Spruce thoughts

[Mali84]

Evening all,

I have the option of buying this bonsai material from an online private seller.

Two questions that I’m hoping to have answered from you experienced bunch….

Firstly, are you able to make an educated guess as to what kind of spruce this is? The owner was very honest and said he wasn’t sure.

Secondly, do you feel it has potential for upright or bunjiji styling? For some reason the appearance of this tree is appealing to me!

Much appreciated

 

[Mike Westervelt]

Looks like dwarf alberta spruce, unfortunately not the best species for bonsai

 

[Mali84]

Looks like dwarf alberta spruce, unfortunately not the best species for bonsai

Thanks Mike, I was hoping that wasn’t the case. I have read a little about how challenging they are!

 

[Wulfskaar]

If you want a Dwarf Alberta Spruce, you can get them cheaply around the holidays (at least, here in the USA). I see them on sale for $10 to $40, depending on the size.

 

[Mali84]

If you want a Dwarf Alberta Spruce, you can get them cheaply around the holidays (at least, here in the USA). I see them on sale for $10 to $40, depending on the size.

Thanks. I’m in the UK though, although they are pretty cheap here too. I was hoping it was an englemann!

 

[NeedlesAndLeaves]

I have a couple of them. Vigorous trees. But difficult to style because the branches want to keep growing upwards.

You can wire them. But even after the wire is already biting in the branches want to grow upwards.

A lot of wiring and unwiring. But I like them

 

[Wulfskaar]

I have a couple of them. Vigorous trees. But difficult to style because the branches want to keep growing upwards.

You can wire them. But even after the wire is already biting in the branches want to grow upwards.

A lot of wiring and unwiring. But I like them

It's interesting... Nigel Saunders has one I really like. He's not using wire at all, but just pruning any shoots going upwards. While it's branches aren't pointed down, it still looks nice to me.

 

[pandacular]

Secondly, do you feel it has potential for upright or bunjiji styling? For some reason the appearance of this tree is appealing to me!

Upright, perhaps, but not a bunjin. Even for an upright, it would take a lot of work. It’s not clear to me what advantages this tree has over one bought from a nursery, unless roots have been well worked over multiple repottings, which seems unlikely.

Looks mostly like someone trying to move on a mistake. Maybe worth a punt for 15 quid.

 

[Mali84]

Upright, perhaps, but not a bunjin. Even for an upright, it would take a lot of work. It’s not clear to me what advantages this tree has over one bought from a nursery, unless roots have been well worked over multiple repottings, which seems unlikely.

Looks mostly like someone trying to move on a mistake. Maybe worth a punt for 15 quid.

Thanks for the input.

It was bare rooted and heavily cut back two years ago.repotted in pumice and orchid bark.

For 15 for sure!!its up for 55 though!

 

[NeedlesAndLeaves]

If you are thinking about heavy bending your spruce. Spruces can create new buds after bending at places where the tissue is being torn for a bit.

 

[Mali84]

If you are thinking about heavy bending your spruce. Spruces can create new buds after bending at places where the tissue is being torn for a bit.

Very interesting. Any links to resources that speak to this?thanks

 

[leatherback]

hard to tell the size. But these are easily available as christmas decoration in a few months. These trees have nothing special going for them right now.

You can of course bend them as you'd like, and make a literati. But they will work actively against you on that front.

 

[stewarjm192]

Finding Engleman “across the pond” would be pretty hard I would think as they are native to the western US. If you want a European native spruce of more interesting character look into the spruces that grow in the high mountains of the alps, or other mountain ranges. Look at what Walter pall is using

 

[leatherback]

Finding Engleman “across the pond” would be pretty hard I would think as they are native to the western US. If you want a European native spruce of more interesting character look into the spruces that grow in the high mountains of the alps, or other mountain ranges. Look at what Walter pall is using

nah, they are commonly found in landscaping stores here.

 

[stewarjm192]

nah, they are commonly found in landscaping stores here.

I can’t imagine any of substantial worth. They aren’t known as fast growers. Maybe they are grafted, either way, I can’t imagine them to be economically viable for landscaping in your area, but not in mine, the actual USA. Not being rude, that just doesn’t seem logical to me

 

[leatherback]

I can’t imagine any of substantial worth. They aren’t known as fast growers. Maybe they are grafted, either way, I can’t imagine them to be economically viable for landscaping in your area, but not in mine, the actual USA. Not being rude, that just doesn’t seem logical to me

Sorry to hear you cannot imagine reality.

 

[stewarjm192]

Sorry to hear you cannot imagine reality.

Cool, way to be a knob!

 

[leatherback]

Cool, way to be a knob!

You serve, expect a ball in return.

 

[stewarjm192]

You serve, expect a ball in return.

one who has ill-intent, sees it everywhere

 

[Paradox]

Thanks for the input.

It was bare rooted and heavily cut back two years ago.repotted in pumice and orchid bark.

For 15 for sure!!its up for 55 though!

I would pass. I don't see any redeeming properties of this tree that would make it worth purchasing.

It has long straight trunks with little taper, too few branches along those long straight trunks. As Pandacular alluded to, this looks like a tree purchased by someone new who had no idea what to do and just cut some branches in attempt to do something. They have now realized it wasn't so good and want to get rid of the tree.

I don't mean to sound harsh. All of us were new once and we all made these same mistakes.

You can do better for that money elsewhere