Cork oak progression

[WNC Bonsai]

Just wanted to document the development of this tree. Bought from @Eric Schrader in 2023 and let grow freely to get some thickness. This is how it looked in March 27 2025 before any real styling efforts.



And this was the initial cutback that day.

 

[WNC Bonsai]

One month later on April 29 it had put out a bit of new growth. I clipped the extending shoots back about once a month to keep it under control

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Now let’s jump to August 31 2025.It didn’t do a lot during it’s dormancy but it does have new buds at the base of the leaves so we might get another flush before fall sets in. Maybe next spring I’ll be able to encourage some new branches lower down on the tree but those that popped up last spring did not develop so I am not overly hopeful. It may require another radical cut back of the upper branches to force adventitious buds to pop down low.

 

[annmisser14]

Wow, love seeing the progress! It’s really cool to compare how it looked before and where it’s at now, you can tell a lot of care and patience went into this. The trunk is thickening up nicely and the shape is coming together too. Excited to see how it evolves next!

 

[leatherback]

hm.. How old is this one? Or better yet.. Do you know how long they take to start corking? It almost looks like a crack in the bark has started on yours?

I have a wjole bunch of them sprouted in spring, and would love to get some idea what the timeline for these is.