Deadwood Trunk

[Attmos]

My cottonwood appears to be fed by just part of the trunk, which looks mostly dead at this point. Admittedly, I had only been looking at the opposite side of the trunk for a long time and missed this development, another learning experience.... but now I think it might need some special care to prevent the whole thing from rotting away.

I did look at a few other threads, suggesting a wood stabilizer, which I have... but I'd like a second, third.... 20th opinion on where to go next with it.

 

[Attmos]

I really would love a little help/advice.

 

[Jrmcmich]

Not sure how to help exactly but I would just water and feed tree as needed and see what becomes of it. If healthy overall seems like deadwood not really an issue and guess worst case it succumbs to it and you get another tree. Did you collect this?

 

[rockm]

Let it alone. Grow the tree. Callus will take care of it. This is a small tree. Deadwood on it won’t last very long before living tissue overtakes it. If you want to keep the deadwood feature you will most likely have to repeatedly rewound the area

I can’t imagine why you would want to keep it. It’s not all that attractive

Probably of what you wanted to hear but there it is.

 

[leatherback]

I would just let the tree grow. It will grow out / over this area and then you just have a mark in the bark which adds to the impression of age.

 

[Potawatomi13]

My cottonwood appears to be fed by just part of the trunk, which looks mostly dead at this point. Admittedly, I had only been looking at the opposite side of the trunk for a long time and missed this development, another learning experience.... but now I think it might need some special care to prevent the whole thing from rotting away.

I did look at a few other threads, suggesting a wood stabilizer, which I have... but I'd like a second, third.... 20th opinion on where to go next with it.View attachment 603362

Having grown Cottonwood and Willow my suggestion is to protect wood from rot. These trees have very soft wood that rots easily and this increases tree die back and death. You may find it a hard tree to keep healthy for many years Don't give up though. Hopefully your fortune will be better than mine.

 

[ponderingsage]

Also perhaps repot into a more open soil media next spring… or put in the ground and forget about it for a while.
That is what l realized is the best corse of action for thin stock in my garden.

 

[Attmos]

Not sure how to help exactly but I would just water and feed tree as needed and see what becomes of it. If healthy overall seems like deadwood not really an issue and guess worst case it succumbs to it and you get another tree. Did you collect this?

It was a Yardadori, lol. Just showed up in one of my pots. I'm actually not concerned about the health of the tree, although it would be several years of loss.

Actually, For my first try creating a bonsai tree, I think I won the lottery. lol Just gotta keep the deadwood from rotting.

 

[Attmos]

Let it alone. Grow the tree. Callus will take care of it. This is a small tree. Deadwood on it won’t last very long before living tissue overtakes it. If you want to keep the deadwood feature you will most likely have to repeatedly rewound the area

I can’t imagine why you would want to keep it. It’s not all that attractive

Probably of what you wanted to hear but there it is.

Yeah... it looks pretty bad so far, but I've learned so much with this tree that I think it would be a shame to give up now. I was gonna keep the deadwood, but if it's gonna heal over I guess I'll just let it do that.

 

[Attmos]

I would just let the tree grow. It will grow out / over this area and then you just have a mark in the bark which adds to the impression of age.

Cool, I didn't know that. I thought I'd have to treat the deadwood or carve it away so that the rot didn't grow or something... I dunno. lol

But thanks.

 

[Attmos]

Having grown Cottonwood and Willow my suggestion is to protect wood from rot. These trees have very soft wood that rots easily and this increases tree die back and death. You may find it a hard tree to keep healthy for many years Don't give up though. Hopefully your fortune will be better than mine.

It's 4 or 5 years old at this point. As I was just saying it's been an incredible learning experience for me even though I can definitely see now why people dislike them. I think I'm gonna keep it alive until I can't anymore for whatever reason, keep working on it.

 

[Attmos]

Also perhaps repot into a more open soil media next spring… or put in the ground and forget about it for a while.
That is what l realized is the best corse of action for thin stock in my garden.

I probly should have re-potted this spring but I didn't get to it in time. Next spring though.