october
Masterpiece
Perhaps I am mistaken. However, I had my eye on a spruce that looked just like this in a pot just like this. The only way to know is to dig around the base about 2 inches down.
Rob
Rob
New raw stock play material (spruce)
- Thread starter D'Angelo
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D'Angelo
Mame
And what should I find 2 inches down, if I could even dig down...its loaded with surface roots!!
october
Masterpiece
You would find reverse taper or maybe a ground layer. Which would explain all the surface roots. If I remember correctly, this tree had pretty bad reverse taper. Then, I remember it being repotting the next time I saw it. Like I said, I could be mistaken. However, I am usually pretty good with remembering their trees since I am at the nursery quite often.
Rob
D'Angelo
Mame
Cant dig down , at least not till its time to re-pot..does this vid help? [video=youtube;Xxlm60kJwFs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxlm60kJwFs[/video]
Poink88
Imperial Masterpiece
The exposed roots doesn't look like new to me...unless Spruce root as fast as ficus.
october
Masterpiece
It does help. I think the tree last year was settled deeper in the pot. The soil line only came up to about 2/3 in the pot. I am really surprised about the similarity. The one from last year, had this kind of trunk. Almost like 2 trunks but they were somewhat mis-shapen. Perhaps that one came from the same person as this one. I think this tree might have more potenatial than the other one.
Rob
Dav4
Drop Branch Murphy
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Just wondering...are you planning to do any root work this coming spring? If this was a juniper, I wouldn't hesitate...but it isn't a juniper, so I'm not sure how aggressive I'd be.
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
Maybe I did not read as closely as I should have but did you mention the species of Spruce we are dealing with here? Never the less I think you should seriously consider giving this tree a one or two year break.
You can make some really nice bonsai out of Spruce but the reason you don't see many of them is because most people get carried away and do too much to them all at once. A couple of years ago I fell into that trap and lost a real nice Blue Spruce cultivar. From looking at the tree one would not think so but I had removed too much in the way of new vigorous growth thinking that the weaker older stuff had enough poop to scoot along; ----I was wrong.
You can make some really nice bonsai out of Spruce but the reason you don't see many of them is because most people get carried away and do too much to them all at once. A couple of years ago I fell into that trap and lost a real nice Blue Spruce cultivar. From looking at the tree one would not think so but I had removed too much in the way of new vigorous growth thinking that the weaker older stuff had enough poop to scoot along; ----I was wrong.
Nomiyama
Mame
I agree with Vance and glad he is echoing what I thought. I pushed a Alberta spruce too hard and paid the price on it, the tree slowly declined and was gone by end of season. Now I take it slow on them, especially if they are older because that plays a part too. Your tree turned out great, I'm sure you will get many years enjoyment out of it.
D'Angelo
Mame
Thanks guys!!.. I was thinking the same thing, I just may do some jin and a little deadwood carving and not repot till next year or when I notice the tree is doing well.I should start some carving within the next week or so....Sorry bout the pic, not sure why the photo was turned, its not like that on my phone.!!
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Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
I just wanted to make sure you understood my point of view. The things you want to do, especially the carving features should not be carried out until you know the tree is actively growing again. Don't do anything additional at this time!
The tree looks so good the temptation is great to finish the job which could finish the tree.
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D'Angelo
Mame
I will listen to your words of wisdom, this tree has to much potential to ruin because of a lack of experience
Thank you!!
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
I will listen to your words of wisdom, this tree has to much potential to ruin because of a lack of experience
Normally with the Spruce I have dealt with, I tend to be brutal. A couple of years ago I got hold of a Wellington Colorado Blue Spruce. It had a nice trunk and a couple of other great features. I decided to do a styling demo with it at a club function. Simply put, I took too much of the tree off and it turned out to be too much, and I lost the tree. I do know that a great portion of the tree I removed was the dominantly growing areas while leaving the weaker stuff. That was probably too much. It looks to me that a lot of dominant growth has been removed with this one as well.
D'Angelo
Mame
I sure hope not!!...time will tell!!
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
I agree; I hope with you, it's a beautiful tree now that you have expressed your artistic vision on it. If the worst does happen don't give up your kind of eye is needed around here.
fore
Omono
If you wait till the growing season to do deadwood detail, seems to me that it would be better done when the sap isn't flowing?
Your tree looks good after your work!! I.m in a little different climate than you, but I did very similar work to a spruce last winter...it was nursery stock. Not nearly as nice of material as yours
The tree did struggle this year but it seems to have overcome and it looking much better just over a year later....lots of new buds! I lost a few small and insignificant branches. I did nothing more to the tree after the initial styling...just watered and fertilized through the year.
I don't have a recent pic but here is the video of the initial work.
[video=youtube;QgNHAHFiVgk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgNHAHFiVgk[/video]
Good luck with your tree...just be very patient! In my experience they are slow to recover.
John
The tree did struggle this year but it seems to have overcome and it looking much better just over a year later....lots of new buds! I lost a few small and insignificant branches. I did nothing more to the tree after the initial styling...just watered and fertilized through the year.
I don't have a recent pic but here is the video of the initial work.
[video=youtube;QgNHAHFiVgk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgNHAHFiVgk[/video]
Good luck with your tree...just be very patient! In my experience they are slow to recover.
John
GrimLore
Bonsai Nut alumnus... we miss you
My Wife has killed MANY by overworking them. So many in fact she has asked me not to let her buy anymore.
Grimmy
Grimmy
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
That's exactly the issue. If you interrupt the flow of sap, or the living veins to be more precise, at this point in time, when the tree starts to wake up, not only will it have to adjust for the lost foliage, the stress on the cambium from the wiring; the disrupted path ways produced by the dead wood work could be more than the tree can take. It is better to let the tree recover from this treatment and know that it is firing on all cylinders than take a gamble and lose a potentially great tree. In short; you do nothing now!! Give it a growing season to determine what you may have lost, if anything, and give it time to strengthen itself by producing an abuncane of new fresh vigorous growth. Once you are confident the tree is going to survive then you can work on it again.
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D'Angelo
Mame
I really didnt think I was over doing it that much but I will take your guys experience and Knowledge and go with that. Graham Potter does a tremendous amount of work on his...... [video=youtube_share;INiuFEItu44]http://youtu.be/INiuFEItu44[/video]
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