1st tree

[Fi5ch]

Before and after of my first tree (Alberta Spruce) which I bought on closeout for $7.00; I would love to hear some critique. TIA!

 

[just.wing.it]

Looks like nice work styling....but the camerawork needs some attention. Hope it pulls through top and bottom work at the same time....it might.

Edit: oh....and excuse my impoliteness.....Welcome to the Nut House....
Where are you located?
Add it to your profile for more accurate advice in the future without people asking where you are over and over.
Good luck!

 

[Tieball]

Yup....I bought the same kind of for my first adventure. About 18 years ago. Pruned just like you did. Killed the tree by the end of the summer. Hope you have better luck.

I moved on to deciduous trees native to my area and climate.

You should update your profile so viewers have a general idea of your climate.

 

[Fi5ch]

How do I update my profile?

 

[Fi5ch]

NM, figured out how to edit my USDA zone. Re. simultaneous top/bottom work, it seems very healthy and has lots of fine roots. I am using substrate of equal parts orchid bark, perlite, and SafeTsorb (which I think is very similar to NAPA #8822) and a little bit of sphagnum peat. Lots of variables here I know, which I why I went with a $7.00 left over Christmas tree.

 

[Eckhoffw]

I killed 15 Das Christmas specials by heavy styling in the middle of winter.
Even in winter, the sap flowed like crazy.
They got crispy in spring.

Welcome to crazy and best of luck.

 

[Coppersdad]

Well, trying a Das as a bonsai is a great way to practice many bonsai techniques. They are inexpensive in the smaller sizes. You can find them everywhere in many parts of the country. They seem to be somewhat forgiving of most horticultural mistakes in many climates. All the ones I've see have been the standard, single trunk, upright, conical shaped ones. Not only are you able to do root work right out of the pot (so to speak) but they are great trees to practice design ideas, shaping, foliage removal, wiring and wire removal. With some slightly older ones, a person could even try bending the trunk with rebar or even using a branch bender. It's also a good way to inexpensively experiment with some more extreme techniques.
Isn't that a great way to start to practice?
I know there will be some arguments to start with better material to learn good techniques, just as there are to use copper wire instead of "sissy wire".
I hold a strong belief that anything that saves money to allow the purchase of more and better tree material is a good thing.

 

[Potawatomi13]

How do I update my profile?

Go to personal profile upper right of screen and add location also climate zone if known please.

 

[sorce]

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[Eckhoffw]

Well, trying a Das as a bonsai is a great way to practice many bonsai techniques. They are inexpensive in the smaller sizes. You can find them everywhere in many parts of the country. They seem to be somewhat forgiving of most horticultural mistakes in many climates. All the ones I've see have been the standard, single trunk, upright, conical shaped ones. Not only are you able to do root work right out of the pot (so to speak) but they are great trees to practice design ideas, shaping, foliage removal, wiring and wire removal. With some slightly older ones, a person could even try bending the trunk with rebar or even using a branch bender. It's also a good way to inexpensively experiment with some more extreme techniques.
Isn't that a great way to start to practice?
I know there will be some arguments to start with better material to learn good techniques, just as there are to use copper wire instead of "sissy wire".
I hold a strong belief that anything that saves money to allow the purchase of more and better tree material is a good thing.

Exactly. They are a great tree to practice on. especially for a heavy handed noob like myself.
+++ They are also pretty challenging for the experienced. You don’t often see next level examples out there.
So win win.