New stock twin trunk quince

JudyB

Queen of the Nuts
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Location
South East of Cols. OH
USDA Zone
6a
I just acquired this quince. I love this project already. Here are some photos, the bark is already so cool. I am planning on a twin trunk styling, I know I'll have to chop it back on both trunks, but not too much on either, as I like the straightness match between the two of them. The base is also going to be super, it has nice flair, and some nice roots close to the surface. First pic is probable front. Opinions and ideas welcome!
 

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Good score, Chinese Quince make fantastic bonsai, and they're not common, despite how easy they are to propagate, and how fast they grow. Some general observations from growing a bunch in the ground:

1. New shoots grow in canes (rose family) and bolt upright very quickly and with almost no taper. If you're keeping it in a bonsai pot, wire the branches early to get shape, and exaggerate the movement to ensure it doesn't grow through it in a few years.
2. If you're keeping it the pot, cover up those surface roots with a little sphagnum moss so they'll continue to thicken. That will also improve the base by thickening some of the thinner roots. if you do want to grow it strong, set it on the ground and let it escape. Even in OH, you'd likely get 6' of growth in a season... worth about 1/2" of caliber.
3. They seem to have thin bark and thick cambium. If you prune the trunks back, try to keep the cuts to the back and quite concave, or it will develop a bulge around the scar. Surprisingly, as fast as they grow, they close wounds relatively slowly.
4. New growth is STICKY, and aphids LOVE it, maybe because it's such an early starter. Be vigilant, although they don't seem to do much damage.
5. They start growing the second it's above 40 degrees outside, and late frosts/freezes do not harm the opening buds; that only slows them down for a few minutes! They'll have red fall color on last year's leaves, and new buds opening at the same time in this climate. Wherever you're keeping it, make sure it has the benefit of as much sun as you can provide.

Keep the updates coming!
 
Thanks Brian,
This is great info, there is not much in the way of that for chinese quince that I've been able to find. Interesting that they are members of the rose family, that is a good clue to have. I'll find out whether aphids like quince or crabapple better this year!
 
I'm really excited to see how this comes along Judy. I really admire the trunk/bark that is developing. Do you have any plans in mind for it yet?
 
Going to keep it as two trunks, and chop both back this spring. May plant it in the ground.... just to get the top growing. The base is a good size for the height I'd like as is. I love the bark, reminds me of sycamores, which I love, but of course won't work for bonsai.
 
Like to elaborate on that position Mystogan?

For me, I think she has a plan which is farther than some get. She is focusing on the trunks and wants to highlight the bark. What might you do differently?
 
its not a pine :)


Like to elaborate on that position Mystogan?

For me, I think she has a plan which is farther than some get. She is focusing on the trunks and wants to highlight the bark. What might you do differently?
 
Good score, Chinese Quince make fantastic bonsai, and they're not common, despite how easy they are to propagate, and how fast they grow. Some general observations from growing a bunch in the ground:

1. New shoots grow in canes (rose family) and bolt upright very quickly and with almost no taper. If you're keeping it in a bonsai pot, wire the branches early to get shape, and exaggerate the movement to ensure it doesn't grow through it in a few years.
2. If you're keeping it the pot, cover up those surface roots with a little sphagnum moss so they'll continue to thicken. That will also improve the base by thickening some of the thinner roots. if you do want to grow it strong, set it on the ground and let it escape. Even in OH, you'd likely get 6' of growth in a season... worth about 1/2" of caliber.
3. They seem to have thin bark and thick cambium. If you prune the trunks back, try to keep the cuts to the back and quite concave, or it will develop a bulge around the scar. Surprisingly, as fast as they grow, they close wounds relatively slowly.
4. New growth is STICKY, and aphids LOVE it, maybe because it's such an early starter. Be vigilant, although they don't seem to do much damage.
5. They start growing the second it's above 40 degrees outside, and late frosts/freezes do not harm the opening buds; that only slows them down for a few minutes! They'll have red fall color on last year's leaves, and new buds opening at the same time in this climate. Wherever you're keeping it, make sure it has the benefit of as much sun as you can provide.

Keep the updates coming!

Since I have just acquired a Chinese Quince (posted earlier today), I have been searching the forum for information and found this. Thanks, Brian.
 
Brian, are those the same guidelines I'd follow for a Jap. Quince?

Also, when you said: "set it on the ground and let it escape. Even in OH, you'd likely get 6' of growth in a season... worth about 1/2" of caliber." Do you mean plant it in the ground or simply put the pot on open ground for the roots to grow thru the pot into the ground? I've never heard of the latter.

Oh and Judy, that is an awesome tree! I think the twin trunk style will work very well with this Quince. You don't see many Quinces like that for sale.
 
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Well, you were sure right Brian, about the second it gets above 40, it just revs right up into growing. With hardly any warning, it just started pushing out leaves! So I chopped, and root pruned, and repotted. Here is what is left, now just have to wait to see what it gives me to work with. The base has such good flair, and some decent newer roots, which are all covered up with spag. for growth. I so love this bark. If it didn't even have anything else going for it, the bark alone is so cool.
comments welcome as always.
 

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It grew like a weed! I can't believe that it's just one seasons growth since that photo. Makes me rethink the cuts I did, perhaps I should've gone lower on the left.
I'll post some pics when I get home in a couple of days, it's almost shocking for me to see the pics from spring...
 
Being a quince lover, I have two of them. one in a pot and one in the ground. I don't think I'll see a bloom in my lifetime but the bark is very cool. the potted tree, I'm working on desig and the bigger in ground one am allowing it to get some diameter.

I too would like to see any updated photos.

The nicest one i ever saw "in the flesh" was David de groot's and it's in a bright light colored blue pot
and very striking.
 
Looking forward to seeing this develop!

I love chinese quince, and have 2 of them - one in a grow box that is pretty much "trunk finished" (3 - 3.5" base, was bought that way) that I'm starting to develop branching on, and one in the ground for future use. The potted one was the first of my trees to start growth last spring. The other one was planted in the ground in April 2011 as a 1/4" thick seedling. Now it is 7' tall with a 1.5" base. I'm probably going to chop it next spring as the trunk is pretty straight and featureless...new growth definitely does "bolt upright"!

Chris
 
They're certainly worth working on. I have a few.

My oldest, a cascade, has been a bonsai since 1994.
 

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They're certainly worth working on. I have a few.

My oldest, a cascade, has been a bonsai since 1994.

Nice tree. Is that a Japanese quince (Chaenomeles sp.) or Chinese Quince (Pseudocydonia)?
 
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