Show us your Oak (Quercus) Pre-Bonsai

[Zaratrusta]

This is another of my oaks (Quercus robur). I collected it 2 years ago and the buds are about to burst open. I’m still unsure on what to do with it. Do I want a larger tree growing the right trunk or go for a more compact one?
What are your thoughts on this?
(In the next repot I will adress those ugly roots on the left )

 

[doctorater]

This is another of my oaks (Quercus robur). I collected it 2 years ago and the buds are about to burst open. I’m still unsure on what to do with it. Do I want a larger tree growing the right trunk or go for a more compact one?
What are your thoughts on this?
(In the next repot I will adress those ugly roots on the left )
View attachment 424675

That one's going to be nice.

 

[doctorater]

@miker, did you imagine when you started this thread in September of 2017 it would still be active in March of 2022 with over 260 posts?

 

[Potawatomi13]

This is another of my oaks (Quercus robur). I collected it 2 years ago and the buds are about to burst open. I’m still unsure on what to do with it. Do I want a larger tree growing the right trunk or go for a more compact one?
What are your thoughts on this?
(In the next repot I will adress those ugly roots on the left )
View attachment 424675

Personally not a fan of trees under 2'. Changing angle of tree can solve root issue . May also bring roots other side closer to surface. If growing tree/trunk bigger will need bigger growing container.

 

[Joe Dupre']

Maybe a little further along than pre-bonsai. Red oak.......not sure the exact kind. Oaks are so hard to identify.

 

[John P.]

View attachment 425137
Nice. This actually gives me an idea for one of my q. lobatas. Thanks for posting.

 

[Joe Dupre']

View attachment 425137
Nice. This actually gives me an idea for one of my q. lobatas. Thanks for posting.

Thanks, John. The tree came from the edge of a cleared pipeline right of way. The angle is natural but I did all the carving from a plain cut-off stump.

 

[BeepBeepBonsaiSheep]

Holm oak I got going. Both came from my neighbor

The tree died back, but I trunk chopped it to see what would happen. Ended up sending up suckers. I want to see if I can make any of them work

One dried a little from a missed watering, so decided to repot that smaller as an experiment to see how to go about cutting down the ball and stuff. I know oaks get pissed if you even THINK about touching their roots. If it survives, then I know the one I WANT to keep will prob do ok. If it goes belly up, I know not to waste my time on the other

There were a number of new, white colored roots, so I know it grew some since end of summer. Unfortunately, most fell off while trying to cut the ball down to fit. Mostly cut bad roots doing nothing. Prob reduced the ball 25%. Maybe more. I don’t believe I was anywhere close to 50%

And I know you should leave slow growing species alone after collection for at least 2yrs, so the one I want to keep won’t be messed with until at least next season 2023

My main reason was the big pots are filled with mostly normal dirt and must weigh 50lbs at least prob closer to 60-70lbs. I use a dolly to move them IF I need to move them. At least now I can easily lift the smaller 5 gal pot

 

[Grilltender]

This is one «potensai» found south in Norway. 2 inch thick trunk with good amount of fine roots near the base. Hopefully it will stay alive and end up as a bonsai in a few years

 

[Potawatomi13]

Maybe a little further along than pre-bonsai. Red oak.......not sure the exact kind. Oaks are so hard to identify.

View attachment 425137

Nice base.

 

[Grilltender]

One «potensai» from 2021. Have been recovering in a pot and repoted today. I’m thinking of cutting the two branches after this year growth and let the tiny one in the middle be the new top. A bonsai in a few years….

 

[John P.]

One «potensai» from 2021. Have been recovering in a pot and repoted today. I’m thinking of cutting the two branches after this year growth and let the tiny one in the middle be the new top. A bonsai in a few years….

It’s hard to tell how tall this one is, but I’d be concerned with the long, straight lower trunk on this one. Maybe let it grow vigorously, chop and wait for lower buds to turn into a new leader?

Or go for a more slender, younger oak feminine look:

 

[Grilltender]

It’s hard to tell how tall this one is, but I’d be concerned with the long, straight lower trunk on this one. Maybe let it grow vigorously, chop and wait for lower buds to turn into a new leader?

Or go for a more slender, younger oak feminine look:

View attachment 425386

Thank you for very good input .I will have that in mind when I decide what to do The tree is probably 40cm from base to the branches and ca 5cm diameter.

 

[WWB-Walter]

WWB in BC -- three samples of more
1. Three Oak Planting
2. Trunk Damaged larger dwarfing two smaller Oaks
3. Single Oak
All of them gathered as Squirrel planted specimen -- working on more.
Comments are welcome

 

[Potawatomi13]

WWB in BC -- three samples of more
1. Three Oak Planting
2. Trunk Damaged larger dwarfing two smaller Oaks
3. Single Oak
All of them gathered as Squirrel planted specimen -- working on more.
Comments are welcome

Nice Fall color.

 

[19Mateo83]

I collected this willow oak a few days ago. It had a sister tree growing beside it that was dwarfing it.

 

[AnutterBonsai]

My Q. Lobata (valley oak) from evergreen gardenworks. Leafing out!

 

[Potawatomi13]

HAPPY Spring. Great to see many having Oak inspiration.

 

[AnutterBonsai]

My Q. Lobata (valley oak) from evergreen gardenworks. Leafing out!

i would like to learn more on how to properly grow this type of oak. If anyone has any tips or resources that go deep in explanation, i'd be very interested in.

 

[Shogun610]

Haven’t gotten around to posting nor sharing because bad cold.But got this Thursday ground grown White Oak , Quercus Alba from a natives grower. Top died was originally 6 ft tall.. but branches left are budding out , new buds up top near cut. Repotted this Thursday in Akadama and Lava with some pine bark.
Was too nice to be inside all weekend so I took some photos of it. Going to chop it lower next year just want to let it recover I took off 1/3 of roots.
front
Back