Show us your Oak (Quercus) Pre-Bonsai

[BrianBay9]

Has anyone worked on a “blue oak”?

I just started on a few this year. I'm experimenting with reducing the substantial tap root. One just cut where I want it, one girdled with wire, one left along. All three have budded out well this spring, but the one with the cut tap root took much longer. All are looking good now.

 

[Esolin]

Recently chopped this little Corky. It didn't sprout where I wanted it to, but it still has plenty of future potential. It's about 5 years old from seed.

 

[Wulfskaar]

I just started on a few this year. I'm experimenting with reducing the substantial tap root. One just cut where I want it, one girdled with wire, one left along. All three have budded out well this spring, but the one with the cut tap root took much longer. All are looking good now.

Are they all this year's seedlings from acorn?

I have had a real heck of a time with repotting my seedlings, from 0 to 5 years old. They usually die when I repot, especially if I mess with the roots at all. Because of that, I'm not doing much with my oaks.

 

[The Barber]

Are they all this year's seedlings from acorn?

I have had a real heck of a time with repotting my seedlings, from 0 to 5 years old. They usually die when I repot, especially if I mess with the roots at all. Because of that, I'm not doing much with my oaks.

My seedlings seem to do best when I cut the tap root early while the acorn can still feed the sapling.

 

[BrianBay9]

Are they all this year's seedlings from acorn?

I have had a real heck of a time with repotting my seedlings, from 0 to 5 years old. They usually die when I repot, especially if I mess with the roots at all. Because of that, I'm not doing much with my oaks.

No, these were probably 4-5 yrs in a nursery can before I got them.

 

[Wulfskaar]

My seedlings seem to do best when I cut the tap root early while the acorn can still feed the sapling.

I think part of my problem is doing this in spring rather than winter. Our winters are very, very mild and the coast live oaks I have start growing in January. This next winter, I will probably try to repot in December to see what happens.

 

[Esolin]

Are they all this year's seedlings from acorn?

I have had a real heck of a time with repotting my seedlings, from 0 to 5 years old. They usually die when I repot, especially if I mess with the roots at all. Because of that, I'm not doing much with my oaks.

It's not you. I have similar 50/50 chances when repotting/chopping the tap root on young oaks. They just don't like it. I'm going to try treating oaks with AgriPhos whenever I work the roots to help fight rot. I don't know if that's the reason they die (it's probably a combination of shocks), but I've heard they benefit from a yearly dose regardless to stave off fungal issues.

 

[Esolin]

My seedlings seem to do best when I cut the tap root early while the acorn can still feed the sapling.

So you do it within the first 2 months? The acorns seem to be shriveled by then.

 

[The Barber]

So you do it within the first 2 months? The acorns seem to be shriveled by then.

Yes, I had good luck with mine starting them in a tray with individual 1 inch sections, once they develop decent roots I washed them (vermiculite worked well for me and washes out easy) and cut the tap root back before it has a chance to get too big, then I pot them up. Otherwise I find that the tap root has a chance to get too big. I prefer to wait till the roots start to divide.

 

[BartelBe]

This is my Quercus Robur, which I unearthed last april. It has appearantly been sitting in a black sandy soil garden for about 25 years.
Surprisingly it had only a few very thin feathery roots and I was concerned if it would survive, but now the buds are all showing leafs and I'm hoping for the best.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

 

[tweak82]

View attachment 596386

Pin oak?

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Appears to be but its likely some Red Oak / Pin Oak hybrid... both trees are plentiful in the area. Leaves look more like Pin Oak so... sure!

 

[Gabler]

Appears to be but its likely some Red Oak / Pin Oak hybrid... both trees are plentiful in the area. Leaves look more like Pin Oak so... sure!

My young pin oaks tend to have leaves like that, and then they take on the classic form as they mature. I suspect there's probably a juvenile leaf shape and an adult leaf shape, sort of like junipers.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

My young pin oaks tend to have leaves like that, and then they take on the classic form as they mature. I suspect there's probably a juvenile leaf shape and an adult leaf shape, sort of like junipers.

Very possible