The Big Move

[Paradox]

@Paradox I was afraid that might be the case. Unfortunately my cork is probably my nicest, closest to "real bonsai" tree. Definitely won't have the funds for a serious green house for a couple years. I'll probably get a little grow light for the ficus, olive and p afras and keep those indoors. I've got plenty of room to bring the oak inside and given the size I'd probably have to get it it's own light to get anywhere near enough light. Would that be a feasible plan or should I just bite the bullet and sell it locally?

@rockm would know better than I about the oak. I dont know what its winter requirements are but I'm not sure keeping it inside will work for that species as I don't think they are tropical.
Hopefully he can chime in and give you some better info.

 

[FreshAirSunshine]

You can board trees for the winter at Bonsai West in the cold greenhouse for a reasonable fee. And another vote for joining the Northeast Bonsai Association club

Bonsai west and NEBG both board over the winter. I think at NEBG it was something like a tree less than 36” was 200 for the winter. Not cheap, but if it’s a tree you’re really invested in it may be worth it. Don’t quote me on that though - I’m trying to remember having seen quotes but not used the service.

 

[cmu268]

Good luck with the move and welcome to MA!

 

[cmu268]

Thanks for the recommendation, we're going to be in North Andover so it looks like it's about 30 minutes down the 495, definitely going to have to check that out!

My mom lives in California so I know it's a thing out there to refer to all the highways with "the", out here it's just 495 . Great area up there. I'm just a little outside Boston to the south. New England Bonsai Gardens is another great spot - a bit more of a drive from where you'll be, but definitely worth the drive down.

 

[namnhi]

Congrats on the move. Boston holds a special place in my heart. Lived there a couple of times. New England in the autumn is truly special.

Anyway, unless you have a cold greenhouse (not a cold frame, not a tarp, or polytunnel) Cork Oak ain't gonna happen (it may limp along for a couple of years, but ultimately (and a couple of N'oreasters and blizzards) it will die. Same for olive and the ficus will have to overwinter inside.

If I were you, once established up their, look into more native species, particularly larch, apple, and other colder hardy trees.

I think @bonsainut will disagree with you. I remember he had his Cork Oak down into the low teens and they survived just fine.

 

[Wulfskaar]

Hey @LuZiKui !

I'm really happy for you, but CA will be a little less cool without you around. I think getting out of SoCal will be a good thing for your family.

We're also looking to move out of southern CA, but just up the central coast. Probably not this year though.

If you do decide to get rid of the cork oak, let me know.

As for your coast live oaks, I've got so many already that my better half would have me planting them in the woods behind the house..

Anyways, congrats on the new house and good luck to you!

 

[jevanlewis]

I lived in Boston (Somerville) for five years. It’s a special place with so much to do close by. Hope your move goes smoothly and that your family has a great experience there.

 

[rockm]

I think @bonsainut will disagree with you. I remember he had his Cork Oak down into the low teens and they survived just fine.

One or two times in the low teens is not a N.E. winter...

 

[rockm]

@rockm would know better than I about the oak. I dont know what its winter requirements are but I'm not sure keeping it inside will work for that species as I don't think they are tropical.
Hopefully he can chime in and give you some better info.

I know cork oak is a Mediterranean species. Boston ain't the Mediterranean--it's USDA 6b t 7a. Cork Oak is marginally hardy here in Zone 7 Virginia. Like I said, unless you have a structure that has light (cork oak is a broadleafed EVERGREEN tree--dormany is marginal--dark isn't it's friend) AND is consistently above freezing (as in cold greenhouse), cork oak probably isn't going to be a good choice that far North.

 

[rockm]

@Paradox I was afraid that might be the case. Unfortunately my cork is probably my nicest, closest to "real bonsai" tree. Definitely won't have the funds for a serious green house for a couple years. I'll probably get a little grow light for the ficus, olive and p afras and keep those indoors. I've got plenty of room to bring the oak inside and given the size I'd probably have to get it it's own light to get anywhere near enough light. Would that be a feasible plan or should I just bite the bullet and sell it locally?

IF it were me, I'd just sell it and use the money to buy a collected larch. However, you could see how it goes bringing it in for the winter.

 

[rockm]

Bonsai west and NEBG both board over the winter. I think at NEBG it was something like a tree less than 36” was 200 for the winter. Not cheap, but if it’s a tree you’re really invested in it may be worth it. Don’t quote me on that though - I’m trying to remember having seen quotes but not used the service.

I board my oak for the winter at a bonsai nursery in their cold greenhouse. Have for the last 25 years. Not cheap at all--but worth it if you love the tree.

