Englemann Spruce #2 progression

[Hartinez]

Here is the second engleman collected last spring that I repotted several weeks ago now. Response has been great. Roots showed strong growth. Not quite as much as Englemann 1 but still strong.

https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/englemann-spruce-progression.37981/

New buds have opened and are pushing. Plan for this tree long term is a semi cascade style. Found a great but cheap terra cotta pot that is similar in scale to the final pot. Maybe a bit smaller eventually. Tree will be left alone this year and possibly styled next year. No foliage will be removed to help push new roots in its current pot. I don’t plan to repot for another 3 years or so.

 

[Tycoss]

Loads of character there. Good to see it doing well.

 

[Hartinez]

Well. I’m years away from any type of repot, but I was at a bonsai supply today and found this Yixing pot for $39 and thought it would fit this tree well.

 

[Hartinez]

This poor tree. I switched to all organic fert this year to encourage moss growth, in order to combat the high desert sun. It was a resounding success other than this tree. The fertilizer had the tree quite healthy, but my dogs saw the fertilizer bags as appetizing. My larger dog would get up on his hind legs and pull the bags off of my trees. When pulling the bags off of this one he ripped the entire tree off it’s bench, shattering the pot and leaving the tree and rootball exposed for a few hrs.

When I found it, I panicked and rushed it into another of the same pot, but did not wire it in! . This happened in June.

It has survived the trauma, but has been limping along ever since. And I’m not excited about the tree not being wired in. There are lots of brown needles, but quite a few green as well. There are also quite a few healthy looking buds also. so I’m hoping it’ll pull through and push growth next spring. Being that it’s been a few months since the accident and hasn’t died, I’m confident.

Needless to say, this tree has been set back a few years.

 

[Nicholas Box]

That's a bummer. I had a similar thing happen this Spring. They are pretty tough. Hope it comes back.

 

[misfit11]

Total bummer. This looks like a really great tree with what was to be an awesome future. The Shari and nebari are fantastic. I really hope it pulls through for you.

 

[Hartinez]

Total bummer. This looks like a really great tree with what was to be an awesome future. The Shari and nebari are fantastic. I really hope it pulls through for you.

I think it’ll be ok. If it was going to die, I think it would have happened by now. Going to give it extra protection this winter. Out of the 3 I collected last spring, this was my favorite, so I def hope it makes a comeback.

 

[MACH5]

Danny I assume you gave it some sun protection? I think it will pull through but needs extra TLC. Absolutely no work on this tree for a long while until it shows good strong back budding. Even then, go easy!

 

[cheap_walmart_art]

This poor tree. I switched to all organic fert this year to encourage moss growth, in order to combat the high desert sun. It was a resounding success other than this tree. The fertilizer had the tree quite healthy, but my dogs saw the fertilizer bags as appetizing. My larger dog would get up on his hind legs and pull the bags off of my trees. When pulling the bags off of this one he ripped the entire tree off it’s bench, shattering the pot and leaving the tree and rootball exposed for a few hrs.

I had this same problem with my dog. She eats any fertilizer - I've even caught her standing under my benches trying to lap up the liquid fish emulsion I feed with (keep her inside now during THAT process). The only comb I have found that neither the dog nor the critters seem to like is cottonseed meal and kelp powder mixed around 9:1. I feed with this mix in tea bags and supplement with a weekly does of fish emulsion and my trees seem pretty happy - been at it for about two seasons now.

 

[Hartinez]

Danny I assume you gave it some sun protection? I think it will pull through but needs extra TLC. Absolutely no work on this tree for a long while until it shows good strong back budding. Even then, go easy!

Oh yeah. First thing I did was give it a break from the sun. Didnt start fertilizing agin till it seemed to be moving water. I’ll give this one at least a coupl seasons of rest before working. What do you think about over wintering Sergio? Most englemann need no protection, but I thought I’d mulch this one in pretty heavy.

 

[MACH5]

Oh yeah. First thing I did was give it a break from the sun. Didnt start fertilizing agin till it seemed to be moving water. I’ll give this one at least a coupl seasons of rest before working. What do you think about over wintering Sergio? Most englemann need no protection, but I thought I’d mulch this one in pretty heavy.

Yes I would protect it Danny. If you have a cold unheated garage or similar I would consider over wintering it in there. But if so, don't keep it too warm either. As you know, spruce love the cold to stay healthy and thrive.

 

[Hartinez]

Survived the dogs, the fall, and the winter....ITS ALIVE!!!!

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Looks like it will recover.