Western red Cedar

[HumbleTrees]

What is the best time of year to collect Thuja plicata. Amkhalid said that the on this thread was collected in fall.

http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?6940-Big-thuja-with-nice-base&highlight=thuga

Does anyone out west collect their cedars in the fall? Is fall the optimum time for collecting them?

Thanks
riley

 

[yenling83]

What is the best time of year to collect Thuja plicata. Amkhalid said that the on this thread was collected in fall.

http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?6940-Big-thuja-with-nice-base&highlight=thuga

Does anyone out west collect their cedars in the fall? Is fall the optimum time for collecting them?

Thanks
riley

I'm in CA and believe the ideal times to collect are early spring and fall. I've only collected Juniper and Pine, I have no exp w/ Thuja. Generally their's snow in winter and it's too hot in summer. Transplanting is best done in late winter/early spring(best time) or fall. You should go after Western Juniper, I hear there are good one's in Idaho.

However, and some may dissagree but sometimes on rare occasion i'll still collect in summer. I think it's important to establish the tree in a mild climate if you do this. Also, I prefer spring and fall.

Here's some of my collected material:

 

[HumbleTrees]

I guess I need to figure out where the junipers are. I haven't seen a single juniper when I've been out scouting.
I hunt game and scout bonsai in the fall and dig bonsai and scout game in the spring. It's a nice cycle.
I noticed a cedar the last time I went out to check my game cams. It is a perfect formal upright, 30" tall and 6" trunk. Very healthy. I searched for info on when to dig them and came across the thread above and figured if fall is the right time for them I would bring it home next time I went out.
I don't have a lot of experience collecting, so if spring is better I would rather hold off till then. If fall is optimal I will go and get it.
thanks
riley

 

[october]

I'm in CA and believe the ideal times to collect are early spring and fall. I've only collected Juniper and Pine, I have no exp w/ Thuja. Generally their's snow in winter and it's too hot in summer. Transplanting is best done in late winter/early spring(best time) or fall. You should go after Western Juniper, I hear there are good one's in Idaho.

However, and some may dissagree but sometimes on rare occasion i'll still collect in summer. I think it's important to establish the tree in a mild climate if you do this. Also, I prefer spring and fall.

Here's some of my collected material:

yenling83.. Your collected material is amazing. Probably some of the best collected specimens I have seen on these forums. Just wondering if you are a seller as well.

Rob

 

[amkhalid]

Mine are T. Occidentalis. They can be collected late summer through fall but I am most confident collecting them in spring. They have a wide window during which they can be collected.

 

[yenling83]

Aww thanks Rob! I had about 5 collected junipers for sale but they ended up going to Peter Tea. I think he will be styling and selling them. Nothing right now but I'm sure in the future. Ill get in touch with you when I do if you'd like

 

[october]

Aww thanks Rob! I had about 5 collected junipers for sale but they ended up going to Peter Tea. I think he will be styling and selling them. Nothing right now but I'm sure in the future. Ill get in touch with you when I do if you'd like

Yes, thank you very much.

Rob

 

[misfit11]

yenling83.. Your collected material is amazing. Probably some of the best collected specimens I have seen on these forums. Just wondering if you are a seller as well.

Rob

Ditto what Rob said, Yenling! The large one in the second picture with the great deadwood and live vein is to die for (I think that's the first time I've used that expression)! I'm taking my Sierra (http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?9505-Sierra-Juniper) to a workshop with Peter Tea in October. I'm hoping he can bring out the absolute best in the tree!

sorry for hijacking, HumbleTrees! Now back to your regularly scheduled thread...

Cory

 

[yenling83]

I guess I need to figure out where the junipers are. I haven't seen a single juniper when I've been out scouting.
I hunt game and scout bonsai in the fall and dig bonsai and scout game in the spring. It's a nice cycle.
I noticed a cedar the last time I went out to check my game cams. It is a perfect formal upright, 30" tall and 6" trunk. Very healthy. I searched for info on when to dig them and came across the thread above and figured if fall is the right time for them I would bring it home next time I went out.
I don't have a lot of experience collecting, so if spring is better I would rather hold off till then. If fall is optimal I will go and get it.
thanks
riley

Good luck with the Cedar, main thing is to try and get as many fine feeder roots as possible. The more you get the better chance of survival. If you start digging around and only fine large roots with nothing fine, then I would let that one go. Back fill the hole, water the tree and let the search continue. If you do pull it out, establish it in sifted/washed pumice. Don't remove any foliage and don't work on it for a few years until you get runners and some good growth. Just water, feed and pest management.


