Styling the Infamous Picea Glauca

[QuantumSparky]

I know, I know.

"It's a beginner's trap"
"...rarely makes convincing bonsai"
"It looks deceptively easy"

Well it was also 10 bucks and I had an *eh, screw it* attitude. Does anyone have styling tips for this species? What I've done so far is remove branches pointing straight at me, as well as most of the vertical branches, and cut a bunch of tips back to 1 or 2 healthy buds. I know it's a challenge but worst case I just plant it in the ground.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Yikes, it's a damned DAS, Picea glauca 'Dwarf Alberta' spruce. The wild form, or normal type form of Picea glauca has a growth habit intermediate between Colorado blue and European Norway spruce. Quite good for bonsai.

The cultivar 'Dwarf Alberta Spruce' is a unique variation with springy branches that stay flexible and always, always reach for the sky.

You will become accomplished at wiring trying to shape this thing. If you can take it back to the vendor, do so. Otherwise, go for a style where branches rise above horizontal.

 

[QuantumSparky]

Yikes, it's a damned DAS, Picea glauca 'Dwarf Alberta' spruce. The wild form, or normal type form of Picea glauca has a growth habit intermediate between Colorado blue and European Norway spruce. Quite good for bonsai.

The cultivar 'Dwarf Alberta Spruce' is a unique variation with springy branches that stay flexible and always, always reach for the sky.

You will become accomplished at wiring trying to shape this thing. If you can take it back to the vendor, do so. Otherwise, go for a style where branches rise above horizontal.

There is no going back Like I said, it cost next to nothing so I don't mind the probable failure of an attempt. I enjoy stepping out of my league when the risk is so low, so that down the road when I have much more experience, I can attempt the challenge again to benchmark my progress. Not just with this specific tree, but difficult trees in general.

The Hinoki was a failure and a learning experience, so I look forward to attempting another one in the future...hopefully with better results. I think this spruce will most likely serve as a "don't waste your time" lesson, but time will tell. I'll pay 10 bucks for a learning experience any day

 

[R3x]

I have one about 60-70cm tall with killer base. I have pulled down branches into more or less horizontal positions using guy wires more than 2 years ago. When I remove the wires the branches spring back as if nothing happened during those years. I am thinking that maybe wiring new growth from the start could ensure it hardens into desired shape. Luckily it happily backbuds even from old wood so you can almost treat is as deciduous tree. I mean hard cutback/reduction which results in new growth from various places.

 

[QuantumSparky]

I have one about 60-70cm tall with killer base. I have pulled down branches into more or less horizontal positions using guy wires more than 2 years ago. When I remove the wires the branches spring back as if nothing happened during those years. I am thinking that maybe wiring new growth from the start could ensure it hardens into desired shape. Luckily it happily backbuds even from old wood so you can almost treat is as deciduous tree. I mean hard cutback/reduction which results in new growth from various places.

Hmm I'll have to keep that in mind! It seems there are 2 camps on this one - "it never backbuds so don't mess it up" and "cut it back however you want" haha. It was cheap so I'll definitely consider cutting back once I observe it for a bit and see how it responds to being pruned back to 1 or 2 buds on each shoot

 

[HorseloverFat]

I love Picea G!.. that’s an alberta, as has been said.

I actually have a couple Glauca, as they are quite prevalent up here in da snowy forest.

They fool you if you have them next to other spruces!!

“...making me think your sick!”

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

The wild type, or normal form of Picea glauca is great for bonsai. And Picea glauca densata, the Black Hills Spruce is very popular for spruce bonsai. It is just the cultivars like 'Dwarf Alberta Spruce' and any of the "Bird's Nest" type cultivars that are problems.

But if you choose a style where the branches go UP, you can use them for bonsai. Quit wiring, just train by clip and grow. The resulting tree won't look like a mountain spruce but it will be an nice "tree like" image. Note as you drive around, a fair number of pines left to their own devices tend to have upright branches and a more "lollipop" shape to them. Especially Pinus nigra and Pinus sylvestris grown in open field or park settings, you will see the type of style a 'DAS' can imitate.

 

[Colorado]

When I remove the wires the branches spring back as if nothing happened during those years.

This has not been my experience. I use copper wire, let it bite in before removal, and the DAS branches have held quite well.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

This has not been my experience. I use copper wire, let it bite in before removal, and the DAS branches have held quite well.

OK, perhaps I should have left wire bite in more.

 

[Colorado]

OK, perhaps I should have left wire bite in more.

I am guilty of leaving it on a little too long sometimes