small spruce

[wireme]

Pics are from collection 3-4 yrs ago and last summer, todays pic coming it's on an iphone, gotta switch devices.

 

[wireme]

Here, we are, it's coming along. I'll prune back to interior buds next spring and if there is enough to work with by next summer then wire it up. Hopefully a couple years and I can call it bonsai!

 

[berobinson82]

Here, we are, it's coming along. I'll prune back to interior buds next spring and if there is enough to work with by next summer then wire it up. Hopefully a couple years and I can call it bonsai!View attachment 40215

Interesting. I was under the impression that cutting back on a picea was to be done during late fall or in winter when you could also wire. I thought spring was only for pinching.

In the past have you pruned in spring time?

 

[wireme]

Yes, I prune back anything I don't need in the spring provide there is a bud or 2 there. I have never pinched this tree, it always seems to pop out a few backbuds regardless. Actually better placement than other spruce that I have pinched that seem to get poodley tips rather than interior backbuds. Maybe fall is a better time to prune but my climate can suddenly get extremely cold in the fall. I don't prune anything, on any species later than mid aug to prevent winter dieback. Spruce probably could handle it just fine but with something like Amur maples in my climate I think it's more important. Anyway, so far I'm happy with results so I'll probably carry on with the same treatment. Of course I'd be happy to hear about other recommended courses of action.
Mp

 

[berobinson82]

Yes, I prune back anything I don't need in the spring provide there is a bud or 2 there. I have never pinched this tree, it always seems to pop out a few backbuds regardless. Actually better placement than other spruce that I have pinched that seem to get poodley tips rather than interior backbuds. Maybe fall is a better time to prune but my climate can suddenly get extremely cold in the fall. I don't prune anything, on any species later than mid aug to prevent winter dieback. Spruce probably could handle it just fine but with something like Amur maples in my climate I think it's more important. Anyway, so far I'm happy with results so I'll probably carry on with the same treatment. Of course I'd be happy to hear about other recommended courses of action.
Mp

I'm new to spruce and have only one on my bench. The first died from beginner's enthusiasm having had it for a few months.

I've not had the same experience besides reading articles and threads which is why I asked. Thanks for the practical experience!

I have found that these things do backbud profusely!

 

[wireme]

I don't have a ton of spruce experience either, I had two others that succumbed to an early freeze once. I'm kind of experimenting and trying to stay observant. I didn't do any pruning at all this spring because of the move onto the stone, probably due to that there is a lot less budding on older wood than there has been other years. There is enough though to improve the tree next year, it will be a bit more compact next summer still.

 

[october]

Nice recovery. It looked like it was a goner, now it looks very happy. Credit to you and to the tree for wanting to survive. Usually with conifers when they are down to just a bit of sparce foliage, that is the end.

Rob

 

[wireme]

Slow progress on this one. With this tree and a few others I underestimated the drying effect of the new to last year mainly pumice based mix and wasn't watering enough. As a result this little one yellowed and didn't backbud for me last year. The color is mostly back now and it's backbudding again so hopefully soon I will have the branchlets for a good styling. Now I'm thinking 2 more years to reach the image in my imagination!

 

[wireme]

A few guy wires placed to improve appearance while waiting for needed growth.

 

[wireme]

I discovered I can scribble on pics with my phone. This is roughly where I am trying to get to with this little one.

 

[wireme]

An alternative for later maybe, keep things interesting.

 

[sorce]

Definitely the first one. The foilage is too nice to off it as in the second

I love the lean and pot, though maybe big.

Harry got a Spruce schedule at Bonsai4me.com

Keep updated!

Sorce

 

[wireme]

Thanks sorce, I appreciate the feedback. I will be going for the first option for sure. The other one is one idea I have for a possible future restyle in case I pull off the first image and get bored with it.
I really like the stone planter, found it in the hills. I guess it is big for the tree but we do what we can with what we've got eh? When I chose the stone for the tree I was hoping to plant much further to the right but it wasn't possible yet.

 

[wireme]

Spring flush.
Development creeping along...

 

[wireme]

Trying this one again too.

I know its not quite there, couple things out of place and some filling in to do. But, given the starting point its pretty cool. I think.. Isn't it? I like i but hmm, maybe I'm off and who could like a skinny little thing like that anyways.

 

[0soyoung]

IMHO, this is a very delicate little stick in a rock. Its interest is in the old crusty bark. First of all, it has too many branches going every which way. So I would simplify it to something like the virtual I've made.

Next, trunks that go away from the viewer are stand off-ish - they really make the viewer feel cold and disinterested in the tree. I would rotate the tree, left side forward, until the top-most section of the trunk almost point straight up - maybe a little farther, maybe a little less. The feel I am looking for is like the tree is my grandma when I was young. She's bending down to me with open arms. Her arms are the lower branch on the left (branch #1) and the smaller branch on the right (branch #2). You may have to wire these two branches to repostion them appropriately with the tree reoriented (they are about right with respect to one another now).

Then you need to develop the apex just a bit and I think it will be a very nice little tree.

It strikes me as a tree tree growing out a rock face - maybe look for another rock that is vertical with a pocket on the side as opposed to the present horizontal rock.

 

[wireme]

Thanks, nice to hear someone else's thoughts. It would be quite fun on a vertical stone, something I'll keep an eye out for. The branches, some may go eventually but I doubt that many, I hope to place them better after bud set.
It does have a good forward lean, here's a shot looking directly from the right.

 

[0soyoung]

It was hard to tell from the earlier photo (in fact it ususally is), but I got a sense of it (the trunk) receeding. I see from this latest photo that it has a nice attitude for the present or a slightly adjusted front. Fun little tree! Very nice bark!

 

[sorce]

P.A.L.S.

Pimp Ass Little Spruce!

Sorce

 

[ghues]

Nice little tree, is it Englemann or White Spruce?
G