DO'P Arbor Day Dawns

[Desert O'Piñon]

A day late (USPS just ain't what it used to be), but arrived in good shape, and well packaged by Jonsteen.

Potted into nursery cans with at least 8 drainage holes in a mix of 8822, gypsum pellets, coarse sand, and a compost consisting of coffee grounds, coarse and medium bark, and old leaf litter.


It is heavy on the organics, but it drains well after watering to overflowing three times, allowing water to fully drain between each time. I believe that this is necessary in my dry climate. I hope I'm right.
They are in my flower bed on the north side of the house, so they'll get full morning and afternoon sun. I will bring them gradually further from the house and into more sun.

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

Is this something to be concerned about?

 

[rockm]

Is this something to be concerned about?
View attachment 596219

Root aphids

Root aphids / RHS

<p>Root aphids are not easily seen, as they live on the roots of plants, sucking sap. Sometimes mistaken for nutrient deficiencies, they can cause withered leaves and reduce vigour.</p>

www.rhs.org.uk

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

Root aphids

Root aphids / RHS

<p>Root aphids are not easily seen, as they live on the roots of plants, sucking sap. Sometimes mistaken for nutrient deficiencies, they can cause withered leaves and reduce vigour.</p>

www.rhs.org.uk

I hadn't considered that. But it seems more like some type of granule, almost a fine sand, as from an hourglass. All five trees were bundled together and wrapped so that the roots were almost a single root "ball." I only noticed the powder(?) between each tree's roots, but not within the roots themselves. It could be an insect waste product, but I was wondering if there is some horticultural product they use in packaging to support the roots in shipping. I will contact the shipper and ask.

 

[doc spring _work]

Man!! I'm waiting for mine to ship out still! My seedlings are being sent on the 13th! Luckily I have another payday to go get the materials I want for my trees.

 

[StruggleBus]

You are lucky! Mine shipped on 5/2 and I still haven't received them yet. I don't have high hopes. USPS totally dropped the ball.

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

Well, mine are doing fine so far. I've moved them further from the house and out of the flowerbed, so they are probably getting about 4 to 6 hours of full sun, and brught shade the rest of the time.
I haven't heard back from Jonsteen in regards to the white substance, but the trees' health still seems strong. I'm watering daily, as I understand DR to be a water-loving species. They drain quickly, so I'm not especially concerned about overwatering. I'll get a couple update pics this afternoon.

@StruggleBus , did they give you a link for tracking? It didn't help me much h, as USPS just told me they had left the original facility for three days, then told me they arrived at regional facility. The day after they were scheduled to arrive, I got a notification that they were out for delivery.

 

[StruggleBus]

I do have tracking on it but looks like they have been bounced around between distribution facilities. I also bought some seeds from on of the online places. I haven't gotten any to germinate yet. Depending on how & when they arrive, I may just buy some more seedlings. I love how these look so I am really hoping that they can recover from 10+ days in a box.

 

[Wulfskaar]

I ordered my BC pretty early. Once they shipped, they took forever through UPS, which made me nervous. But, they arrived before the buds popped and they were well-packed, so they were all good. I lost 2 of the 10 due to my own mistakes. Hopefully yours are still dormant.

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

They seem happy and healthy. The next two days will be a test; hot and windy, and of course dry, because it's the desert.

It will also be a good test for my son, who has been not-so-voluntarily tasked with the first watering of the day mid-morning.

 

[CapeCodBonsai]

Mine shipped on 4/30/25 and finally arrived today, 5/12/25. The shipping tube was beat to shit but, the trees looked like they will be fine.

As I said on another thread, they sent me someone else’s trees! I ordered (5) Sweetgums but, they sent me (5) Dawn Redwoods instead. Supposedly, they are shipping the Sweetgums to me at no extra charge.

 

[CaptSeaweed]

Mine shipped on 4/30/25 and finally arrived today, 5/12/25. The shipping tube was beat to shit but, the trees looked like they will be fine.

As I said on another thread, they sent me someone else’s trees! I ordered (5) Sweetgums but, they sent me (5) Dawn Redwoods instead. Supposedly, they are shipping the Sweetgums to me at no extra charge.

You’ve given me hope. Mine shipped 4/30 as well and are expected to be delivered today. I pretty much wrote off a chance of survival after two weeks in shipment.