

 

[Housguy]

Little cork oak that is starting to cork out nicely.

 

[John P.]

Little cork oak that is starting to cork out nicely.
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Nice. How long has this one been growing?

 

[Bonsai Orange County]

Little cork oak that is starting to cork out nicely.
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Very nice!! I just got this one. Very similar to yours!!

 

[Crazy Diamond]

What oak you guys thinks its the best for bonsai?

 

[John P.]

What oak you guys thinks its the best for bonsai?

Canary Islands? Is that Zone 10? I’m in Zone 10 in California. Coast Oaks are native here—they’re great. So are All the other California Oaks—I grow several different ones.

Cork oak (q. Suber) would be a great, and also native option to your area. They are great here, too. Wonderful barking that gives illusion of age.

Every oak I grow is easy to work with. Love em all.

 

[BrianBay9]

Canary Islands? Is that Zone 10? I’m in Zone 10 in California. Coast Oaks are native here—they’re great. So are All the other California Oaks—I grow several different ones.

Cork oak (q. Suber) would be a great, and also native option to your area. They are great here, too. Wonderful barking that gives illusion of age.

Every oak I grow is easy to work with. Love em all.

 

[Canada Bonsai]

Here is my tray of oaks! Konara oak (Quercus serrata).

I started them from seed in Spring 2021. Long road ahead.

(white spots are from pesticide/fungicide)

 

[Housguy]

How long has this one been growing?

Since 2015.

 

[Housguy]

Very nice!! I just got this one. Very similar to yours!!
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I love the dense foliage you got going on with this tree!

 

[Bonsai Orange County]

I love the dense foliage you got going on with this tree!

Thanks! I like that too, but I really like the movement you have going on with yours!!

 

[El Tigre de Bonsai]

Wow, a lot of amazing trees in this thread. If anyone needs advice on how to kill Oaks send me a DM. Im an expert.

 

[El Tigre de Bonsai]

Here's one I have that I took a leap of faith with this year in mid February as new growth was starting. Its a coast live oak I collected 4-5 years ago. As you can see in the pics, it was very healthy with strong growth prior to repotting and severely root pruning. I wish I was better at taking pictures to show more clearly how much had to be cut off to even get it into a bonsai training pot. I may need to take off more in the future. I had it in a wood grow out box and felt it was time to get it into something smaller. I didn't remember what the roots looked like but the sawzall became a necessity after removing the old soil. I bare rooted it and did my regular process with coast live oaks of soaking the roots prior to any work. I was hoping it wouldn't drop its leaves as these are known to do with root work but after 2 weeks it dropped 90+%. It came back with new buds on all branches within a month or so. I'm really curious what's going on under the soil.

Wow, now that is a scary root cut.