Let's see those dwarf Alberta spruce jams

[James W.]

Anybody with updates?
Even if your jam is dead I would like to know why.

 

[stewarjm192]

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Surely you have seen this one at Bonsai West @Soldano666 made from Alberta Spruce? This one has a couple decades head start!!

last time I saw this it had lost a few trunks

 

[Tropfrog]

This thread inspired me to go to IKEA and get a discount Alberta early 2017 or maybe 2018? Like all eager beginners I hacked it down without too much consern about all the basic rules of bonsai. It has been one of my least favorite trees and many times I have thought about getting rid of it. All I have done is watering and bud pinching until last winter when I decided to restyle it. So, 6 or 7 years between the photos.

I did a video on the restyle if you would like to check it out and support what I am doing.

I think this tree is ready for some detail Styling and maybe a bonsai pot?

 

[Tropfrog]

Actually I realiced the very same tree has been mentioned a few times in this thread mentioning different years of purshase. Definetely one of my pre corona trees. Maybe 2018 or 2019? Anyway long time ago and old mans brain I don't want to take part in age inflation that sometimes happens in the bonsai world

 

[Bonsai Forest]

Okay, I’ll bite:

Twin trunk December 2023


Twin trunk December 2023:


Twin trunk December 2023:




I was advised to allow the trees to recover until next Fall before any further actions (additional pruning or repotting).

 

[RJG2]

Really straightened itself out looking back at this. Slowly selected branches since that last post, and did some initial structural wiring this fall.

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Going to try something different...

 

[Cruiser]

 

[Bonsai Forest]

I like it! I, too, will pursue a slanting style (In about 100 years when mine is ready )

 

[Bonsai Forest]

Okay, I’ll bite:

Twin trunk December 2023
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Twin trunk December 2023:
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Twin trunk December 2023:
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I was advised to allow the trees to recover until next Fall before any further actions (additional pruning or repotting).

In my second photo, there is a twin trunk behind the front smaller and curvy (3rd) trunk. I’m unsure, at this point, if I’ll remove it and reduce to two trunks. Three might be interesting.

 

[Pigskin Pete]

Here's my DAS and what I did with it back in October. It's still kicking. Not sure if it will survive a summer here in zone 7b. This last summer was brutal.

 

[Stormwater]

Here's my DAS and what I did with it back in October. It's still kicking. Not sure if it will survive a summer here in zone 7b. This last summer was brutal.

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Mine have done fine here in DC. What about loosing those lowest two bar branches (might be a back branch)? Guess that would depend on the depth to soil in the pot.

 

[Pigskin Pete]

Mine have done fine here in DC. What about loosing those lowest two bar branches (might be a back branch)? Guess that would depend on the depth to soil in the pot.

 

[Stormwater]

I’m horrid at photography , but here is mine after a year without wire and in need of a trim.

 

[Dabbler]

 

[Bonsai Forest]

I’m horrid at photography , but here is mine after a year without wire and in need of a trim.

This is really nice and very representative of a realistic spruce found in nature. You nailed it!