What Happened?

[Gr8tfuldad]

I found this dwarf Alberta Spruce on clearance today, just curious what happened to cause this tree to bulb out at the base? Was it chopped, diseased or buried too deep? I don’t see any wounds. I found on wrapping root, but didn’t want to dig too deep right now. Any ideas?

 

[HorseloverFat]

I found this dwarf Alberta Spruce on clearance today, just curious what happened to cause this tree to bulb out at the base? Was it chopped, diseased or buried too deep? I don’t see any wounds. I found on wrapping root, but didn’t want to dig too deep right now. Any ideas?

It looks like a root circled the base when MUCH younger... And just grew into the 'pinch' that the bend made..

I've seen similar growth in coniferous nursery stock.

But I could be totally wrong

 

[Gr8tfuldad]

It’s like a weird bulb shape. Now I’m curious to see what is lower. Spring ughh…

 

[Mike Corazzi]

Picea Turnipus?

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

These spruces are grown en masse in pots that are too small for them. Their tap root coils, circles and expands in that tiny pot and then they're put in a larger pot way too late.
It's quite rare to find one without a crooked carrot.

Then again, these are not sold to be bonsai or even garden plants. These are grown to be indoor ornamentals until they die, 3 months after the sale.

 

[Gr8tfuldad]

These spruces are grown en masse in pots that are too small for them. Their tap root coils, circles and expands in that tiny pot and then they're put in a larger pot way too late.
It's quite rare to find one without a crooked carrot.

Then again, these are not sold to be bonsai or even garden plants. These are grown to be indoor ornamentals until they die, 3 months after the sale.

Thanks for the input! It reminded me of a sumo

 

[Bad_Bonsai]

These are grown to be indoor ornamentals until they die, 3 months after the sale.

Depends on the time of year. I've this guy going for several years now.

Of course mines isnt nearly as bulbous—I'm actually jealous of @Gr8tfuldad 's spruce bulge.

 

[ForThemWhatCare]

These are grown to be indoor ornamentals until they die, 3 months after the sale.

I'll have to tell my Dwarf Alberta Spruce that they are 2 years past their expiration date and need to stop doing well.

 

[penumbra]

Then again, these are not sold to be bonsai or even garden plants. These are grown to be indoor ornamentals until they die, 3 months after the sale.

This is not true for the majority of these spruce. They are grown as landscape plants. I know of some that are decades past their expiration. I have some that I have had for about 10 years now. You see a lot offered as miniature Christmas trees but I have never seen one offered as an indoor tree. I realize there are people who know nothing about plants that try this, but this is not the norm.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

This is not true for the majority of these spruce. They are grown as landscape plants. I know of some that are decades past their expiration. I have some that I have had for about 10 years now. You see a lot offered as miniature Christmas trees but I have never seen one offered as an indoor tree. I realize there are people who know nothing about plants that try this, but this is not the norm.

Over here they're sprayed with fake snow, glitter and whatnot and sold in supermarkets, gift shops and big box stores during christmas season. I'd say that out of a thousand sold, maybe one ends up in a garden. That's a super small percentage. I know 45 people who have owned at least five of them, and none of those people have kept them past new year. For 3 dollars a pop, I wouldn't expect anything else.
Like those procumbens mallsai, over here they even have an indoor label sometimes.
They make good garden plants, that's true. But in sheer numbers.. I disagree about the norm statement.

 

[penumbra]

Over here they're sprayed with fake snow, glitter and whatnot and sold in supermarkets, gift shops and big box stores during christmas season. I'd say that out of a thousand sold, maybe one ends up in a garden. That's a super small percentage. I know 45 people who have owned at least five of them, and none of those people have kept them past new year. For 3 dollars a pop, I wouldn't expect anything else.
Like those procumbens mallsai, over here they even have an indoor label sometimes.
They make good garden plants, that's true. But in sheer numbers.. I disagree about the norm statement.

What you are saying is perfectly terrible. Maybe that happens here to some degree as well and I simply am unaware. I look at DAS from the point of a landscape designer for over 50 years.