Are firs a dead end?

[Dr3z]

I collected these inspired by the idea that growing local trees is quite sensible. In hindsight I can't really envision how to work them and I can't say I've seen people working with fir or spruce very much.

I think we're looking at firs in my case. Maybe a Douglas or Balsam? If anything I'm guessing choosing a more gnarled specimen or just a different species next time?

 

[Drewski]

Ryan Neil at Mirai is using firs for bonsai. You can find some of their videos on YouTube and check them out without a subscription. There is quite a lot of content on the website, but you’ll need to get a subscription to see more than the free stuff. Not everyone appreciates what or how he does what he does, but as a newb I have found it very informative.

 

[0soyoung]

Fear of flying.

Apparently you are no Trekkie either, or you would boldly go where (you think) man has not gone before.

There are lots of blue spruce (picea pungens) bonsai. One even won the US Nationals a few years ago. IIRC, Walter Pall has at least one Norway/European spruce (picea abies) bonsai. I know of many bird's nest spruce (picea abies var. nidiformis) bonsai, not to forget Ezo spruce (picea jezoensis - Japan native) and Engleman spruce (picea engelmannii - NA equivalent) bonsai.

I am unaware of many fir bonsai and the few I am are all sub-alpine firs (abies lasiocarpa). Otherwise, the knock is that the needle size doesn't reduce much in bonsai cultivation, so you must plan accordingly. The same seems to be true of spruce and Douglas fir (which isn't really a fir and isn't a spruce as Mauro Stemberger thinks = pseudotsuga, meaning is is botanically closest to a hemlock).

Grow a pair three or even more of what you've got, which could be Douglas firs. The technique for making big trunks is the same as for pines and etc. = let the upper trunk run until the base is as thick as you want, then sacrifice everything above a branch you select to be the continuation of the trunk. It is at least 5 years of patience, more likely a decade. Meanwhile, maybe try to make small bonsai of what you've got or some others like them - I do this with babies I find near my doorstep. It is fun too.

 

[Dr3z]

Fear of flying.

Apparently you are no Trekkie either, or you would boldly go where (you think) man has not gone before.

There are lots of blue spruce (picea pungens) bonsai. One even won the US Nationals a few years ago. IIRC, Walter Pall has at least one Norway/European spruce (picea abies) bonsai. I know of many bird's nest spruce (picea abies var. nidiformis) bonsai, not to forget Ezo spruce (picea jezoensis - Japan native) and Engleman spruce (picea engelmannii - NA equivalent) bonsai.

I am unaware of many fir bonsai and the few I am are all sub-alpine firs (abies lasiocarpa). Otherwise, the knock is that the needle size doesn't reduce much in bonsai cultivation, so you must plan accordingly. The same seems to be true of spruce and Douglas fir (which isn't really a fir and isn't a spruce as Mauro Stemberger thinks = pseudotsuga, meaning is is botanically closest to a hemlock).

Grow a pair three or even more of what you've got, which could be Douglas firs. The technique for making big trunks is the same as for pines and etc. = let the upper trunk run until the base is as thick as you want, then sacrifice everything above a branch you select to be the continuation of the trunk. It is at least 5 years of patience, more likely a decade. Meanwhile, maybe try to make small bonsai of what you've got or some others like them - I do this with babies I find near my doorstep. It is fun too.

Forget flying, I was thinking walk before you run! Just because Walter can make a beauty out of something doesn't make me ready.

Your point is well made however, I will find a good place to put these fellas in the ground and see how they do thickening up. I think I'll just kill them or make them ugly if I try anything. I might however go back to the Grove and scout something out by trunk size...

@Drewski
I'll check out Ryan and see what I can learn, thanks for the share.