What is this tree I've twisted up?
- Thread starter Attmos
- Start date
Desert O'Piñon
Omono
It might be better to wait until the tree is dormant to transplant. You're not as hit as here in the desert, but I made a big mistake mid May with a yaupon holly. Still waiting for it to recover, I hope. The hottest part of the year is the worst time for transplanting most trees.
Just want to share my mistake so you don't have to make the same one.
Desert O'Piñon
Omono
I would be interested in trying a cottonwood myself. There is a species that can survive the desert, providing enough water is available.
Attmos
Shohin
Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it. Almost lost it once already... lol
Good luck with yours.
Attmos
Shohin
I've been told they don't make the best bonsai, but why not give it a try...
AshleyMammal
Shohin
Hey, I have a couple of populus (the black hybrid variety i think), they are horrible for bonsai - however, don't give up on it!
I don't think mine will ever be a tradtional bonsai in the sense that the leaves won't reduce much and it's growth will always be leggy but it's just a case of trying to make the best of what you've got. I'm particularly interested in trying to get a decent minimal literati out of them, see thread for (non-cottonwood) inspiration:
and a few pics of weird species in weird styles that i think I populous could work with:
(Taken from lifeclosetonature.com)
I don't think mine will ever be a tradtional bonsai in the sense that the leaves won't reduce much and it's growth will always be leggy but it's just a case of trying to make the best of what you've got. I'm particularly interested in trying to get a decent minimal literati out of them, see thread for (non-cottonwood) inspiration:
Saw a post with this link elsewhere and thought I'd share. The person seemed to be describing the style as "surenge penjing" but the translation of this page makes it sound like Surenge may be an artist - I really don't know.
Does anyone play with this minimalist style? They indicated it wasn't particularly popular, I'm wondering if and how it differs from bunjin/literati. If anyone knows how it's done, I'd be interested to hear.
Does anyone play with this minimalist style? They indicated it wasn't particularly popular, I'm wondering if and how it differs from bunjin/literati. If anyone knows how it's done, I'd be interested to hear.
and a few pics of weird species in weird styles that i think I populous could work with:
(Taken from lifeclosetonature.com)
Attmos
Shohin
Very cool. Looks like a really complicated project....Hey, I have a couple of populus (the black hybrid variety i think), they are horrible for bonsai - however, don't give up on it!
I don't think mine will ever be a tradtional bonsai in the sense that the leaves won't reduce much and it's growth will always be leggy but it's just a case of trying to make the best of what you've got. I'm particularly interested in trying to get a decent minimal literati out of them, see thread for (non-cottonwood) inspiration:
Saw a post with this link elsewhere and thought I'd share. The person seemed to be describing the style as "surenge penjing" but the translation of this page makes it sound like Surenge may be an artist - I really don't know.
Does anyone play with this minimalist style? They indicated it wasn't particularly popular, I'm wondering if and how it differs from bunjin/literati. If anyone knows how it's done, I'd be interested to hear.
and a few pics of weird species in weird styles that i think I populous could work with:
View attachment 559521View attachment 559522View attachment 559523 (Taken from lifeclosetonature.com)
Yeah I'm gonna see what I can make out of this weird looking cottonwood. I mean, why not!? lol
Attmos
Shohin
Sorce... easy dieback is no joke.... Branches just kind of live or die... it's weird.
Attmos
Shohin
So.. I just wanted to inform you that I've done all you've said, and am taking a few pictures I'll be putting up to show the drastic change in the tree in the next day or two. I now need advice on cutting the sacrifice.
Attmos
Shohin
Attmos
Shohin
I plan to cut just above the first branch, but I'm worried about die back.
Desert O'Piñon
Omono
I think what I've read is that if you let it grow for a season or two or three, the trunk will thicken more than if you prune it every year, giving you better taper.
You are showing some really good growth this season.
You are showing some really good growth this season.
Attmos
Shohin
I woke up and started feeding it. lol
MaciekA
Shohin
In my experience, cuts are pretty safe in June. If you’re just deciding between two strong leaders on a young tree and cut one to a very generous stub (inches long, say), the worst that might happen is the stub gets some dieback, but you’ll still be making progress towards a future orderly flush cut. I’d strongly prefer doing that cut now than fall (where now = when you posted your last comment, apologies for not spotting this earlier!).
Do you have a laser-sharp positive ID for this one yet? Id still say it’s populus, but not tremuloides (aspen), not trichocarpa (black cottonwood), not nigra (black poplar / lombardy poplar). I have a few dozen cottonwoods and black poplars across a wide range of ages, and can at least say that if you trunk chop a finger-thick 4 foot tall cottonwood to 5 - 12” tall, you can get buds out of the tip of the cut or close to it within a few days. If on the other hand a seeding is left with a strong imbalance of power after a big cut (say you leave a tip running on your favorite trunk candidate but hack back the other one), the big cut may be subject to some recession to a previous node. In other words, populus defends a singular remaining cut tip with all the effort it can muster, but if there are bigger better deals still remaining elsewhere on the tree, then the cut tips will get a “meh” response. So leave generous stubs (as always with pioneer species).
Do you have a laser-sharp positive ID for this one yet? Id still say it’s populus, but not tremuloides (aspen), not trichocarpa (black cottonwood), not nigra (black poplar / lombardy poplar). I have a few dozen cottonwoods and black poplars across a wide range of ages, and can at least say that if you trunk chop a finger-thick 4 foot tall cottonwood to 5 - 12” tall, you can get buds out of the tip of the cut or close to it within a few days. If on the other hand a seeding is left with a strong imbalance of power after a big cut (say you leave a tip running on your favorite trunk candidate but hack back the other one), the big cut may be subject to some recession to a previous node. In other words, populus defends a singular remaining cut tip with all the effort it can muster, but if there are bigger better deals still remaining elsewhere on the tree, then the cut tips will get a “meh” response. So leave generous stubs (as always with pioneer species).
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
They have have apps now where you can ID a leaf/species simply by taking a picture of the leaf and running it through the app.
Attmos
Shohin
I think I'm gonna let it finish out this growing season and maybe cut it next spring. So far, I've been doing it in stages, but I did lose one branch due to die back. I also lost a branch by putting just a little too much pressure on it.. I felt a little snap, and later it started dying. They are delicate. lol
No, I don't know exactly which type it is but like you said, I ruled out aspen poplar. Might be Eastern Cottonwood, but I think I'll look for the app that BobbyLane just suggested.
Thanks for the advice, I've been worried about taking that next step but this helps.
Attmos
Shohin
Cool, thanks.
Attmos
Shohin
My cottonwood seems to have Marssonina or Septoria leaf spot. Do I need to treat this at all? What I've read says that it should just go away.
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