Any ideas what these seedlings are.

HorseloverFat

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This is the thing I guess, I’m new to growing anything and surprised it made it this far, I am sure this is not the best way to learn, and maybe should have started with established trees to learn the art. But this is how it turned out so you have to make the best of the lemons life puts in front of you.

any good books for beginners
I would not recommend the BEGINNER bonsai book I have.. apparently there are better ones.. I have many Bonsai books.. all are really great and contain information the others do not.. Sooo.. ALL the books! 🤣 (Others may have a more DIRECT beginner book suggestion(s))

Also.. watching every single Mirai Beginner series is helpful.. I watched most of them NOT as an absolute beginner.. because I feel there is always something to learn...And was not disappointed.
 

Darran

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Disaster has happened, my seedling has been damaged, and the top 2 inches of the plant have been all but severed, not sure how but I suspect either our Visiting squirrel or neighbours cats chasing said squirrel.

Not sure what to do now should I cut the trunk ( still soft and green) back to the last two branches or do I have to go much lower where the trunk has started to harden off.
 

HorseloverFat

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I would observe.. just see what happens... at the MOST i may cut AT the damage point.. but maybe not.
 

BonsaiNaga13

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Disaster has happened, my seedling has been damaged, and the top 2 inches of the plant have been all but severed, not sure how but I suspect either our Visiting squirrel or neighbours cats chasing said squirrel.

Not sure what to do now should I cut the trunk ( still soft and green) back to the last two branches or do I have to go much lower where the trunk has started to harden off.
Post a pic so we can see how bad it is or if it's not bad and you're just overreacting.
 

Darran

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So here is a pic. I added the wire to support it upright to see if it would heal. One leaf is wilting but the new shoots are holding up.
 

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Darran

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An update, the wilted leaf on the right which is close to the damage, has righted itself and is now standing proud as it was. Does this mean that the wound may be healing and that the tree is still pushing sap up past the damage.
 

HorseloverFat

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Imagine your seedling.. braving the elements... critters walking all around it... no protection from big winds... or temperature swings... feasted on by bugs and whatnot...

Those trees grow into “big trees”..

Yours will be just fine, friend.
 

Darran

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Well, it’s still alive and growing.

You can see the damage to the leader in picture 2. The trunk is hardening at the bottom.

Be interesting to see what happens when winter comes.
 

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Darran

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Well here is my little seedling now. It’s sure is growing
 

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Darran

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Well here is my little seedling now. It’s sure is growing

Question is what if anything should I be doing with this now, in the run up to autumn and winter and spring. Is it a case of let it grow wild or should I be working on branch development or root development or ramification.

my gut and limited learning so far says just let it grow, but do I want a huge tree to grow and then lop it off or should I be controlling that growth.
 

Darran

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Question is what if anything should I be doing with this now, in the run up to autumn and winter and spring. Is it a case of let it grow wild or should I be working on branch development or root development or ramification.

my gut and limited learning so far says just let it grow, but do I want a huge tree to grow and then lop it off or should I be controlling that growth.

watching some Nigel Saunders videos on seedling development.
 

Njyamadori

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Just an idea and be aware that I’m no professional but you can get a thicker gauge wire and put movement into the trunk in the fall. Also I hope people don’t actually think it’s a Chinese elm . It’s clearly a black alder !
 
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HorseloverFat

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Just an idea and be aware that I’m no professional but you can get a thicker gauge wire and put movement into the trunk in the fall.
I would do this right when the leaves start to fall.. but watch it through the winter.. they swell.

🤓
 

Darran

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This is what it looks like at the moment.

Hard to believe that this is only 7 months since it sprouted, the base of trunk is as thick as my young dawn redwood trees already
 

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Njyamadori

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This is what it looks like at the moment.

Hard to believe that this is only 7 months since it sprouted, the base of trunk is as thick as my young dawn redwood trees already
Nice ! This one is putting branches in good spots also
 

Darran

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Hey heres an update on my little seedling. I have removed the wires as the trunk is thickening so quick they were cutting in. Hard to believe this only poked its head out of the ground 8 months ago.
 

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