Cory
Congrats on that Sierra, Peter is the man and will take that tree down the correct path. That's a cool tree! Peter and I just worked on the larger Sierra of mine in the second picture and I am very happy with it(that pic is from few years back).

 

[dobharchu]

What is the best time of year to collect Thuja plicata. Amkhalid said that the on this thread was collected in fall.

http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?6940-Big-thuja-with-nice-base&highlight=thuga

Does anyone out west collect their cedars in the fall? Is fall the optimum time for collecting them?

Thanks
riley

I collected one in spring (late February) in the south Puget Sound area (Mason county) last year. I potted it to a good draining mix and misted morning and evening through that first spring. It is still looking healthy.

 

[ghues]

Hi Riley,
Up here in the PNW (Vancouver Island) we've collected both in the spring and late summer early fall. I always go cautious and make/dig a much larger root mass/ball than I think is necessary ensuring that I get as much of the original roots as possible. Like was said earlier I don't work on them for at least two years, just water, feed and plan out the next steps/design.
Good luck, sounds like you've found a nice one.
Graham

 

[Dryfly1]

What is the best time of year to collect Thuja plicata. Amkhalid said that the on this thread was collected in fall.

http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?6940-Big-thuja-with-nice-base&highlight=thuga

Does anyone out west collect their cedars in the fall? Is fall the optimum time for collecting them?

Thanks
riley

I have collected small ones, less than a foot tall at all times of the year. Very seldom do I lose one. They are very tough. Dryfly1

 

[LCD35]

I'm in CA and believe the ideal times to collect are early spring and fall. I've only collected Juniper and Pine, I have no exp w/ Thuja. Generally their's snow in winter and it's too hot in summer. Transplanting is best done in late winter/early spring(best time) or fall. You should go after Western Juniper, I hear there are good one's in Idaho.

However, and some may dissagree but sometimes on rare occasion i'll still collect in summer. I think it's important to establish the tree in a mild climate if you do this. Also, I prefer spring and fall.

Here's some of my collected material:

Did you put this into straight pumice after collection?

 

[yenling83]

Did you put this into straight pumice after collection?

Yes, I put into straight sifted pumice and I use a box or pot that will fit the root system. For anyone interested in learning about aftercare, i'd highly recommend watching the Mirai Live video on Aftercare which is basically an interview with Randy Knight about his aftercare techniques and methods.

 

[River's Edge]

Yes, I put into straight sifted pumice and I use a box or pot that will fit the root system. For anyone interested in learning about aftercare, i'd highly recommend watching the Mirai Live video on Aftercare which is basically an interview with Randy Knight about his aftercare techniques and methods.

I would second the above, i use sifted pumice for all my collected trees with good success! This includes Shore Pine, Sub Alpine Fir, Yellow Cedar, and Mountain Hemlock. The procedures for root work on collection and native soil removal change with the species. The aftercare is the same!

 

[LCD35]

Awesome, thank you for both the replies. I'm trying to build my knowledge base before I attempt collecting raw material. We might have a club trip this fall to travel and collect, but I want to go into it prepared. I think I have a responsibility to the trees to do no less.

 

[River's Edge]

Awesome, thank you for both the replies. I'm trying to build my knowledge base before I attempt collecting raw material. We might have a club trip this fall to travel and collect, but I want to go into it prepared. I think I have a responsibility to the trees to do no less.

It would help if you put your location and climatic zone in your file so future responses can be more specific to you location and climate.

 

[LCD35]

It would help if you put your location and climatic zone in your file so future responses can be more specific to you location and climate.

Whoops. Thought I had, but I guess that was my Reddit profile. I'll update now, thank you! Zone 6a; Mountain Home, Idaho ftr. I have Western red cedar, Western juniper, Ponderosa, Scots, and all sorts of amazing trees in the mountains around me. Check out this stuff near Big Trinity Lake.