Mexican Oak

[PaulH]

I was given this Mexican Oak (Quercus mexicana) a few years ago by the owner of my favorite oak nursery because it wasn't doing well ( in a 15 gallon nursery pot).
First step was to remove rotten roots and get it into good soil. I use plastic fruit baskets for pre-bonsai because they get lots of oxygen to the roots.

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A year later moved it to a Max Braverman pot in April.

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Had some help from Peter Adams that fall.

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Here it is today. Three years from a sick nursery tree.

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Paul

 

[woodguy]

Very nice progress Paul. Do the leaves on this species reduce further or is that about it?

 

[PaulH]

Very nice progress Paul. Do the leaves on this species reduce further or is that about it?

This is the only one I've seen or worked with, so time will tell. That said, I have a lot of oak species and they all reduce leaf size quite well so I think this one will too as I get better ramification.
Paul

 

[dpowell]

Can I ask what nursery you go to for your oaks?

 

[PaulH]

dpowell,
PM sent.
Paul

 

[docs_bonsai]

Great save Paul, like to see it up close…

 

[mcpesq817]

Great progress, thanks for sharing. I've got a willow oak stump that I'm working on, and it's nice to see other oak projects out there.

 

[PaulH]

Great save Paul, like to see it up close…

You will...
One more repot and It should be ready to show.

 

[tanlu]

Beautiful tree and excellent progression! I've never seen or heard of that species before. It looks similar to an olive.

 

[oakbonsai]

What time of the year do you defoliate if you are not repotting? Can you do it more than once in a year and does it work well with red oak species, i.e. shumardii, nutalii, etc?

 

[PaulH]

What time of the year do you defoliate if you are not repotting? Can you do it more than once in a year and does it work well with red oak species, i.e. shumardii, nutalii, etc?

I defoliate in June, about the same time as black pine candle cutting if the tree wasn't repotted that spring. I also defoliate when I repot.
I haven't worked with the species you mentioned so can't advise.

Paul