Balbs
Shohin
I’ll head back tomorrow and try and get some bud pictures. Thanks again!
The Identification Thread....perhaps?
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badatusernames
Omono
How about this one? I know it's a maple, obviously, but I don't know what kind. Not japanese, not trident, aaaaand that's where my knowledge ends
Got it on sale at a bonsai garden around here. No idea what I'm doing with it yet... maybe just leave it as-is for a few years to see what the trunk does? It's already pretty thick, but maybe that root mass will grow together into something interesting...
Like I said, no idea, I'm new to making my own bonsai vs. just caring for ones I've bought
Got it on sale at a bonsai garden around here. No idea what I'm doing with it yet... maybe just leave it as-is for a few years to see what the trunk does? It's already pretty thick, but maybe that root mass will grow together into something interesting...
Like I said, no idea, I'm new to making my own bonsai vs. just caring for ones I've bought
It looks like it was supposed to be a broom but someone got bored. If it were mine i would wait for the right time and then chop all the branches back to a couple of inches from the main trunk. And restart the broom style. I would also get rid of the thick root growing out side. And it's a maple with green leaves! That's where my knowledge ends. It will make a cracking broom though. Others on here have much more experience than me. Perhaps wait for one of them to chime in. Good luck with it though, nice tree.How about this one? I know it's a maple, obviously, but I don't know what kind. Not japanese, not trident, aaaaand that's where my knowledge ends
Got it on sale at a bonsai garden around here. No idea what I'm doing with it yet... maybe just leave it as-is for a few years to see what the trunk does? It's already pretty thick, but maybe that root mass will grow together into something interesting...
Like I said, no idea, I'm new to making my own bonsai vs. just caring for ones I've bought
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
You may know it is a maple but it obviously does not. That tree appars to have alternate leaf pattern so it is definitely no sort of maple. I believe what you do have is a Liquidamber of some sort.
I agree on first step being to sort out the root mass. If they fuse together as is it will look bad IMHO
Forsoothe!
Imperial Masterpiece
It is similar to Acer truncatum, Shantung maple, but not quite. A decidedly maybe...
It would be helpful if you click on your Icon in the upper right corner and add your location, people can give advice customized to your climate. If you're in Shanghai it would explain a lot.
It would be helpful if you click on your Icon in the upper right corner and add your location, people can give advice customized to your climate. If you're in Shanghai it would explain a lot.
stu929
Shohin
ThatThat looks like sweetgum to me. I could be wrong but I have seen them in person. Could swear it was a maple but wasn't.
badatusernames
Omono
Ah, makes sense. I'm in New England.
badatusernames
Omono
In any case thanks for the ID! I hadn't even heard of sweetgum, and knowledge is half the battle I've heard. Thanks!
Leo in N E Illinois
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@Wood - first one is definitely Carpinus caroliniana - American hornbeam. It is not Ostrya virginiana, the hop-flowered hornbeam. The two have similar leaves, but smooth bark and the fluting of the trunk are a give away that it is indeed Carpinus caroliniana. Ostrya has a bark that has a more coarse texture. Seed structure would be definitive, the Carpinus has a "loose" catkin with seed with ragged wings. The Ostrya has "hop like" seed heads, fairly tight.
Second image I am not certain, could be Viburnum, outside chance it could be Euonymus. Go with Viburnum as your "working guess", until more information comes along.
@Balbs - it does look somewhat like Vaccinium corymbosum. There are several species of Vaccinium native to the New England states. Could also be a closely related species of Gaylussacia - the huckleberries. It is difficult to tell one species from another.
Second image I am not certain, could be Viburnum, outside chance it could be Euonymus. Go with Viburnum as your "working guess", until more information comes along.
@Balbs - it does look somewhat like Vaccinium corymbosum. There are several species of Vaccinium native to the New England states. Could also be a closely related species of Gaylussacia - the huckleberries. It is difficult to tell one species from another.
Leo in N E Illinois
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@badatusernames - that is definitely a sweetgum. It has alternate leaves, which cinches the identity.
hinmo24t
Masterpiece
im in MA, near RI. thats a sweetgum as Leo mentioned. theyre some of my favorite for their fall foliage and make cool bonsai too if you google them
Balbs
Shohin
Thanks @Leo in N E Illinois ! I was thinking of collecting it come spring. Any advice?
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badatusernames
Omono
Nice. Yeah, I just bought it like this in its large plastic pot, I think next spring I'll take a whack at it. Someone mentioned removing the large root and that's one thing I've been considering as a part of this process. I was debating leaving it in the grow pot for awhile to see what happened though, I feel like it could still develop in a pretty interesting fashion if just left alone for awhile. But this will one day be a bonsai.
Do you do anything special to overwinter? I'm just putting it under a bench with plastic sheeting over the table... will put mulch or leaves around it like I do my others.
Leo in N E Illinois
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For Vaccinium and Gaylussacia, the blueberries, cranberries and huckleberries, for material in nursery pot, and growing out containers I use equal parts of peat, bark and perlite or pumice. To this "main body of the mix" add a handful, 5% but not more of hardwood sawdust, and 5% to 10% of the total amount of horticultural grade charcoal or biochar. This will make a nice "nursery pot mix" for any acid loving ericaceous species. This is what commercial blueberry growers use to size up blueberry cuttings for eventual planting out in the fields. Even if your water is moderately alkaline, this mix is acidic enough that for 2 or 3 years it will keep the root environment pleasantly acidic for the blueberries. Blueberries want a soil more acidic than most azalea. Kanuma, commonly used for azalea, is not acidic enough for blueberries. Sift your peat to remove the fines. If it goes through a window screen (about 1/16 inch) it is too fine for a potting mix.
For a shallow bonsai pot, this nursery mix is a bit too wet and too "soft" to keep a tree stable. Simply add pumice to the above mix. For bonsai pots, a mix that is 50% pumice, 25% bark, 25% peat, with a small amount of hardwood sawdust and horticultural charcoal or biochar is perfect.
You can collect blueberries anytime they are leafless. Best in late winter. You can have success with autumn collecting.
chefmateo
Yamadori
I grabbed this today for $20 & the guy at the nursery didn't know what it was. It was interesting enough so I grabbed it. It makes a little green berry of sorts. Any ideas? Thanks.
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Mikecheck123
Omono
Sweetgums are planted all over northern CA so we can pretend to have fall colors.
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
I'd pick some sort of solanum. I believe there are a couple that are grown as ornamentals.
Forsoothe!
Imperial Masterpiece
Jerusalem Cherry.
stu929
Shohin
Should I take that to mean this is definitely a hornbeam?
HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
I’ve seldom(If ever) run into an OL (Original Leo) MIS-identification...Should I take that to mean this is definitely a hornbeam?
And OL ID... is generally an “Ace in the Hole.”