 

[penumbra]

Good luck with the house, I too have a money pit - it can be stressful and/or fun depending on your outlook.

Fortunately Bonsai Nuts are generally pretty resourceful. I do wish you the very best on the move. Boston is on my short bucket list of places to visit.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I think @bonsainut will disagree with you. I remember he had his Cork Oak down into the low teens and they survived just fine.

I have been keeping Mediterranean species outside just fine - cork oaks, olives. However it is important to note that though we will get low night time temps well below freezing, we don't experience a single day that isn't well above freezing. Our coldest night last winter was 12F, but it still warmed to 39F during the day. Our average high temp in January is 47F. By the time we hit February, our average high is up to 58F. I just make sure to soak the trees the day before we are getting very cold temps.

 

[rockm]

FWIW, cork oak is USDA zone 8-11 hardy, marginal IN-GROUND in Zone 7.

 

[hemmy]

Cork Oak (I know this might need to spend some/all of the winter partially protected)

We made the move from coastal SoCal (10a) to NE KS (6a/b) in ‘22. Get ready for rental truck sticker shock. Most moving companies won’t move plants like our collections. You might be able to box/crate and ship smaller collections/trees. I had to rent a truck for the house and put the plants in the last ~5ft. But we had to return the truck empty and saved over $10k over using a U-Haul one-way truck.

I brought a nice cork oak in a nursery can. It stayed out for 32F, but went inside once we hit below 30F. I have a “Mediterranean” section in the garage where I keep the temp above freezing and give full spectrum LED and t5 fluorescent light. For my Coast Redwood, Satsuki Azaleas, Cork and Coast live oaks, bougainvillea and others. The Cork did fine the first winter but sprouts early and I missed the repot window. It had slow drainage and even with what I thought was good watering, the leaves got scorched during an extreme heat event of ~110F with heat index of 134F. It recovered, but took freeze damage to the new leaves the next Fall when it must have gotten too far below 32F but above ~25F. I think it still would have survived, but I missed repotting again and then screwed up watering and let it get too dry. The new leaves went crispy and it didn’t come back. So shameful.

I think you’ll need protection for the Rosemary. The P. afra like bright light and limp along when grown indoors with just sunlight. I put the olives in the “Mediterranean” area the first year and the tropical tent this last year. I’m undecided on which way for next year.

If you have a nice bougainvillea bring it! They are so tough. I shipped some to my parents 12 years ago and they grow them as patio plants and then put them in an upstairs east facing room with one window. They lose leaves and grow weakly then rebound fine in the summer. I am amazed with how little light they tolerate.

Good luck!

 

[Cajunrider]

Best of luck. I will join you with the move to the NE next year.

 

[LuZiKui]

A few days late but my trees are settling in after making a little cross-country trip.

Wasn't planning on bringing much but had troubles finding new homes for all of my trees before I left. I gave away probably 60%-70% of my stuff for free and sold a few. Thankfully, a buddy of mine works for American Airlines and they get a 70% discount on shipping through FedEx, otherwise I probably wouldn't have brought anything. Shipping was crazy expensive as is, $150 for 3 day air, without the discount it was about $500!!!

Had very little time to get them packed so they got a little beat up, and also it looks like FedEx handled the package the same way Ace Ventura did at the beginning of the movie, but I think they'll all survive. I'm not even gonna show you all how I packed them because I'd probably be banned from the forum for tree endangerment . I ended up bringing a P nana, siberian elm, shimpaku, willow leaf ficus, p afra, and a couple olives. Wasn't planning on the bringing the olives but oh well! I'll need to get some lights setup for the winter and I'll keep my fingers crossed the olives can limp through the winter in the basement.

Here they are getting accustomed to their new backyard, which will have plenty of room for new projects in the future (shhhh, don't tell my wife).

 

[stubmle]

protection for the Rosemary

I think you're right. Mine (not a bonsai, just a plant in a pot with ordinary garden soil) survived this past winter with no protection at all, BUT this was an exceptionally mild winter. I don't think it would have made it in previous years without some protection and it was a bit of a surprise to see it wake up in Spring.

It feels like we just don't get winters like we used to... I'm probably younger than most members of the site but I can remember even just 15-20 years ago we got tons of snow before Christmas almost every year. Lately we hardly get any snow until January, if that, and I haven't been able to go ice skating on the ponds around here in years. Aside from the odd cold snap it's been very mild and rainy recently.

olives

Those might be OK outside over winter, but you'll have to watch out for cold snaps and keep them out of the wind so they don't dry out. Probably safer to keep them sheltered like you mentioned.

Welcome to New England!

 

[Ruddigger]

How’s Fall treatin’ ya?