A nice diamond in the rough. Nursery stock Dwarf Balsam fir

[Bryan Ruznik]

So I found this guy at a nursery and it was a total disaster but of course I had to look inside anyways and saw what I thought to be an interesting trunk on a tree I don't know really anything about but I know it's a very slow grower. The tag said 89.99 - I got it for a clean 5 dollar bill and turned it into this. Questions, complaints or comments??

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I don't know about your climate, where do you live? The did you repot the tree? If yes, protect from frost. Balsam fir resent heat, especially at the roots. In the heat of summer, find a way to keep the pot shaded, yet continue to give the foliage full sun. While the native range of balsam fir extends south into Georgia, the further south you go, the higher the elevation they are found. Only in the northern most states do they occur in the "lowlands". They're more difficult to grow than spruce, which is likely why you see relatively few as bonsai.

I like what I see of the trunk. I would not do more until spring after the tree shows it has begun to wake up.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Good price, btw. It doesn't look grafted, some fir can be propagated by cuttings, so this looks to be one.

Your potting mix looks like commercial potting soil, rather than a designed for bonsai media. This will be difficult to water correctly, it will tend to be too wet for too long.

 

[Bryan Ruznik]

I don't know about your climate, where do you live? The did you repot the tree? If yes, protect from frost. Balsam fir resent heat, especially at the roots. In the heat of summer, find a way to keep the pot shaded, yet continue to give the foliage full sun. While the native range of balsam fir extends south into Georgia, the further south you go, the higher the elevation they are found. Only in the northern most states do they occur in the "lowlands". They're more difficult to grow than spruce, which is likely why you see relatively few as bonsai.

I like what I see of the trunk. I would not do more until spring after the tree shows it has begun to wake up.

I live in Buffalo NY, and I did repot it trying to do minimal damage to the root structure that was existing but you know how it is. I keep my wintering plants in two spots. Some I keep in little greenhouses outside my house which are basically just shelves with plastic wrapped around them and they get the full on cold. My second spot is my connected yet unheated garage. It is usually 10 to 20 degrees warmer in there when the temps get in the 20's and below. It's tough because that means it can stay above 40 for somewhat extended periods of time. Eitherway I am planning on keeping this in the garage until spring. I just hope it can stay dormant. this winter has been a huge pain in the ass for temp control. Thanks for the advice though very helpful.

 

[Bryan Ruznik]

Good price, btw. It doesn't look grafted, some fir can be propagated by cuttings, so this looks to be one.

Your potting mix looks like commercial potting soil, rather than a designed for bonsai media. This will be difficult to water correctly, it will tend to be too wet for too long.

What you're seeing is actually just a top layer. It is planted in a quick draining bonsai soil but because of the fact that I know these guys do not like the heat on their roots my thought was insulation. I put a layer of a mixture I use of coco, Fox Farm ocean forrest and some other stuff to grow a layer of moss on. The tree will shade the moss and the moss will keep the roots cooler along with the white pot. (In Theory

 

[Wilson]

Nice little tree! I hear you about how annoying this winter is, serious pain in the butt! I agree with @Leo in N E Illinois some better soil, and keep them cool. I have some collected fir, I keep them down on the ground. That way I can get sun on the branches, and cool the roots. Enjoy your new tree, good score for 5 bucks!

 

[Waltron]

that's a neat little tree. I'm intrigued. worth every penny.

 

[Bryan Ruznik]

Nice little tree! I hear you about how annoying this winter is, serious pain in the butt! I agree with @Leo in N E Illinois some better soil, and keep them cool. I have some collected fir, I keep them down on the ground. That way I can get sun on the branches, and cool the roots. Enjoy your new tree, good score for 5 bucks!

How long would you say it really needs to be in the cold? I have no experience with fir at all. I'm curious if I can place it in my grow room before actual spring or if that will screw up it's cycle. That way I have tons and tons of light on it without any worry of overheating the roots. I'm just afraid of jumping the gun on anything evergreen.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Balsam fir need a full 120 days or more, they are a cold weather species, more common in Canada than the USA. I'd stick with the garage and cross your fingers. This is why we do not repot until after most frost danger has passed in spring.

 

[Wilson]

@Leo in N E Illinois is bang on, this needs cold. Mine are encased in snow and ice, and will be there probably until end on March. Don't worry about it having sun when it is dormant, any small conifer gets zero light in winter.

 

[Bryan Ruznik]

I hope I didnt kill it

 

[Wilson]

I am sure it will be fine.

 

[Bryan Ruznik]

Thanks Wilson.

 

[M. Frary]

I've never collected balsam fir although I have transplanted them from one location to another with a tree spade. The crucial thing then was to keep the surrounding soul moist.
Like cedar they don't like it dry.
The things are here by the millions. Everywhere tamaracks are balsam fir and to a lesser extent Frasier fir are nearby. Maybe I'll look for a decent trunk and see how it goes.
Hope this one makes it for you. Good luck!

 

[Cadillactaste]

You have no before photos. What size nursery pot was this in...prior to the repot. Along with what size pot is it now in? Trying to get a feel for how little you say the roots were disturbed.

 

[Random User]

Almost any tree is a score for $5.00... good find.

 

[MichaelS]

A good buy! I can't grow them here..

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

In Buffalo, NY, most winters you should be able to simply move it from full sun to shade, no added protection beyond moving into shade, maybe set it on the ground to get it out of the worst of the wind. They are very cold hardy. But because you repotted, you need to keep it from freezing.

Your potting mix is probably fine. We'll see how it does. Before doing anything more, post what you want to do, and a photo, we'll give our best guess as to whether your tree is ready. It.might need to grow all of 2017, with your next work on it in 2018. Slow growing dwarfs like 'Piccolo' need extra time to recover.

 

[Bryan Ruznik]

I attached a before photo but it's still after I cut away some main branching and opened it up. But this is a 3 gallon pot and it's now in a 20"x16" x5" pot. The roots were moved quite a bit but I didnt remove that many. I dont plan to touch it much this year. Just watch how it recovers and hopefully let it fill in a bit too eventually make it into a nice smooth extra wide broom top canopy.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Ah, I see, you removed a lot of foliage, you have work the tree pretty hard. Remember "Piccolo" is a slower growing cultivar, it needs recovery time, needs to create new growth.

For what it's worth, there really is no such thing as a "gentle repot". Even "slip potting" is more traumatic to the tree than most new to bonsai would think. If this tree were mine, I would do nothing to it for 14 to 24 months. This tree will need to recover. No pruning, no repotting, even no wiring. Nothing. I specifically mentioned months because some novice growers think if they prune in autumn of 2016, and then repot in April of 2017, they have "waited a year" when in fact it was only 5 or so months. If you are feeling impatient, buy another tree. Pick up a juniper or several more trees. The cure for impatience is more trees.

I like this tree, and what you have done, only critique is your timing for season is off. But if you get it through winter, it should be okay.