Colorado’s Dwarf Alberta Spruce

[Colorado]

I have been working on this Dwarf Alberta Spruce for a couple years now.

As purchased in Mach 2020:


Later that spring, I repotted it into a box and jinned a few low branches:


Then I let it grow until August 2021. At that time I performed an initial styling, aiming for a formal upright:


Now, in July 2022, I went back to work on it. I removed excess growth, wired down the tips, clarified the branch structure, and put additional movement into the branches, reapplying and/or stacking new wire where needed:


I am really enjoying working with this tree. It stands right at 50”. I’m planning to put it in a pot spring 2023.

Comments and critiques welcome!

 

[Hartinez]

This is a fun project TJ. It’ll be interesting to see how long it takes for those branches to stay in the downward angle. More jins in the future I see. Looking good so far.

 

[Backwardsvg]

What kind of moss is that? Did it spread that well or did you place a lot?

Tree looks super cool too. Love the look

 

[Colorado]

What kind of moss is that? Did it spread that well or did you place a lot?

Tree looks super cool too. Love the look

Thanks! When I repotted it, I used a topdressing of ground up green moss mixed with sphagnum. The green moss was a combination of moss I found in the forest and what has come off of other trees in the garden at repotting time. The moss grew organically from that.

 

[Colorado]

This is a fun project TJ. It’ll be interesting to see how long it takes for those branches to stay in the downward angle. More jins in the future I see. Looking good so far.

Thanks Danny! It has been fun indeed. The species has such nice small foliage. Backbuds well. Overall pretty cooperative, ha.

The branches are setting into place nicely already! I think in a few years they will be “set.”

I also am going to pinch it next spring to control the foliage from getting so vigorous at the tips.