American beech- need advice
- Thread starter GKA
- Start date
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
Have you looked at the surface roots to see if it's worth styling as is?
Welcome to Crazy!
If not maybe layer it.
Sorce
Welcome to Crazy!
If not maybe layer it.
Sorce
GKA
Seedling
I poked the roots and saw that it has nice surface roots. The trunk is probably like 1inch at the base. I was thinking of reporting into a bigger pot in spring and letting it grow for a while.
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
1" at the base means it is very tall with almost no taper.
Before looking for styling ideas you need to decide what sort of bonsai you would be happy with.
Most bonsai growers like a deciduous trunk with good taper but that would mean a low trunk chop, maybe just above the first branch and regrow most of the tree.
For a taller trunk bonsai you just need to prune off the longer branches and begin the long process of developing branch structure.
The tree may have a thickish trunk but currently has very little in the way of branching so there's not a lot that anyone can offer in the way of styling.
@Walter Pall posted some great development advice for European beech a few days ago. I assume the same would apply to American beech.
Before looking for styling ideas you need to decide what sort of bonsai you would be happy with.
Most bonsai growers like a deciduous trunk with good taper but that would mean a low trunk chop, maybe just above the first branch and regrow most of the tree.
For a taller trunk bonsai you just need to prune off the longer branches and begin the long process of developing branch structure.
The tree may have a thickish trunk but currently has very little in the way of branching so there's not a lot that anyone can offer in the way of styling.
@Walter Pall posted some great development advice for European beech a few days ago. I assume the same would apply to American beech.
Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
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Myself, I would consider a 1 inch diameter trunk too small a caliper for styling a beech. If it were mine I would move it to a grow out container. I would construct a box that holds at least 5 gallons of potting media, but is wide and only 4 or 5 inches in depth. Cut off of a 55 gallon drum, or a box 24 x 24 x 4 inches or 36 x 36 x 5 inches or something similar. Pot the beech in there and let it grow for 3 years.
In my opinion, the beauty of a beech is the smooth bark of the trunk. I would as much as possible grow without chopping or only chopping on one side of the tree (diagonal cuts) so that the front of the tree is an image of smooth, unblemished gray bark. A carelessly chopped beech will look awful.
Do look at articles about European Beech by Walter Pall.
American beech has larger leaves, and is slightly more difficult to work with. It is more "single flush" than European beech and it does not bud back as easily as European beech.
In my opinion, the beauty of a beech is the smooth bark of the trunk. I would as much as possible grow without chopping or only chopping on one side of the tree (diagonal cuts) so that the front of the tree is an image of smooth, unblemished gray bark. A carelessly chopped beech will look awful.
Do look at articles about European Beech by Walter Pall.
American beech has larger leaves, and is slightly more difficult to work with. It is more "single flush" than European beech and it does not bud back as easily as European beech.
GKA
Seedling
Thank you!! Appreciate your healthy feedback. I’ll move it to a bigger holding container and let it grow for a couple of years.
