Whitey..

Aeast

Shohin
Messages
361
Reaction score
613
Location
Central, OH
USDA Zone
5b
White bark birch that is! Collected this about 4 or so years ago. Any thoughts on a front and design ideas? It has a very nice nebari all the way around.

Front option 1.
20190608_120017.jpg
Front option 2
20190608_120028.jpg

20190608_120035.jpg20190608_120038.jpg
 

Attachments

  • 20190608_120015.jpg
    20190608_120015.jpg
    181.1 KB · Views: 12
  • 20190608_120030.jpg
    20190608_120030.jpg
    180.5 KB · Views: 11
  • 20190608_120015.jpg
    20190608_120015.jpg
    181.1 KB · Views: 10
  • 20190608_120017.jpg
    20190608_120017.jpg
    188.2 KB · Views: 12
  • 20190608_120028.jpg
    20190608_120028.jpg
    190.1 KB · Views: 23

Spacetime

Seedling
Messages
12
Reaction score
11
Location
Nürnberg, Germany
USDA Zone
7B
As I am very early in my bonsai journey I don’t know much but I like the first front better. It has a nice nebari, nice and subtle movement and good taper throughout.

I recently purchased a birch. I’m in a similar situation of wondering in what direction to take it. When do you prune yours and how do you fertilize?
 

Aeast

Shohin
Messages
361
Reaction score
613
Location
Central, OH
USDA Zone
5b
I fertilize once a week for most of my trees, this seems to grow quite vigorously. I just cut mine back pretty hard and wired a little, I don't know if it's the best timing or not but I did it. Maybe someone more experienced with birch will chime in on this.
 

Aeast

Shohin
Messages
361
Reaction score
613
Location
Central, OH
USDA Zone
5b
Any other birch trees one here? Someone that has experience with the species?
 

Leo in N E Illinois

The Professor
Messages
11,337
Reaction score
23,254
Location
on the IL-WI border, a mile from ''da Lake''
USDA Zone
5b
My one or two attempts at birch went south very early in the game, for reasons like too many projects and not enough time.

There are a few birches posted in ''Other Deciduous", not a lot. The best looking ones the owners did not try to keep them too small. Most were somewhere in the 2 foot to 4 foot tall range. 2 to 3 feet seemed most common. Most of the smaller trees did not seem to survive the 5 years in a bonsai pot mark. Just an observation, I'm not saying it is impossible to do a shohin birch, I just haven't seen one that turned up in photos more than once.

Others with more experience should add their tips.
 

Aeast

Shohin
Messages
361
Reaction score
613
Location
Central, OH
USDA Zone
5b
Do you think that's do to the pot size and inadequate watering?
 
Last edited:

Aeast

Shohin
Messages
361
Reaction score
613
Location
Central, OH
USDA Zone
5b
Yes, the tree from Marios is very nice indeed. A silver birch I believe.
 

Meh

Mame
Messages
168
Reaction score
249
Yes, the tree from Marios is very nice indeed. A silver birch I believe.
I know nothing about birch but there's a lot of knowledge in that thread.

Yours has a wonderful base as you noted. I like the first front option slightly more than the second because the nebari is more even and you don't have the "pigeon breast" that you get with the second option. Both fronts have great movement and branches in the right spots.
 

Maros

Chumono
Messages
566
Reaction score
2,981
Location
Slovakia
Nice material. For me front 1 or 2.
Let it grow and cut back about twice per year. A lot of water and fertiliser.
Do not expect all branches will survive, some tend do dry out. If you have new growth inside the crown you can keep it as fall back option.
 

Aeast

Shohin
Messages
361
Reaction score
613
Location
Central, OH
USDA Zone
5b
Thanks for the feedback Maros, I definitely water mine more than the others as it's a thirsty tree. I know birch in general tend to shed inner growth so I'm assuming it would apply for bonsai as well. I guess just something to keep in mind and plan for.
 

Aeast

Shohin
Messages
361
Reaction score
613
Location
Central, OH
USDA Zone
5b
Late winter update on this birch. Got some good growth this past year and I worked a little on development. Any opinions on the next step for this tree?
20200219_161044.jpg20200219_161017.jpg
 

Paradox

Imperial Masterpiece
Messages
9,339
Reaction score
11,412
Location
Long Island, NY
USDA Zone
7a
Keep working on getting more branches and ramification

Their tendency to abandon branches is problematic for bonsai
I love birch and I had one for a few years and it ended up killing/abandoning the apex I was working on.
There wasnt much else to work with after that so I didnt keep it.

Hope you have better luck with that
 

sorce

Nonsense Rascal
Messages
32,908
Reaction score
45,579
Location
Berwyn, Il
USDA Zone
6.2
Do you think that's do to the pot size and inadequate watering?

Certainly folks don't water enough. Certainly.

But it sounds like the greater margin of error with a larger tree could be a possibility.

Perhaps they don't allow themselves branches inside of x distance from the others?
No one has done any real studies.
It all sounds like BS.

I bet @vancehanna has a killer birch!😉

Sorce
 

Aeast

Shohin
Messages
361
Reaction score
613
Location
Central, OH
USDA Zone
5b
This tree definitely drinks more than others and I keep it pretty wet. But yes, there isn't much info out there on this species. I'm just kind of winging it as I go.

Paradox, when did your tree abandon its branches?
 

Aeast

Shohin
Messages
361
Reaction score
613
Location
Central, OH
USDA Zone
5b
Thanks Judy, I appreciate it.
 
Top Bottom