Anyone ever try Sassafras as bonsai?
- Thread starter that-guy
- Start date
CapeCodBonsai
Shohin
I’m not sure if it was the Spring weather, pure neglect, or a combination of both, but I managed to kill a lot of my trees this year. I was resigned to adding my Sassafras to the list, but since the “scratch test” revealed some green, I decided to continue watering it. Knowing that they form clonal colonies from root sprouts, I was hopeful that my newly potted tree would generate something. I’ve had such a difficult time keeping these alive in pots that I figured if it starts out life in the pot, my chances of keeping one alive would increase. I know that technically, since the mother tree was a yamadori, this didn’t start in the pot, but close enough.
I lack the experience to know if this will grow any faster since it was propagated from a larger root system. Regardless, it has a long way to go before I even get back to the sapling I initially attempted to transplant. Let’s see if I can get it through the coming winter.
I lack the experience to know if this will grow any faster since it was propagated from a larger root system. Regardless, it has a long way to go before I even get back to the sapling I initially attempted to transplant. Let’s see if I can get it through the coming winter.
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
@rockm I missed this note first time around. I am glad to hear this! We had a "large" sassafras in our backyard in our rental property that I would estimate (based on the age of the house) was perhaps 20 years old. It had beautiful blooms in the spring, and there were millions of seedlings everywhere underneath it. I assume it was a transplant, because I have not yet seen another individual in this area (and the property in question was part of a newer residential development). I tried to obtain some larger saplings but they did not transplant easily - throwing a long tap root with few fine surface roots.
(BTW that link you posted seems intent on using the smallest photos imaginable - for a site that is supposed to be showing champion trees, they don't seem to want to share nice photos of them!)
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I can possibly deem it a resounding success, but so far so doog... Part of it might be due to the fact that the pot itself is fully shaded.
Potted it up this spring. Hard to take a good pic because of where it stands.
Potted it up this spring. Hard to take a good pic because of where it stands.
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
CapeCodBonsai
Shohin
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
Oh - I was referring to the Kentucky link. The Virginia link I can see the big photos
Sure.
The pot is from Lowes. I usually grab a couple when/if they put them on end of the season sale.
Soil is Bonsai Jack organic mix and I added a couple handfuls of canuma and pit for acidity.
I give it Osmocote, fish emulsion and liquid Miracid along with the rest of my plants.
And the pic reminded me that I have the pot raised on bricks for better drainage.
And I am a witch
My familiar helps a lot.
Attmos
Shohin
No cut paste... think that has any affect on success?
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