The 2023-2026 Little Christmas Tree entry (back from the ashes)

[Sixty’s]

This is my official entry thread, saw the challenge and thought it would be interesting to join the fun I have not worked with spruce before and it could be a interesting way to learn the horticultural specifics of another tree.

For the tree I’ve went with a traditional Christmas Spruce.



Festive tag




I’ve started to do some initial work on the tree just basic styling and some deadwood







The plan is to eventually transfer the tree into a air pot with a more suitable substrate, in my mind I’m considering a mix of akadama and lava rock.
Come spring i’ll start pinching new growth to encourage back budding.

Other consideration I’m having is to also Jin the bottom right branch although I’d like it to be stronger if I end up going that way.

 

[pandacular]

Nice start. Have you considered wiring down the jin? I’ve been skiing this week among a bunch of spruce, and the dead branches tend to be angled down especially low on the trunk.

 

[Sixty’s]

Nice start. Have you considered wiring down the jin? I’ve been skiing this week among a bunch of spruce, and the dead branches tend to be angled down especially low on the trunk.

Sounds like you had a good time, you absolutely right I’ve overlooked that detail, thank you

 

[pandacular]

Being into trees has definitely changed how I ski. “Let’s take that lift, I haven’t seen those trees” to which i received much eye rolling.

Do you happen to know the species? I’m not sure what Picea are common in nurseries in the UK.

 

[Deleted member 47471]

This is my official entry thread, saw the challenge and thought it would be interesting to join the fun I have not worked with spruce before and it could be a interesting way to learn the horticultural specifics of another tree.

For the tree I’ve went with a traditional Christmas Spruce.

View attachment 522416

Festive tag

View attachment 522417


I’ve started to do some initial work on the tree just basic styling and some deadwood

View attachment 522418



View attachment 522419View attachment 522420

The plan is to eventually transfer the tree into a air pot with a more suitable substrate, in my mind I’m considering a mix of akadama and lava rock.
Come spring i’ll start pinching new growth to encourage back budding.

Other consideration I’m having is to also Jin the bottom right branch although I’d like it to be stronger if I end up going that way.

Cool! I love the idea.

I just watched a bonsai empire video doing this to a spruce and illustrated my own endeavor of his exactly style (not for my Christmas entry since Mine is twin trunk)
He trunk chopped low to anchor the guy wire and jinned out a couple smaller branches.

 

[Sixty’s]

Being into trees has definitely changed how I ski. “Let’s take that lift, I haven’t seen those trees” to which i received much eye rolling.

Do you happen to know the species? I’m not sure what Picea are common in nurseries in the UK.

Indeed, this hobby do change the way we look at trees.
From what I’ve been seeing from the main thread most species are fairly similar to the ones we get here, this one in particular is a Picea Omorika got it in the sales for 5£ down from 30£ it was the only tree that I could find with a slim trunk and slim branches, most off the other trees were all fairly thick trunks that would not help to scale the tree down.

 

[Sixty’s]

Cool! I love the idea.

I just watched a bonsai empire video doing this to a spruce and illustrated my own endeavor of his exactly style (not for my Christmas entry since Mine is twin trunk)View attachment 522452
He trunk chopped low to anchor the guy wire and jinned out a couple smaller branches.

Thank you, your tree has lots of potential with that twin trunk, looking forward to see the development.
I’ve seen that video and the video from bonsai Releaf (much better imo) they were fairly good for inspiration I was looking into have something similar with a bit of my touch, I’m hoping to have something like this in 3 years time

 

[Deleted member 47471]

Thank you, your tree has lots of potential with that twin trunk, looking forward to see the development.
I’ve seen that video and the video from bonsai Releaf (much better imo) they were fairly good for inspiration I was looking into have something similar with a bit of my touch, I’m hoping to have something like this in 3 years time
View attachment 522474

I can see your vision better now. The deadwood parallels the trunk all the way up, very creative! Happy growing!

 

[Sixty’s]

I’ve only realised it this morning that rotating the tree 90 degrees the deadwood was looking slightly better, much more work will be needed although it’s best to let the tree alone now and see if it recovers.

 

[Deleted member 47471]

I’ve only realised it this morning that rotating the tree 90 degrees the deadwood was looking slightly better, much more work will be needed although it’s best to let the tree alone now and see if it recovers.

View attachment 522490

I’m digging it ️ this will look great when it fills in

 

[Sixty’s]

Had a little time tonight to carry out some more work to the tree, it’s now in its training pot with a better substrate, all i need now is to find some wood from a spruce to finish the deadwood design.

 

[Deleted member 47471]

What song is that?

Had a little time tonight to carry out some more work to the tree, it’s now in its training pot with a better substrate, all i need now is to find some wood from a spruce to finish the deadwood design.

View attachment 523245

what song is that?

 

[Sixty’s]

What song is that?

Just a YouTube suggestion, no idea who’s from unfortunately

 

[Deleted member 47471]

Just a YouTube suggestion, no idea who’s from unfortunately

I like the beginning of it. It always takes me a few weeks to find something new that I hear for like 3 seconds

 

[Sixty’s]

I’ll stop messing with the tree now!

Wile in my travels the other day I found the leftover of someone’s Xmas tree



I thought I’d implement a few more techniques (not to sure i’ll keep them in final design) some Tanuki and shou-sugi-ban on carved deadwood.
The theme of this tree has been around “back from the ashes” as I was looking to recreate a tree/landscape recovering from a wild fire.

 

[Deleted member 47471]

I’ll stop messing with the tree now!

Wile in my travels the other day I found the leftover of someone’s Xmas tree

View attachment 523396

I thought I’d implement a few more techniques (not to sure i’ll keep them in final design) some Tanuki and shou-sugi-ban on carved deadwood.
The theme of this tree has been around “back from the ashes” as I was looking to recreate a tree/landscape recovering from a wild fire.


View attachment 523397

Very cool

 

[pandacular]

I really like the image you’ve got here. The branch coming through the other trunks will be remarkable. How did you treat the roots during the repot. Did you take any pictures?

How has your winter been so far, and how do you plan to protect this tree for the rest of the season?

 

[Sixty’s]

Very cool

Thanks, just having a play with it

 

[Sixty’s]

I really like the image you’ve got here. The branch coming through the other trunks will be remarkable. How did you treat the roots during the repot. Did you take any pictures?

How has your winter been so far, and how do you plan to protect this tree for the rest of the season?

Thank you, our winter this year has been a bit more warmer than usual, the day I’ve done the repotting was around 57 F, I don’t have pictures although I just replaced the soil, I haven’t pruned the roots to avoid further stress to the tree. I’m planning in doing that in the last year of the challeng once it goes into its final pot. I’m hopping by doing that to have a faster recovery this growing season and start working on filling the branches. I’m in no rush to place the tree into a tiny pot just yet. (Currently in a 13x9x4)
As to protect the tree I’ve got plenty of frost protection fleece as the temperature have dropped to 41 F from today and 23 F next Monday.

 

[pandacular]

Great, thanks for the info. What substrate did you use? Just trying to learn more about spruce, and get more details as I follow this one, as they’re fast becoming one of my favorite conifers. Really love the composition!